LACMA Is Half-Closed, at Full Price

As of today, the Metropolitan Museum and LACMA both charge the same admission to out-of-town visitors: $25. New Yorkers are complaining about the Met's new policy. But West Coast visitors have an extra gripe: About half of LACMA's permanent collection galleries are closed, many since last November's price hike.

Spaces devoted to the Islamic world, southern Asian antiquity, the ancient Near East and Egypt, early American art, and Japanese art (above), have been closed in anticipation of demolition for the Peter Zumthor building or refurbishment of Bruce Goff's Pavilion for Japanese Art.

Still on view are European art, medieval to modern; Korean art and Chinese art; Latin-American art, antiquity to modern. A new installation of Pacific Islands art has just opened. But these too will have to be closed at some point for the Zumthor project.

LACMA's $25 admission applies to adults from outside of L.A. County. It's $20 for County residents, with various discounts and free times.