In Session: Larry Johnson at MOCA Grand Avenue

If you are looking for things happening in Los Angeles that are quiet, small and actually about looking at art, this one fits. On Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11:30 a.m., MOCA Grand Avenue hosts an In Session built around the work of Larry Johnson, the Los Angeles artist whose photographs look nothing like photographs.

When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 11:30 a.m. Where: MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles Admission: Free with RSVP

What an In Session is

MOCA describes the series as an invitation to take part in readings, film and video, and writing activities that connect to the exhibitions currently on view. The aim is self-reflection and group discussion rather than a lecture. You are not there to be talked at. You are there to look, read, write a little and say what you think.

This session is organized by MOCA Education and focuses on Larry Johnson, whose work is on view in the museum's In These Times: Recent Acquisitions at MOCA. Capacity is limited to 15 people, so it feels closer to a seminar than a tour.

Who Larry Johnson is

Johnson is described by the museum as a contemporary innovator of Pop. His cartoon-like proto-photos borrow the images and look of TV and movie animation, graphic design, commercial illustration and advertising. By doing that, he takes apart the way American culture presents itself to itself. The image that accompanies this event, Untitled (Jesus + I) from 1990, is an Ektacolor print from MOCA's own collection.

Practical info

The session is free, but you need to RSVP through MOCA, and with only 15 spots it makes sense to do that early. Check the official event page before you go for the latest on registration and any changes. If you are sorting through LA events this weekend, pair it with a walk through the current exhibitions, since the session is meant to connect with what is on the walls.

MOCA Grand Avenue sits on Grand Avenue in Downtown LA, an easy trip by Metro to the Civic Center/Grand Park or Pershing Square stops, and a short walk from the rest of the Grand Avenue cultural corridor. Paid garages are nearby if you drive.

A small, free, discussion-led morning at one of the city's major contemporary art museums is a good way to spend part of a Saturday. Browse more art and culture in Downtown LA or in our arts and culture listings.