CA POSITIVE
By California Broker Magazine
Autumn is one of the most exciting times to visit museums, as new exhibitions typically open in the fall just ahead of the holiday season when visitors are looking for fun activities to do with family and friends. California is overflowing with museums of all kinds—from contemporary art to classical antiquity. Los Angeles boasts more museums than New York City and has one of the most active gallery scenes in the country.
Why Visit Museums?
There are many reasons to visit a museum, whether you are looking to be inspired creatively, learn something new, or simply enjoy the aesthetics of art. But museums are also critical to society. They offer insights into humankind’s history, allowing us to reflect on the past so we can understand where we came from and where we are going. Museums provide the space for us to feel and practice empathy towards our fellow neighbors, as art collections and exhibitions often spotlight the trials and tribulations of different cultural groups throughout history.
Health Benefits of Visiting a Museum
Not only is visiting a museum fun and educational, but it can also improve one’s health. Scientists found that just 30 minutes spent in an art gallery can reduce cortisol in the brain, can stimulate dopamine release, and can combat anxiety. To take it a step further—creating art also has significant benefits in reducing stress. Girja Kaimal from Drexel University found that making art for as little as 45 minutes reduced the stress hormone cortisol, no matter the person’s skill level. So, after your next museum visit—consider grabbing some paints!
California is home to hundreds of incredible museums and art galleries. Here are just a couple we suggest visiting this fall:
Getty Museum
The J. Paul Getty Museum offers two museums in Los Angeles – the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades houses art from ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria, while the Getty Center in Brentwood holds European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and photographs. Both sites are known for their exquisite gardens and iconic views of Los Angeles. This fall, the Getty Center is displaying several new exhibitions, including:
- “The Holy Family at Home” (through Jan. 10, 2027)
- “Instante/revelación: Moments in Mexican Photography” (through Jan. 3, 2027)
- “The Making of a Medieval Manuscript” (through March 14, 2027)
- “A Light in the Dark: Joseph Wright of Derby” (Nov. 24, 2026 – March 14, 2027)
The Getty Center will close temporarily for around a year to conduct major renovations starting on March 15, 2027. So, now is your chance to visit this beloved Los Angeles institution before you can’t see it for some time.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
One of L.A.’s most popular destinations, LACMA houses over 150,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of human creation from ancient times to present. Plus, the museum just opened its new David Geffen Galleries, a massive $724 million renovation that offers 27 inner galleries illuminated by natural light and floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition to exploring this new permanent space, several exhibitions are on view this fall:
- “Textile Alchemy: The Art of Reiko Sudō & NUNO” (through March 7, 2027)
- “Home of the Future, 1925-1985: Designing Domestic Utopias” (through March 14, 2027)
- “Paul R. Williams: Architect for Living” (Nov. 15, 2026 – May 31, 2027)
Plus, whether it’s your first visit or not, a photo with the permanent outdoor installation “Urban Light” is a must. And don’t miss a stroll underneath the “Levitated Mass.”
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Located in the same plaza as LACMA is the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a must for movie lovers. The largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to the arts, history, science, and artists of moviemaking, it offers many new exhibitions throughout the year. This fall, there will be plenty to see, including:
- “Zombies!” (open through July 25, 2027)
- “Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon” (through Feb. 28, 2027)
- “Studio Ghibli’s PONYO” (through March 21, 2027)
- “The Godfather Photo Experience” (through April 4, 2027)
Norton Simon Museum
Located in Pasadena, the Norton Simon Museum has a diverse collection that includes South and Southeast Asian art, European art (with many iconic works by Van Gogh, Degas, and more), and modern and contemporary art. Plus, their sculpture garden was recently renovated and features beautiful sculptures by Henri Moore, Aristide Maillol, Jacques Lipchitz, and more. On view this fall are the following exhibitions:
- “Making History: Manet’s ‘Execution of Maximilian’ from the National Gallery, London” (Nov. 13, 2026 – March 1, 2027)
- “The Art of Kandy: Sri Lanka’s Last Kingdom” (through Feb. 8, 2027)
Bowers Museum
This Mission Revival-style cultural center in Orange County’s Santa Ana holds over 100,000 objects including pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, Native American art, African, Asian, and Oceanic traditions, along with Californian plein-air paintings. In addition to their iconic permanent collection, the museum has several exhibitions on view and coming soon, including:
- “California Watercolor: A Changing Scene, 1930–1980” (ongoing)
- “Picasso Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection” (Oct. 24, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027)
- “Art of Mexico and Central America” (opening Nov. 21, 2026)
If you visit on the first Saturday of the month, you can stop by the Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk afterwards and check out the work of local artisans and enjoy the area’s delightful food and drink options.
“Not only is visiting a museum fun and educational, but it can also improve one’s health.”
de Young
Located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, de Young showcases American art from the 17th century through today, textile arts and costumes, contemporary art, African art, Oceanic art, and arts of the Americas. In addition to their marvelous permanent collection, the museum has 10 exhibitions on view this fall, including:
- “Rooted in Place: California Native Art” (through Dec. 6, 2026)
- “Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family” (through Dec. 6, 2026)
- “Treasures of the Pharaohs” (through Jan. 31, 2027)
- “Art of Indigenous America” (through Aug. 31, 2028)
Just across the street in Golden Gate Park is the California Academy of Sciences, a massive science museum with an aquarium, planetarium, four-story rainforest, and natural history museum. Also worth a visit is the Japanese Tea Garden, for a calming break in between art gazing.
The San Diego Museum of Art
The oldest, largest, and most-visited museum in San Diego, The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) holds over 35,000 works spanning 3,000 BC to the present. SDMA has several exhibitions on view this fall, including:
- “Icons of Imperial Russia” (through Aug. 15, 2027)
- “Early American Painting” (through May 31, 2027)
- “Dutch Painting: Special Loans from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston” (through March 21, 2027)
SDMA is situated in Balboa Park, which features 17 world-class museums from art and natural history to science, aviation, and anthropology.
