Hammer Museum

A Museum Going Far Beyond Art Displays

The Hammer occupies a corner building in Westwood where Wilshire meets Westwood Boulevard. Visitors enter into galleries that feel smaller and more navigable than sprawling institutions across town. The scale works in its favor. You can see everything in a focused afternoon without museum fatigue setting in.

The ground floor typically presents major rotating exhibitions. During biennial years (odd-numbered), Made in LA takes over much of the space with works by roughly 30 artists practicing in the greater Los Angeles area. Past editions have included painters, sculptors, filmmakers, choreographers, and multi-media installations. The shows capture a moment in time, presenting work that reflects current concerns and methods rather than retrospective surveys.

The Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts houses one of the country’s largest collections of works on paper. Selections rotate through dedicated galleries, spanning Renaissance prints to contemporary photography. The center holds over 40,000 items total, though only a fraction displays at any given time.

The Armand Hammer Collection occupies dedicated galleries on the second floor (currently off view for renovation through December 2025). This founding collection includes European and American paintings from the 16th through 20th centuries, with works by Rembrandt, Titian, Monet, and Cassatt. The industrialist Armand Hammer assembled this collection and established the museum in 1990. UCLA assumed management in 1994, shifting the institution toward contemporary programming while maintaining the original holdings.

Billy Wilder Theater

The 295-seat Billy Wilder Theater sits at courtyard level, hosting UCLA Film & Television Archive screenings alongside lectures, performances, and readings. The theater can project films in their original formats, from early silent cinema to current digital releases. Raspberry-pink seats and LED light strips create a distinct interior that references classic movie palaces without copying them directly.

Film series might focus on a director’s work, a genre, or historical period. Programming runs most evenings, with tickets available at the box office one hour before showtime. Most screenings cost around $9, though some are free. Check the schedule ahead of your visit if film interests you.

The Courtyard

An open-air courtyard connects the museum spaces and provides seating areas shaded by trees. Lulu occupies one section with both indoor and outdoor tables. Chef David Tanis (longtime Chez Panisse chef) runs the restaurant with Alice Waters’ involvement, sourcing ingredients from local farms practicing regenerative agriculture. The menu changes daily based on farmers market finds. Lunch runs Tuesday through Sunday, dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Expect California-Mediterranean cooking with an emphasis on seasonal produce.

The courtyard sees regular activity even beyond mealtimes. Free family programs on weekends draw children for art-making activities. Evening events might include jazz performances or exhibition opening celebrations. The space functions as a genuine gathering point rather than mere passage between galleries.

Public Programs

The Hammer stages over 300 free programs annually. These include artist talks discussing current exhibitions, film screenings related to social issues, readings by authors, and panel discussions on topics from architecture to politics. The Hammer Forum series brings together thinkers across disciplines for conversations about pressing cultural questions.

Check the online calendar before visiting. Programs often connect directly to exhibitions on view, offering deeper context and artist perspectives. Many events reach capacity, so arrive early or register in advance when required.

Planning Your Visit

The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Hours run 11am to 6pm most days, with Friday extending to 8pm. Galleries close at the listed time, so arrive with enough margin to see what interests you.

Parking sits beneath the museum with entrances from Westwood Boulevard or Glendon Avenue. Cost runs $8 for the first three hours with museum validation, then $3 per additional 20 minutes (max $22 daily). After 5pm weekdays and all day weekends, parking costs a flat $8. The lot sometimes fills during popular exhibitions. Alternative parking exists at UCLA Lot 36 on Kinross Avenue for $6.

Metro’s Expo Line stops at Westwood/Rancho Park, then you can transfer to buses that serve Wilshire Boulevard. Street parking in Westwood Village requires hunting but exists if you allow extra time.

The bookstore stocks art publications, exhibition catalogs, and design objects. It’s worth browsing for titles you won’t find in standard bookshops. The store maintains the same hours as museum galleries.