Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

Art museum · Long Beach

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

Art museum · Long Beach

3

628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

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Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
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Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) by null

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Museum of Latin American Art: contemporary art & education  

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628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802 Get directions

molaa.org
@molaa.art

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628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802 Get directions

+1 562 437 1689
molaa.org
@molaa.art

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Aug 13, 2025

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On the Grid : Museum of Latin American Art

"The beautiful art and culture of Latin America is strewn throughout the entire county of Los Angeles and we're proud to say that Long Beach carry's one of it's prime representatives. Hosting a colorful collection of Latin American contemporary art - MOLAA is the only museum of contemporary Latin art in the United States and a wonderful place to explore fine art with themes of culture, struggle, celebration, and identity." - Down the Street Designs

https://onthegrid.city/los-angeles/long-beach/museum-of-latin-american-art
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@onthegrid

"Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach. The beautiful art and culture of Latin America is strewn throughout the entire county of Los Angeles and we're proud to say that Long Beach carry's one of it's prime representatives. Hosting a colorful collection of Latin American contemporary art - MOLAA is the only museum of contemporary Latin art in the United States and a wonderful place to explore fine art with themes of culture, struggle, celebration, and identity."

Los Angeles
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"Los Compadres is a classic combo-plate Mexican restaurant that seems a fitting post-voting meal with everything from queso fundido to giant burritos, and it’s a few blocks from the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. Open until 9 p.m. Los Compadres. 1144 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA" - Eater Staff

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F. Jones

Google
Nice museum $15 entry free parking. Kinda on the smaller side. The outside makes it look bigger than it is. The sculpture garden was closed when I went. The gift shop was pretty cool. The staff was pretty nice. Overall I say you should give it a chance if you're into art. Also its more of an art gallery than a museum.

Keiner Jemand

Google
Smaller than expected - for 15$. Not much art to see. For once because the building is much smaller inside than it appears from the outside. Also because, I guess, because some of the current exhibitions occupy a lot of space - where otherwise could hang many pictures. I was pointed to two "galleries" - one a set of rooms, the other a single room. That's it. The sculpture garden was okay, but littered with tables, maybe from a reception, which spoiled the overall impression. I would NOT recommend it if they don't get their act together - better. For free, yes, go have a look.

Kenneth Collins

Google
I love this museum. I see shows that are curated as well as large well heavily endowed institutions. Stop by and spend an hour or two taking in some the best representations of Latin American creative excellence.

isaiah carmona

Google
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 new exhibits.

Sasha Fedorova

Google
I was in the Long Beach for an event, and was looking to find things to do around here, this museum was my first choice. It’s small and has exhibitions of four artists at the moment. The exhibitions are very well thought out and set up, there are some really beautiful and unique pieces that I haven’t seen anywhere else. I really wish there was a tour guide or self guided tour so I could learn more about the pieces and the work behind them. On Saturday afternoon it wasn’t too crowded but the parking was a pain. The parking lot is small and hard to navigate with lots of dead ends. There was also some kind of event taking a place around the corner, sharing the same parking lot. It was like plants farmers markets! It was another highlight of the visit, I got a few plants, an art piece, and met some incredible people. There was insane line to get in there. The entrance to the museum was free because it was Saturday and also it coincided with one free day a month even though I was not a long beach resident.

iza ajmeri

Google
We visited the Museum of Latin American Arts and were honestly disappointed, especially considering the $15 per adult admission. Latin America has such a rich, vibrant history and culture that plays a huge role in the U.S., but that wasn't reflected here. There were very few exhibits, and the courtyard—while open and peaceful—felt mostly empty. The sculptures outside had spider webs on them, which made it feel like no one was really taking care of the space. A quick cleaning would have made a big difference. We were hoping to learn and see more about Latin American art, history, and culture, but unfortunately, the museum felt more like a missed opportunity. There's so much potential here that just wasn't tapped into.

Megan Bowes

Google
This is a beautiful museum. They rotate their art regularly. The next time you go back is a new experience. The artwork is beautiful and thought provoking. The museum store has lovely pieces from many artists.

Krystalle Melencio

Google
Thanks BofA! I got to visit for free. Trying to depict what the art is expressing truly makes art worth more than 1000 words. The message can make you think what did the artist went thru or saw.
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Ash G.

Yelp
Stopped by here with my husband during their free-day on Sunday & let me just say we absolutely loved it! We arrived just in time for their guided tour & to our surprise it wasn't too busy. We had some time before the tour began so we first hit up the sculpture garden & every piece was so unique and beautiful. The walk to the garden felt a little adventurous & I must say I enjoyed walk through it & seeing the great pieces they have here. The drummer especially caught my interest. The tour guide was so kind, a little soft spoken but kind and knowledgeable on the pieces. She guided us through the works currently on display by artists: Alejandra Phelts, Andrey Guianá Zignnato, and Alexandre Arrechea. Each piece captivating & beautiful. I recommend you check out this small but powerful collection. I'm grateful it wasn't packed when we came I felt that comfortable in not feeling rushed to take my time analyzing each piece. Great work artist & MOLAA for allowing artists to display their raw, heartfelt pieces. Loved this museum. I'll be back
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Bryan T.

Yelp
This was my first time coming here in years, I believe the last time I came was in 4th grade before they expanded the museum. I came on a Sunday as it's free admission every Sunday. There was a lot of parking in the lot and it was easy to access. Inside, the museum was pretty small. I saw everything in less than an hour but the art pieces were beautiful and unique. One of the exhibitions was closed so maybe I would have to come back for the full experience. They also had a sculpture garden outside, it was small though but there were some nice sculptures to look at and take pictures. Overall, it's worth checking out on Sundays if you're in Downtown LB and looking for a free activity to do.
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Kathryn C.

Yelp
I organized a group of 10 friends who drove down from Pasadena to visit on October 18th, and sadly we were very disappointed. The museum was not only smaller than we expected, but half of it was closed due to a gala they were organizing. We saw some modern art, but much of it was huge, which meant that there were fewer pieces that could fit into the space. The guard on hand knew very little about the art, so we couldn't figure out what to think of it as the written explanations weren't very good. The gift shop was nice, at least.
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Derek W.

Yelp
Bank of America has this promotion called Museums on Us where if you are a client of the bank, you can score free admission to select museums on the first weekend of every month. The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is the only such museum in the LBC that partners with Bank of America, but only honors this promo on Saturdays, presumably because the museum already offers MOLAA Free Sundays. I couldn't find any information about how to redeem the free admission as a bank client, but an email inquiry confirmed that I could show up in person without "purchasing" a ticket online, and I'd simply have to prove my membership there to enjoy the benefit. Upon my arrival, I learned that my Bank of America card plus my ID would suffice as proof of membership, and I was given a receipt to confirm my check-in at the front desk. Arriving during the first hour of operation, I saw the mostly vacant parking lot, a rarity in this part of Long Beach, but understandable since that parking is specifically for museum visitors only. There should be plenty enough spots, even more around the corner, for all visitors at any given time while the museum is open. After checking in at the front desk, the pleasant hostess who checked me in gave me a quick rundown of guidelines like no food and beverages allowed in the galleries as well as video recording and flash photography being prohibited. However, I'd be allowed to take photos on my phone as long as there wasn't a flash. The gallery was to the right, and straight ahead was the museum shop. The restrooms were in the far left corner next to some lockers that have a unique way of storing your personal belongings while at the museum. There aren't that many galleries to visit, so definitely don't plan to spend the whole day there. As a matter of fact, I had left the museum at the end of the first hour, and that even included walking to the other side of Alamitos to see the exterior of a nearby museum. However, the displays are pretty cool to see. One of the first displays I saw was a basketball hoop tree, and it was almost within arm's reach that I almost thought about slam dunking my phone through a hoop lol. However, I wouldn't recommend touching those displays, though the basketball nearby made me wonder if anybody tried shooting a hoop, but missed haha. That room was interesting with a video projected on each wall. One of those videos showed a time lapse of a building being constructed, and there was a scaled replica of that building on display there. The next room over was also filled with its fair share of interesting artifacts. The first one I saw in the far corner looked like glass punching bags, which was fascinating to say the least. However, the most intriguing display in that room was a circular road with glassware on either side of that road, a golf club inside the circle, and a golf ball on the road. I didn't see a description of what that was, but the plaques for each display are pretty small and hard to read unless you look real close. A piano with stadium seating on the lid of the piano was also an interesting display of art. The third room showcased Cross-Border Women. It was a white room at the end of the museum that didn't have a whole lot of displays, but was quite impressive to view. The fourth gallery had orange walls and a poster that said, "THIS IS AN INDIGENOUS TERRITORY". There also wasn't a whole lot of displays in this gallery, but the one that stood out to me was a wooden framework of what appears to be a really small house, and the framework was being held by vases. The cool part about this display is that you can even go inside! I would have given 4 stars out of 5, but I'm dropping it to 3 stars for two reasons. The first is because at the front desk, I was told the sculpture garden was closed. There was nothing online indicating that there was a special event that day, so I wouldn't have been able to tell without physically going there or giving them a call that I wouldn't be able to access the sculpture garden that day. Secondly, while I was outside, I was trying to walk around a mother and son getting ready to take a photo in front of a sculpture. However, a thorn from a small cactus struck me in the foot, penetrating my shoe in the process. It was pretty painful to deal with the rest of the day, so definitely don't let the kiddos run around wild in that area as they could get hurt by one of these prickly plants. The museum is open from 11 AM to 6 PM every day of the week except for Mondays and Tuesdays. The bottom of the website initially said they close at 5 PM, but another email inquiry confirmed the correct closing time of 6 PM, and the website was since revised. Would I come back? Well, I certainly wouldn't want to pay the regular $15 fee for general admission, but I'd make a return visit, either on another Sunday or the first Saturday of a different month to *hopefully* see what the sculpture garden looks like.
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Jason R.

Yelp
We visited on a free Sunday. It is a small museum with a small sculpture/cactus garden.
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Julia K.

Yelp
A beautiful and well curated museum in Long Beach. It's tucked into a residential neighborhood with a modern interior. Past exhibits included Frida Kahlo and now include both past and contemporary artists depicting still life's, prints, and even a sculpture garden. The spaces are laid out well for each artist, and the staff are super friendly and helpful with questions. Every Sunday is free museum day so it's totally worth it to come on a weekend.
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Juan U.

Yelp
Amazing place to visit, free on Sundays. Museum always changing exhibits and artists. They have a sculpture patio in the back. Great gift shop with variety of products and prices. Will def come back again and explore more exhibits and buy some souvenirs / gifts.
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Michael G.

Yelp
Museum of Latin American Art is a great activity for a family outing or even a date. My current boyfriend and I went on our first real date here. We both live in the gayborhood and took a circuit (free ride share service) on a Sunday afternoon. When we arrived a free tour was about to start, so we definitely took advantage of it and had a great experience. I wish I remember the tour guide's name as he was awesome. There tends to be around three exhibits and an outdoor garden. Prices are pretty affordable and memberships are available.... We took advantage of free admission on Sunday. So visit this great local gem, be cultured, learn and an appreciate a thing or two.
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Natalia C.

Yelp
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach is an absolute gem for art enthusiasts, and my recent visit left me in awe. The highlight of my experience was the captivating Botero exhibition and the museum's generous offering of free entry on Sundays. The Botero exhibition at MOLAA was a true feast for the eyes. The collection showcased the iconic works of Fernando Botero, the renowned Colombian artist. The larger-than-life sculptures and voluptuous paintings that define Botero's style were beautifully displayed, offering a unique and immersive experience. The exhibit allowed me to delve into the artist's distinctive vision and gain a deeper appreciation for Latin America's rich culture and history. The Museum of Latin American Art is a treasure trove of artistic expression, boasting diverse works by established and emerging Latin American artists. The galleries are thoughtfully curated, showcasing a variety of mediums, styles, and themes that beautifully reflect the depth and complexity of Latin American art. MOLAA's commitment to providing free Sunday entry is one aspect that makes it even more remarkable. This inclusive initiative allows visitors from all walks of life to experience the cultural wealth within the museum's walls without any financial barriers. It's a testament to MOLAA's dedication to fostering accessibility and community engagement through art. I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Latin American Art to anyone seeking a captivating and enriching artistic experience. Whether you're an avid art lover or simply curious about Latin American culture, MOLAA offers an inspiring and enlightening journey. Don't miss the Botero exhibition and take advantage of the museum's free entry on Sundays--it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Latin American art and celebrate its enduring beauty. Parking is free!
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Miguel R.

Yelp
Tiny Museum Post brunch stroll aids digestion Eye Candy, Brainfood The above is a haiku that meant to capture the experience. A friend of mine came to see me for my birthday. We went to Arize, and we needed a place that would help us kill an hour. Molaa is free on Sundays and small enough to not be an intimidating space. You can find easy parking, and then go enjoy some eye catching art. For example, today, there was some engaging pieces of modern art. Like a small race car tracked framed by- what I assume were hand-blown glass bottles in very pretty colors. The track and the bottles were projected unto screen but now the track looked bigger, the bottle make-shift trees. It felt like I was invited to imagine how movies were created, and how I would feel if I were to drive this track. The sculpture garden was closed. So that was kind of lame. There was this room painted in pastels that gave strong Easter vibes. That was my favorite room because I wanted to be a resident of the world that had this sky. I strolled through this world that I imagined and the visit was sublime. So go on a Sunday, when you need a stroll. At 2:00 p.m. on Sunday they offer a free tour. Go there during that time if you needed guided attention.
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Michael S.

Yelp
Beautiful building. Large galleries. Terrific shows. Pleasant staff. Wonderful garden. Interesting gift shop.
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Sandra B.

Yelp
This was such a fun experience. We enjoyed looking at latin american artists art and it was fairly close to the beach.
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Ran T.

Yelp
What an unexpected nice little surprise when I was walking around Long Beach. Coming from the Bay Area, Long Beach can seem a little dull but MOLA is definitely a gem hidden in plain sight. The curator did a fantastic job in including a variety of both modern and traditional Latin American artists. Each exhibit is unique and interesting. You could easily spend a couple of hours getting relaxed and inspired. Don't miss the outdoor sculpture garden. Highly recommend for first date (or 100th date).

Rosalba M.

Yelp
Disclosure, if your art teacher assigns you an exhibit paper, DON'T waste your time here. They had 10 pieces of visual art and nothing else was open (they could've put a disclaimer on the website, stating that nothing was going to be available due to a gala!) I wasted $10 as a student that's way too much for nothing to be available to build an assignment on. Shame on MOLAA for not caring enough to do some work, maybe have your front desk do something other than sit and gossip and get this museum in better shape. Such a waste of time and money.
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Gabby R.

Yelp
I love visiting! I always feel so inspired. The museum is pretty small even though it looks huge. You can easily finish it all in 30 minutes. Although small, they always showcase beautiful pieces. Also, It's free on Sundays to all.
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Linnette R.

Yelp
This is a great size museum that also has audio for the garden that they have. When I came here they had a Botero exhibit. They also had other artist that I previously saw their work at the OCMA. Would definitely recommend this place.
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Jeanette Y.

Yelp
Came here on a Sunday because Sundays are free! I got tickets online and was able to take a group of coworkers to admire some Latin American artwork especially during Hispanic Heritage Month. We spent probably an hour here. There are 3 galleries and a sculpture garden in the building. There was a closed exhibit that is under construction that the front workers mentioned will be open in October. When we were there, there was also a dance workshop towards the end of the last gallery which I thought was pretty good. The 3 gallery rooms are completely different from each other. And one more impactful than the one before. It was very intriguing because there are no descriptions of the artwork or any explanations behind the inspiration...the blurb for each room explains that you as the viewer can interpret it in your own way. Some artwork displayed are there temporarily and others are permanent pieces. My favorite was pieces by Narisiso Martinez. The sculpture garden was a nice outdoor area and there are interesting bronze pieces along with some Latin American plants. Didn't spend too much time here considering the limited amount of art. Overall, it was a great experience but I wished there was more to see. It's interesting to see how different the artwork were from each other but wished there was some background information as to the inspiration on these pieces. I recommended coming here especially on one of their free Sundays!
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Abel M.

Yelp
Got a chance to visit this amazing museum dedicated to Latin American art. I drove all the way from San Diego just to see the Judy Baca exhibit on the last days it was on display. I was impressed by her work and the exhibit itself. It was several main rooms with other smaller rooms dedicated to another exhibit. I loved her style of art and the influence from Siqueiros. I bought my tickets online and since I'm a student it was only $7. You have to show an ID that matches the name on the tickets. You also have to have proof of vaccination and wear a mask while inside.
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John S.

Yelp
i bought a pair of special edition Vans featuring artwork from Chicana artist judy Baca. Upon researching her I learned that an exhibit of her work at the museum was extended to coincide with our visit to Southern California. We also lucked out by arriving a few minutes before a docent tour by Harold Cannon Lopez was set to begin. Cannon a retired professor at Cal State Long Beach, provided background on Baca's works that we never would have known had we walked through the museum on our own. The large mural on the wall leading to the exhibit, Memoria de Nuestra Tierra, shows Baca's father and grandparents as they left Mexico at the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1920. The 10-by-50-foot mural once hung in the Denver airport. There were pieces devoted to César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, who figured prominently in the struggles of migrant farm workers and who formed the United Farm Workers. Another work documents people fleeing Central America during the strife of the 1970s and '80s. There are pencil drawings and sketches that depict the origins of Baca's most ambitious work, The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a half-mile mural in the Tujunja Flood Control Channel in the San Fernando Valley. One room is devoted to a four-wall moving picture showing the artwork of The Great Wall. We really enjoyed our visit.
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Chan L.

Yelp
12:37 pm Sat/7 Oct. Free, easy parking in their huge lot. Museum is only 1 story so easy to walk around. $10/entry for students/military, $15/regular and i think they have frequent free admission days (docent said tomorrow Oct 7 is free).
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Jen S.

Yelp
Sure it's a small space but it allows you to really absorb Latino/a and Chicano/a art. I went a few weeks ago with my family and learned about a new artist - Judith Baca. Her artwork is just beautiful and meaningful. I found out that her art is displayed at San Jose State University, my alma mater (http://www.judybaca.com/artist/art/archofdignityequalityandjustice/). The piece is called the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice. Admission prices are super affordable - $10 per adults, $7 for seniors, kids - free. Free and plenty of parking. They won't let you carry a water bottle around the museum so be prepared to place it in a locker.
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Mario U.

Yelp
I attended a private reception at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach and quickly fell in love with the place and the artwork. The artwork outside of the museum are really cool and fun to watch. Located to the side of the building, there is an incredible metallic silver sculpture that looks part Transformer and part punk atom. It reminded me of a giant metal ball with spikes that could open and close like a Tejano musician playing an accordion solo. The kid in me thought it just sitting there like a toy wanting to be picked up. If I had bigger hands and with permission of course, I would have loved to pick it up, play with it--watching it quickly expand and contract. Of course, it's stationary and is firmly secured to the floor but I can easily imagine being a kid and playing accordion with it like Lorenzo Welk. Once inside I read that MOLAA is the only museum in the U.S. fully dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino Art. On my visit, the Fernando Botero exhibit was on display, and I really enjoyed many of his pieces and hearing about his life story and inspiration. Botero is truly one of the world's most famous and recognized living artists around and his art is awe inspiring. I also enjoyed the Yolanda Gonzalez exhibit. Gonzalez studied locally and her artwork has appeared in many art museums around the world. I figured parking was going to be hard to find but surprisingly there is plenty of parking available in front. I enjoyed my visit to MOLAA so such that I signed up for the newsletter and I look forward to visiting again to enjoy the latest exhibits.
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Susana G.

Yelp
Wonderful exhibits of Latin American, Latinx, Chicanx artists in the world of contemporary art! It's the only accredited museum for Latino Contemporary art in the country and their cultural festivals are fantastic!

Linda Y.

Yelp
This museum is on the outskirts of downtown. Building looks very large from the outside. The interior did not have many galleries/rooms as i had expected. Artwork was great. I'm glad there is a museum in California that displays artwork exclusively from Latin American artists. I was surprised it had a garden in the back. Definitely need to return soon!
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James R.

Yelp
Love this room museum dedicated to an American artist. Such a beautiful place displaying artwork from the variety of artist working in various media. I was really impressed by the Botero exhibit.

Soup Is D.

Yelp
It was so bad. The host who was showing us the art had a rapsy ass voice and literally couldnt stop talking she only showed like 7 artworks It was so boring just don't come here I rather be at a funeral home.
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Paula O.

Yelp
The Museum has reopened! We are anxious to check out their roster of exhibits for fall. Judy Bacca opening this month. We were here last week for voting. It was almost like pre-lockdown. A lovely, albeit hot, day to return here since the last election. I have not ever been to a more pleasant voting precinct than that at the museum. Not only the environment but the extraordinary workers that we encountered were so helpful and proficient. They are Nancy, Deborah, Ada, Rita.
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Charlyann M.

Yelp
This is a very small and intimate museum. It is very classy and nice. You can tour it quickly. The store is good too. There is on site parking.
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Jennifer F.

Yelp
So much has changed for the better at MOLAA! Bravo! Loved the Narsiso Martinez, Fernando Botero, Pablo Rasgado, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe exhibits! Looking forward to future exhibits. Just would love to see a few more from the permanent collection but definitely worth the visit!
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Cynthia D.

Yelp
Yes, went to go see the Museum following the week of Christmas. The artist that completed the work on fruit boxes was amazing - it spoke volumns not only to the Latino community but the great community in general. The paintings done in black in white of the masked food works was absolutely haunting. Spectacular work. Would love to see an exhibit expanded of the Virgin Mary - the exhibit was rather small and I think a sizeable exhibit could feature Virgin Mary paintings from all over Latin America. Would also love to see one of angles from all over Latin America - this could be really well done if paired with the Museum store to purchase angels in the gift shop - BUT NOT MADE IN CHINA!!! Made locally in Latin America. Next year, would love to see an expanded for sale of mini Nativity scenes - their are so many - Spain has some amazing artists making them out of corn husks. The buyer needs to get out of the store and provided a budget to go make purchases from Latin American countries of Christmas oriented items - if not then the Executive Director should spend some time doing this - but it should really be done.
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Gary I.

Yelp
With a huge population of Latinos in Socal, the establishment of MOLAA seems like a logical extension of the local museum art scene. However, the Museum of Latin American Art founded by Dr. Robert Gumbiner was not actualized until 1996. Pretty late in the date for a museum exclusively specialising in Latino Art considering California was a colony of Spain & Mexico for hundreds of years before. Ink Stories on Skin: Much of the exhibit space on Sunday, February 3, 2019 was devoted to the history of tattoos from the world over to create a common theme, but of course, the main emphasis was on the Chicano version of tattoo design. What energized this exhibit was personal experiences & stories of the various people who bore tattoos and presented by an artist who depicted them in portraiture. Individual tv screens starring the featured person told their personal lives of trial & tribulation, then their "triumph" over the tragedies. One vignette featured a woman who felt she was a man trapped in a woman's body. How she initially thought she was Lesbian since she was attracted to women which caused a rift between her and her family who couldn't understand the plight of their daughter. When her taking on the Lesbian identity did not bring closure, she was exposed to the concept of transexual identity. That's when it dawned on her that she was a man. The bottom line to this story is to not have your core being defined by others but to empower oneself to define who one really is in order to lead a happy, satisfying life. The other stories are just as powerful and multifaceted as the people that they represent. Great that MOLAA is into featuring the diversity of the human condition. There are 3 other exhibits. a)JUDITHE HERNÁNDEZ: A DREAM IS THE SHADOW OF SOMETHING REAL til February 17. b) La Huella Múltiple/multiple footprints of prints by various artists til April 17. c) Palpable Objects til February 10. Small exhibit of their permanent collection just behind the gift shop where I bought fine grained textured Mexican style chocolate flavoured w/ Guajillo chile. A rare find. I wanted to research Leonel Maciel so I asked the information desk if the museum had a computer to access their collection and the artists to see if there were any information. However, they told me there are no means of access for museum guests. Sorry to hear MOLAA doesn't serve as a research or information site for those seriously interested in Latin American Art & Artists. Nonetheless, a solid 4 Yelp stars.
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Shelby J.

Yelp
Fun outing, Afro-Latinx Festival today. All kinds of exhibits, several food trucks and plenty of good music. The museum had an art exhibit for viewing in between enjoying all the festival had to offer. Adults, kids, animals all enjoying the great music! Parts of the museum were close off while they added new exhibits. Plenty of parking and best of all FREE.

Julio R.

Yelp
A lot smaller than anticipated huge building but only three small areas of art. Not worth the price of admission, $15 general admission. Came a long way and was expecting 1.5 hour to go through the entire museum. Saw everything in 10minutes. If you're in the area sure by all means. But save yourself the trip if this is the only thing on the agenda.
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Jenni M.

Yelp
Thanks to a sponsorship from Target, every Sunday at the Museum of Latin American Art is free to the public. All you have to do is sign in, but no personal information is needed. Although I was disappointed in the lack of art on display on 7/22/18, this museum is still worthy of a visit as the exhibitions rotate throughout the year. In general, the staff is nice, but to be honest I could do without them reprimanding my family for "being too close" to displays even though they were behind the boundary lines and weren't even touching them. Curiosity just always kills these cats. Free large parking lot adjacent to the museum or street parking is available. 2018 Yelp challenge #160
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Susannah K.

Yelp
This is a tiny museum that took all of 20 min to go through. Website isn't very informative either. I was so looking forward to seeing Frida Kahlo and was disappointed that there was just mural art from Judith Baca. Looks like they have generous corporate donors. Not sure why all the exhibit was about immigration and people selling street food. Is this supposed to be representative of the Latam experience in LA? What about a tribute to all those who worked hard and succeeded? Not inspirational at all. They're saying this is family friendly but don't section off the inappropriate pieces. There's ample parking.
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Junior D.

Yelp
Museum of Latin American located in Long Beach close to downtown area here you can see works of all kind of Latin American artist this museum is very good to watch visit see all the new and upcoming artist all the Latin artists that they have all around the world also if you can see if you can find a piece made by Isabella Duco excellent pieces check it out
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Max S.

Yelp
I enjoy coming to this museum, especially on Sunday's, when there is no admission charge all day long. They offered a diverse collection of artwork on this visit, from photographs; videography; paintings; sculptures; mixed media; and installations. I enjoyed taking the time to take everything in. There is also the usual museum store. They have a wonderful garden outside that visitors can stroll through, but it was closed on this particular visit, along with the outdoor cafe where they sell coffee and bakery goods. There is a large mural out front, along with a sculpture to the left of the entry way, and a waterfall sculpture facing the street. Visitors are surrounded by artwork everywhere. They have a large parking lot, which is also free.
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Sherry L.

Yelp
Wonderful small museum that features some great artists and has an amazing gift shop.
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Scott S.

Yelp
This is a great cultural museum located in Long Beach, California. One of the great things about this museum is that it is free on Sunday. So, if you want to save a little bit of money, that is the time to visit. As MOLAA's name implies, this museum features art and artists that either hail from Latin American countries or are influenced by Latin America. Thus, the type of art you will see here is very specific. And, that is a good thing as you get to see a very specific and highly defined area of creativity. The exhibits at this museum are frequently changing. So, you can always be sure to find some new art to look at when you come here. This museum has a large parking lot, so you can generally find parking within its grounds. This keeps you from having to drive the streets looking for an open space. Thus, coming here is very easily accomplished. Overall, this is a fun museum to visit whenever you are in the Long Beach area.
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Patrick S.

Yelp
Fascinating art presentations. Audio Video Painting Interactions art Modern in nature Well done. This is well make you think...
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Sherri B.

Yelp
I loved this small but impressive museum and i was very glad i went. The artwork did not disappoint; especially the Bolero works of art. I will support this place. Lovely sculptures and garden
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Graciela P.

Yelp
Interesting......the current exhibition is Gráfica América. There was some pretty cool stuff in there and other things that just made you ask WTH is that?! But hey its art right? Yea I don't know.....I found that timeline of printmaking and "Colonization" interesting. There was one room I really did enjoy it was by Cuban artists Osmeivy Ortega Pacheco, the techniques and materials he used were very cool how he was able to put everything together. I really liked Los Nidos de Plata. I wouldn't mind returning to see what other exhibits they have after this one is over, it would depend thought.
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Elena K.

Yelp
Small but impactful. Today was media day at the new Ink exhibit. Several of the artists were walking around and being interviewed. It was exciting. This was my first time at the museum. I had been warned in advance how small it was so I knew going in I would not spend longer than an hour here, even with the awesome exhibits. There is no cafe, but they compensate with a very nice gift shop. I thought it was cool how the Ink exhibit blended in with the Sailors in Long Beach exhibit. Lots of Latino culture on display, finally giving focus to an underground portfolio of cholos, cholas, pachucas, pachucos, prison art, etc. Fascinating imagery including Frida and Siqueiros inspired contemporary art. And a small but needed room on immigration, dreamers, ICE, laborers. Can't wait to see what this museum features next.
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Julie L.

Yelp
Extremely surprised by this museum! Gorgeous artwork, very colorful and just the right size. Normally, I get tired and push myself into hour 3. Here, you could spend a little over an hour and really get deep into the pieces. There's fascinating history here.
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Sandi H.

Yelp
I was excited to finally go to the Museum of Latin American Art after having heard about it for so long and missed so many prior exhibits because Long Beach is a two-hour drive for me during the week (and at least an hour on the weekends). But I found myself already in Long Beach today, with two hours to spare before the museum closing time. Unfortunately, I can only give it 3 stars at this point because: - The main reason I wanted to go was for the sculpture garden, "the most important collection of contemporary Latin American sculpture in the nation," which was closed for a private event today. - The front desk staff didn't tell me it was closed until I'd already paid my admission and wandered around looking for it. It wasn't until I tried to open a door that was ajar that a security guard told me that was a private event space. When I asked her if there was a sculpture garden somewhere, she said, "Yes, but I think it's closed today. Ask the front desk staff." Normally when you enter a museum -- no matter if it's The Met or The Bunny Museum -- the person greeting you would ask if it's your first time at the museum, point out any exhibits that are new or temporary or featured, and alert you as to any closures. They would ask if you're there to see anything in particular, they would give you a map, they would point you in the right direction. Today at MOLAA, there were 4 people at the front desk, one with his nose buried in his computer screen, the others looking like they were watching the clock and counting the minutes until they could go home. When I went back to ask if the sculpture garden was closed today, they said yes. I asked, "Is it... usually closed on Saturdays?" and they said it had been rented for a private event. I asked if it was accessible to the public without a ticket or if I'd have to buy another ticket and come back to see it. They said it's accessible with a ticket. I said that would've been good to know when I bought my ticket. They said nothing. Listen, $10 is not that big of a deal. I'm happy to support the museum. I enjoyed the Quique Rivera and Robert Graham exhibits today, though I hadn't come for them and felt incredibly disappointed at the lack of communication. If I'd know ahead of time, I might've chosen to fork over the $10 and visit the museum anyway, even though the sculpture garden was closed. But I wasn't given the choice. And nobody even apologized. The only time I ever felt welcome today is when I walked into the gift shop. Whoever the woman was working there today did a great job of greeting me. Unfortunately, my visit had already been soured. I hope to make it back to Long Beach at some point and see MOLAA's permanent collection of sculpture (besides what's out in the front, which I enjoyed). I hope by then that someone trains the staff in customer service and hospitality.

Lucas B.

Yelp
Small, but very elegant museum. Good gift shop. A vibrant collection of Latin American art. Friendly knowledgeable staff.

Diana C.

Yelp
I love this Latin Museum in Long Beach. They always have a bunch of cool art work. The few times I've been here I have had a positive experience. My first time here they had a bunch of Frida art. They also had a section with Chicano artwork like low riders. Such a cute little museum. I highly recommend coming here if you're ever in the LBC.
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Morgan H.

Yelp
MOLAA is a great thing to have in Long Beach. It isn't the biggest museum but you can spend a good 60-90 minutes here. They have a small gift shop as well. It seems like most of their exhibitions last around 7 months, with some being shorter. The two recent ones, Ink: Stories on Skin and Judithe Hernandez were both well-curated and presented an expansive look at their respective topics/artists. Everyone who works at the museum is friendly and helpful with a kind demeanor, including the people who stand watch in each room. You can even ask them for questions and some will even proactively offer information. The museum hosts many Latin American cultural events which are always fun and interesting to check out, and sometimes free. The museum is always free on Sundays. I just read on their website that this is the only museum in the US dedicated to Latin American and Latino Art so I think that in itself makes it worth checking out.
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Yonnie C.

Yelp
Came here on Dia de Los Muertos Festival day, where the museum admission was free. There was a performance by the LA Opera and lots of food trucks, vendors booths and kids crafts & activities. We had a good time, found free parking along neighbored streets nearby.