Broad Contemporary Art Museum

It may be just one year old but the Broad Contemporary Art Museum in Los Angeles has been making waves all over the globe for all the right reasons. The extension of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum is a fine example of the union of the Edythe and Eli Broad and the LACMA. It was way back in 2003 that the Broads announced a donation of $60 million towards the formation of this museum for purely philanthropic reasons.

Ever since it was announced that the construction would be by the architect who has won the Pritzker Prize, Renzo Piano, the BCAM (or Broad Contemporary Art Museum) was something that everyone was looking forward to. From an architectural point of view what makes this 72,000 square feet, three story high art gallery special is that it is amongst the largest column free structures in the entire United States of America.

What is also worth mentioning is that the Broad Art foundation hasn't dissociated itself from the cause and is working hand in hand with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to get rotating loans for the purpose of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum.

The inaugural exhibition at the Broad Contemporary Art Museum didn't have a theme. Although this may surprise some, the idea behind it was that it actually wasn't an exhibition in the true sense. A large number of what was displayed at the inaugural actually came out of the personal collection of Eli Broad, an avid art collector.

Some notable artists whose works were showcased and well received by the people included Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Andy Warhol and a few others.

An art enthusiast or not, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum deserves a visit whenever you are in Los Angeles travel next.