Top Spots for Art & Design in the LA Arts District
Photo excellence via @abigailogilvygallery and @hauserwirthlosangeles
Downtown LA's Arts District has evolved from a gritty industrial zone into one of the city’s most vibrant creative hubs. Once home to warehouses and factories, it's now packed with galleries, murals, design studios, and artist-run spaces that fuel a thriving arts ecosystem.
Abigail Ogilvy Gallery
Expanded from Boston to Los Angeles in the fall of 2023, Abigail Ogilvy Gallery is an impressive contemporary art space that focuses on concept-driven works by emerging to mid-career artists. The beautiful new LA location aims to provide a platform for new perspectives and education through independent curation and artist partnerships, featuring guest curators to share diverse voices with the local community.
Visit at: 1923 S Santa Fe Ave #100, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Hauser & Wirth
One of the city's most ambitious and community-centered contemporary art spaces, Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles is located in a sprawling former flour mill. Opened in 2016, it combines world-class exhibitions with a distinctly local feel—featuring not just galleries, but a bookstore, a garden, and delicious farm-to-table cuisine from on-site restaurant Manuela. The bookstore, Artbook, offers a wide selection of contemporary art publications, including exhibition catalogs, artist monographs, and critical essays that complement the gallery's programming. The shop also provides a variety of artist-designed jewelry, prints, and accessories. It's a real cultural anchor for the Arts District.
Visit at: 901-909 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Corita Art Center
Dedicated to the legacy of artist and activist Corita Kent, the Corita Art Center officially reopened at its expanded new Arts District location in March, 2025, in Los Angeles' Arts District. Oten referred to as the "Pop-Art nun," Kent was renowned for her colorful serigraphs that combined bold graphics with messages of peace, love, and social justice. The new center houses an extensive archive of over 30,000 artworks and ephemera, making it the most comprehensive collection of Kent's work ever. The inaugural exhibition, "Heroes and Sheroes," featured a series of prints honoring figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, and John F. Kennedy, reflecting Kent's commitment to activism through art. Visitors can explore the center on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission by appointment. The center also offers guided group visits and virtual access to its collection through the Bloomberg Connects app.
Visit by apointment at: 811 Traction Ave #3a, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Institute of Contemporary Art - LA
The ICA LA is a dynamic, non-collecting museum located in the heart of the city's Arts District. Formerly known as the Santa Monica Museum of Art, it reopened in 2017 after relocating and rebranding to reflect a broader mission. Dedicated to presenting contemporary art that challenges perceptions and encourages critical dialogue, it places a strong emphasis on equity and accessibility—admission is always free. The programming spans a range of contemporary art practices, featuring both emerging and established artists from around the globe. Notable programs also include the Agency of Assets fellowship, which offers high school students opportunities for creative development and leadership in the arts. Visit the on-site gift shop for a diverse selection of items, from exhibition catalogs and artist monographs to limited-edition artworks and ICA LA-branded merchandise.
Visit at: 1717 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
DOMA Arts Complex
Short for "District of Music and Art.", DOMA is both a contemporary art gallery as well as a dynamic space for visual arts, theater, music, and education. Recent exhibitions have highlighted works of artists like Chantel Chua, Devon Wick, Aaron Pettigrew, and more. Beyond visual arts, DOMA hosts a range of performances, including full-stage productions, concerts, cabarets, and variety shows like the "Pop-Up Club Cabaret." The complex also features a fully equipped recording studio, supporting musicians and voiceover artists in their creative endeavors. Workshops and outreach programs further involve DOMA in the community and arts education.
Visit at: [300 S Santa Fe Ave Suite P1, Los Angeles, CA 90013}(https://maps.app.goo.gl/SLMRMJjcccWLywku6)
Peter Lai's Asian Village
Founded by Peter Lai—a Hong Kong-born designer and collector with a rich background in Chinese opera costuming—this mesmerizing, 5,000-square-foot loft serves as a living museum, studio, and personal residence. Every corner in the immersive environment is adorned with meticulously arranged artifacts, from antique kimonos and kabuki wigs to Chinese dynasty costumes and original Peter Lai designs, reflecting a lifetime of dedication to Asian aesthetics. The space is divided into thematic vignettes—a tea house, a kabuki theater, a kitchen—each telling a story of cultural significance. Tours are available and encouraged! Often led by Peter Lai himself, they offer an intimate glimpse into his world, blending personal anecdotes with historical insights.
Open by appointment at: Binford Lofts, 837 Traction Ave #103, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Over the Influence
With additional spaces in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Over the Influence is known for showcasing genre-defying artists who explore themes intersecting with street culture, pop aesthetics, and social commentary. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as Cleon Peterson, whose 2020 show "Hysteria" presented stylized works in black, white, and yellow hues. Over the Influence's programming often includes artists who challenge conventional boundaries, incorporating elements from graffiti, design, and digital media. Housed a repurposed 1930s bowstring truss warehouse with huge windows and high ceiling, the gallery's soaring interiors are perfect for showcasing large-scale installations and immersive works.
Visit at: 833 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Roski Graduates Gallery
Operated by the USC Roski School of Art and Design, this gorgeous, 2,000-square-foot exhibition space is the primary venue for graduate exhibitions, including MFA thesis shows and MA curatorial projects.
In addition to individual exhibitions, the Roski Graduate Gallery hosts events such as the Annual Industry Night, where MFA Design students present their work to professionals, peers, and the public . The gallery is open to the public during exhibitions, offering a great opportunity to engage with emerging artists and curators.
Visit at: 1262 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Royale Projects
Established in 2008, this comtemporary art gallery focuses on abstraction in painting and sculpture, as well as on artists rooted in conceptualism. The gallery maintains a dynamic schedule of solo and group exhibitions, along with site-responsive projects. Notable exhibitions have featured artists such as Ken Lum, Annie Briard, and Jonathan Syme. Visitors can explore the gallery on Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, or by appointment. Check their site for the most up-to-date info on programming.
Visit at: 432 South Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 - Enter on Seaton Street between E 4th and 5th
Art Share LA
Art Share LA is a creative hub that gives promising emerging artists space to live, work, and showcase their talents. Housed in a converted warehouse, it features galleries, performance areas, and affordable live/work lofts for artists. Since 1998, it’s been all about breaking down barriers in the art world with exhibitions, workshops, and community programming. Visitors can browse exhibitions, view open studios, purchase art, and more.
Visit at: 801 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Box Gallery
Founded in 2007 by Mara McCarthy, The Box showcases both historical and emerging artists, with a focus on politically and socially engaged work. The Box emphasizes experimental practices, including performance art, large-scale installations, and multimedia projects, fostering a space where artists can push boundaries and explore new forms of expression. Notable exhibitions have featured artists such as Judith Bernstein, Naotaka Hiro, and Marwa Abdul-Rahman.
Visit at: 805 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Street Art
From large-scale murals to intricate stencils, guilding walls double as canvases here. Led by local members of the Arts District Community, the LA Graffiti, Mural, and Street Art tour is a guided, two-hour walking exploration of over 100 murals, graffiti, and street art pieces, blending key neighborhood spots with hidden treasures you might not know about or find on your own. That being said, other self- guided walking tours and maps can also be found online. Notable highlights include:
- Shepard Fairey's "Peace Goddess": Located at 806 E 3rd Street, this iconic mural was part of the LA Freewalls project, which began in 2009 to promote legal street art in the city.
- Angel City Brewery: Found at 216 S Alameda Street, the brewery's exterior walls are adorned with vibrant murals.
- Art Share L.A: Also mentioned above, this community arts has striking murals on its exterior walls.
- The Container Yard: Situated at 800 E 4th Street, area around this creative space always has large-scale murals to admire.
