#OnlyinLB: LBMA
The Long Beach Museum of Art (2300 E Ocean Blvd) has served as the city’s namesake art museum since the 1950s and has amassed a collection of more than 3,200 works. It’s the perfect size for a visit of a few hours to a half day, and can be topped off with a relaxing lunch at the café overlooking the ocean.
Plan Your Visit
The Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) is open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday. Admission is $12 per person or $10 for students and seniors, and children age 12 and under are free. Parking is available in the museum’s lot one block west of the main entrance or in the beach lot at the end of Junipero Avenue. There is also a Long Beach Transit bus stop right outside the museum’s front entrance.
What To See
You can begin your visit with a stroll through the sculpture garden outdoors, then enter the Hartman Pavilion to see four exhibitions on display this summer. Color Fields presents artwork exploring the Color Field movement that emerged from Abstract Expressionism in the 1940s. The Corporate Collector showcases colorful mid-century abstract art from The Gelson (of Gelson’s Market) Collection. ALL TOGETHER NOW is an exhibition of nine works made in the 1960s by San Pedro-based artist Barbara Strasen, and I AM: LBUSD Elementary Art Exhibition features self-portraits of students from across the Long Beach school district.
Dive Deeper
Explore the exhibits with an LBMA Docent during free Art Chats on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. These relaxed and informal tours provide a personal experience of the exhibitions and collection, allowing visitors to learn more and ask questions. And if you have kids who love to craft, check out Family ArtMaking drop-in workshops, available from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month.
Dining With a View
Claire’s at the Museum is LBMA’s café and one of Long Beach’s highly coveted brunch reservations. The restaurant is named after artist Claire Falkenstein, whose fountain sculpture Structure and Flow serves as the patio’s centerpiece. Make your reservation online, especially if your party includes five or more people, then dig into your lemon ricotta pancakes and a peach bellini while you gaze at the unobstructed ocean views of the Queen Mary and Catalina Island.
LBMA Downtown
In 2019, LBMA opened an art campus in downtown Long Beach, featuring the Josephine Molina Gallery and five artist studios. LBMA Downtown (356 E 3rd St), open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., is free to visit with no reservations required, and free parking is available in the lot behind the gallery on Elm Street. At this location, the museum supports new and emerging artists and provides educational programming for children.
Discover one of the most revered Long Beach museums, the Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA). Featuring an expansive gallery of Long Beach art, changing exhibitions, an ocean view restaurant, and educational…
