Opened to the public in 1997, the Getty Center is home to the free Getty Museum, the Getty Library (also open to the public), Getty Research Institute, Getty Foundation, and Getty Conservation Institute. The Getty Center was created to bring the programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust together on one inspiring site, from which they work collaboratively to conserve, present, and interpret the world’s artistic legacy.
The expansive campus welcomes more than a million visitors a year from around the world (at least in pre-COVID times), who enjoy the 110-acre site designed by architect Richard Meier; the 86 acres of landscaped gardens and terraces, including the Central Garden designed by artist Robert Irwin; and the world-class paintings, photographs, sculpture, decorative arts, manuscripts, and drawings collections of the Getty Museum.
Visitors ride free trams from the parking garage to the Getty Center, which sits high atop the Santa Monica Mountains, offering sweeping views of Los Angeles and the ocean. It’s no surprise that the Getty Center is one of L.A.’s most Instagrammable sites, and this summer they’re making it even easier, with a trail of photo spots that will lead you to the most breathtaking vistas, architecture, and art.
Also on view this summer are Working Together: The Photographers of the Kamoinge Workshop, highlighting the work of a 1960s–70s collective of African American photographers; The Fantasy of the Middle Ages, exploring how castles, knights, and creatures of the Middle Ages inspire art, literature, and film; Lost Murals of Renaissance Rome and Judy Baca: Hitting the Wall, examining wall art of past and present; and Conserving de Kooning: Recovery of a Masterpiece, combining true crime, science, and art in a compelling mystery.
Events will take place between May and September and include music and family-focused activities.
Admission to the Getty Center is always free; parking is $20. For more information and the most current safety measures in place, visit our COVID-19 safety measures page.