The Getty Center: Leader in cultural and visual arts destinations
Since opening its doors in 1997, the Getty Center has welcomed nearly 14 million visitors and become a leading cultural destination in Los Angeles.
The Getty Center is home to the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the Getty Foundation. Together, these programs have conducted and funded research, conservation, and education programs locally, nationally, and internationally. The Getty Center collaborates with other Los Angeles cultural institutions to enrich the community’s understanding of the visual arts.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, which consists of six buildings around a central courtyard, houses a collection of European paintings, Greek, European and Roman antiquities, a large collection of 18th century French decorative art and American and European photography.
The West Pavilion contains nearly 450 paintings, from 1300-1900 — works of the Northern Italian Renaissance, Baroque paintings from Italy and Flanders; Dutch works of the 17th century; and French painting of the 18th and 19th centuries. There are also 800 European drawings, including works by Leonard do Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Fragonard, Van Gogh and Seurat.
The North Pavilion houses European sculpture, paintings, drawings and manuscripts and decorative arts. The East Pavilion is home to the Getty’s French 17th and 18th century decorative arts collection, and a family room for all ages to discover a world of art through hands-on activities.
Eighty-six acres of landscaped gardens and terraces, including the Central Garden designed by artist Robert Irwin, provide sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin, the mountains, the ocean, and the surrounding 600 acres preserved in their natural state.
The 134,000-square-foot Central offers visitors an inviting; tree-lined walkway that zigzags across a stream and gradually descends to a plaza where bougainvillea arbors provide scale and a sense of intimacy. The stream culminates in a cascade of water over a stone waterfall into a pool in which a maze of azaleas appears to float.
The Museum Store offers a large selection of books on art, architecture, art education, cultural studies, history and classic literature, as well as Los Angeles and regional titles. The store carries all books, posters, and other materials published by the Getty, including a large selection of children’s offerings.
The Getty Center offers several café style eateries with sandwiches, salads, grill specials, and international cuisine—and a perfectly paired view of the courtyards, garden and Los Angeles to go with your food. There are food and beverage carts throughout the center.
- by Jennifer Pruett, Los Angeles Reporter for HelloMetro
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