Come face to face with some of the most astonishing sculptures ever created, the Character Heads by 18th-century German artist Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. This exhibition explores Messerschmidt's art in the context of the Enlightenment fascination with expressions and emotions, as well as the pseudosciences that emerged to explain them. It also traces the impact of the Character Heads on the work of contemporary artists, including Tony Cragg, Bruce Nauman, and Cindy Sherman.

Turn yourself into a living sculpture in our Expression Lab, where you can explore expressions using your own face as the medium.

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Go behind the scenes with the exhibition curator on The Iris »

Extended one week due to popular demand, this celebrated exhibition features Herb Ritts's stunning fashion photographs, nudes, and celebrity portraits, along with a selection of his magazine covers, Polaroids, and commercial video projects.

A new 12-minute documentary on Herb Ritts plays at the Getty Center through the final day of the exhibition.



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This fall's outdoor theater production features a spectacular new performance of Euripides' rarely staged Helen. In this inventive fantasy of mistaken identities and impossible coincidences, Helen of Troy is reimagined in middle age as a witty and resourceful heroine who fights to reclaim her husband, her throne, and her eternal good name. Tickets $42; students/seniors $38. Previews $25.

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RED at the Mark Taper Forum
August 1–September 9
Mark Rothko, celebrated bad boy of the art world, takes the L.A. stage by storm in this electrifying play by John Logan (The Aviator, Hugo). Alfred Molina embodies Rothko's explosive struggles with art, commerce, and his own ego. Tickets from $20. Enjoy Enjoy a special offer on tickets to RED through September 2.

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Can photography affect the way we view landscapes? Matthew Coolidge, director of the Center for Land Use Interpretation, and photographer Victoria Sambunaris discuss the varied ways that photography shapes our perception of the natural world. Free; reservations required.

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Two spectacular cultural moments in the history of Vienna shaped the artistic agendas of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt and Gustav Klimt. In Mozart's Vienna of the late 18th century, Messerschmidt explored new ways to represent human emotion. A century later, Klimt explored his own artistic expression of intense emotions in Freud's Vienna. Historian Larry Wolff discusses how the urban culture of Vienna in these two different eras illuminated their art. Free; reservations required.

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Discover the power of the mythical goddesses Demeter and Persephone, who presided over fertility and the feminine sphere. Learn about the religious and social significance of this mother-daughter pair and their dramatic separation by the god Hades, then explore their cult in Sicily through the installation The Sanctuaries of Demeter and Persephone at Morgantina with curator Alexandra Sofroniew. Course fee $35; $28 students.

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Bring the kids to our free concerts in the Central Garden! August 4 and 5 features kindie rock stars Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players performing songs from their wildly popular album Jungle Gym. On August 11 and 12, American roots and blues musician Randy Kaplan delights with tunes from his CD Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie, while multi-instrumentalist David Tobocman shares his Very Helpful Songs. On August 18 and 19, troubadour extraordinaire Bill Harley uses song and story to paint a humorous picture of growing up, school, and family life. Free; no reservations required.

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O P E N I N G   T H I S   M O N T H
– The Art of Devotion in the Middle Ages (Aug. 10)

C O N T I N U I N G   T H I S   M O N T H
– Herb Ritts: L.A. Style (through Sept. 2)
– Gustav Klimt: The Magic of Line (through Sept. 23)

C L O S I N G   T H I S   M O N T H
– Heaven, Hell, and Dying Well: Images of Death in the Middle Ages (Aug. 12)
– Portraits of Renown: Photography and the Cult of Celebrity (Aug. 26)

H O T   T I C K E T S
– Garden Concerts for Kids (Aug. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19)
– Lecture: Picturing Landscape (Aug. 16)
– Lecture: The Human Emotions in Messerschmidt and Klimt (Aug. 30)

The Getty Villa is closed on Wednesdays in August and September in preparation for the outdoor classical theater production of Euripides' Helen.

O P E N I N G   T H I S   M O N T H
– Lion Attacking a Horse from the Capitoline Museums, Rome (Aug. 10)

H O T   T I C K E T S
– Course: Death and Rebirth (Aug. 18)
– Outdoor Theater Production: Helen (Aug. 30–Sept. 29)
– Art Odyssey for Families (Wed.–Sun.)
– Handling Sessions: Gem Carving (Sat. & Sun.)

CONTACT US
General inquiries: visitorservices@getty.edu
Press inquiries: communications@getty.edu or visit our Press Room
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THE GETTY VILLA
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(310) 440-7300

HOURS: Weds–Mon: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Closed Tuesdays

Admission to the Getty Villa is FREE. An advance, timed-entry ticket is required. Parking is $15, but $10 for evening events after 5:00 p.m.
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