In the span of the last two years, the Santa Monica Museum of Art left its namesake city for Downtown and changed its name to reflect its new home in Los Angeles. Next month, the new Institute of Contemporary Art, Los—ICA LA for short—will be opening its doors to the public, completing the journey from Santa Monica to a converted Arts District industrial space.
ICA LA’s new digs were designed by architecture firm wHY, with the “creative direction” of wHY’s Kulapat Yantrasast—the same firm and architect that helped transform a Scottish Rite temple on Wilshire Boulevard into the Marciano Art Foundation.
The building is located on Seventh Street in the super-happening Arts District, right across from the Greyhound bus station.
Entrance to the museum and its exhibitions is free. It officially opens to the public on September 9, with a roster of events planned for opening weekend, including an exhibit on self-taught SoCal artist Martín Ramírez that coincides with the Pacific Standard Time LA/LA art series.