Women Artists Gallery Tour at LACMA's Geffen Galleries

LACMA's docents are running a themed walk through the David Geffen Galleries this weekend and into Monday, focused on women artists in the museum's collection. It is an easy addition to a list of things happening in Los Angeles in early November, and it is included with regular museum admission.

When: Sat Nov 7, 11:00 AM; Sun Nov 8, 2:30 PM; Mon Nov 9, 2:00 PM Where: David Geffen Galleries, LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Price: Free with museum admission

What the tour covers

Your docent picks six key artworks, both historical and contemporary, and uses them to trace how women have made art across four centuries. The route starts with Clara Peeters's Still Life with Cheeses, Artichoke, and Cherries, painted around 1625, a tabletop of cheese, butter, cherries and bread rendered in close detail. It ends with Dora De Larios's Ocean (2009), a ceramic work by one of the Los Angeles artists who shaped the region's clay tradition.

Six works is a small enough number that the guide can slow down at each one. Expect context on who made the piece, what was happening around the artist at the time, and how the work ended up in LACMA's collection. That makes the tour a good fit for first-time visitors to the new building and for regulars who want a thread to follow through the galleries.

Good to know

These tours are volunteer-led and subject to cancellation. LACMA asks visitors to check with a member of the team on the day for details, so find a staff member when you arrive rather than assuming the tour is running. Three sessions are listed, and the Saturday one falls squarely among LA events this weekend if you are planning a museum day.

There is no separate ticket for the tour itself. You only need to have museum admission sorted, and the rest of the galleries are open to you before or after the walk. Plan for roughly an hour with the group, then leave time to wander on your own.

Getting there

LACMA sits at 5905 Wilshire Blvd in Mid-City, along Museum Row. The Metro D Line now stops directly at LACMA (Wilshire/Fairfax Station), and you can plan the trip at Metro.net. Taking the train spares you the search for parking on Wilshire, which is a real advantage on a busy weekend. For more ideas nearby, browse the Mid-City neighborhood page or the arts and culture events section.