Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) — Attraction in Long Beach

The MOLAA was Empty! What did I pay for? Was it robbed? Where did all the wonderful Latin American Art go? The first 2 rooms I entered had NO ART on the walls. White walls with nothing on them. I did notice the wide open spaces, high ceilings and nice hardwood floor. Instead, there were some basic information boards displayed in English and Spanish about Spanish people. I could have googled that!

When I entered a third very large empty room, I noticed "art", as there were 2 large brown murals on the walls. But that's it. The murals were not to my taste. The 2 very similar murals depicted tattooed people performing tasks such as one person on her cell phone, one person drinking beer, and one person getting a tattoo. In the background was a painted "floor-like" tile pattern. I left to see what was in the next room, and once again, the only thing in the room was 1 or 2 more of the same murals. We found a smaller room with two small scenes on tables. One had a "farm scene" and other had an "inventor and his invention" scene. There were also 2 small (18 inches?) screens with video of the 2 scenes coming to life. Okay, that was interesting... Last, we found a room with about 20 small place mat-sized fabric art pieces on the wall. Somewhere along the way was an area with "art" that was supposed to be waves (?) in abstract, but they weren't presented well (no frames, etc.) and looked... abstract.

We were told about a sculpture garden, so we ventured to find it. Poor signage. We found ourselves walking outside along a narrow passageway between 2 buildings for about 50 feet to find the sculpture garden. It was an open stark cement area with about 10 sculptures (some in disrepair with paint peeling). When we returned to the lobby, we saw a group of performers yelling at each other, acting out a scene.

I had really thought that MoLAA was going to be something special. This museum has GREAT bones and could and should be amazing. It should contain a variety of art and and has the capacity to hold a lot of amazing art. Maybe the curator could please visit some of the other museums around Los Angeles County, like, El Segundo (ESMoA), Los Angeles (LACMA, the Getty, the Broad Museam), and get inspired to fill the Art...

We visited the museum at opening (11am) on a Saturday. We had purchased the tickets online, and there was no details of what exhibits were open or closed. Upon arriving we were told that about half of the museum was closed as they were setting up for two new exhibits. Since this was our first time here we did not know what to expect. To walk the two exhibits that were on display took maybe 10 to 15 minutes as we really engaged with the artwork.

We then went to go see the sculpture garden outside. Upon walking outside if you went to the left there is a covered seating area with a vending machine (I believe). To the right is a long narrow pathway between buildings that leads to the garden. The garden has very little shade so if it is hot like it was the day we visited you will be looking for that shade. The area was nice and the exhibits were interesting.

We stopped by the gift shop before leaving and I purchased a piece of Mexican straw art by an artist named Miguel Hernandez.

Overall we spent maybe 45 to 50 minutes here and had a great time. We would go back if they have...

I’ve been coming to the Museum of Latin American Art since I was a child, and it’s been an incredible journey to watch this institution flourish over the years. 😊 The Plant Fest event I attended today was a testament to the museum’s unwavering dedication to art and culture. 🌿

The range of plants on display was astounding, showcasing the incredible biodiversity of Latin America. 🌱 What truly sets this museum apart is the knowledgeable and passionate staff and volunteers. They shared the cultural and botanical significance of each plant with such enthusiasm, making the event not only enjoyable but also highly educational. 🌍

The welcoming atmosphere at the museum is something I’ve always cherished. It feels like a community of like-minded individuals coming together to appreciate the beauty of Latin American art and nature. 🤝

I highly recommend this museum, whether you’re new to the area or, like me, have cherished it for years. The Museum of Latin American Art has consistently delivered outstanding experiences, and I’m excited to see it continue to thrive. Keep up the...