From Huntington Park, ICA LA offers a look at contemporary art in Downtown Los Angeles’s Arts District. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a free, non-collecting museum with changing exhibitions and public programs.
- Location: 1717 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021.
- Regular hours: Open Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission: Always free.
- Transit: Bus stops are at 7th/Decatur and 6th/Central; the Little Tokyo/Arts District Metro Gold Line stop is followed by a 1.2-mile walk south on Alameda or a four-minute car ride.
Where ICA LA Is
ICA LA is at 1717 E 7th St in Downtown Los Angeles’s Arts District. The museum opened in this neighborhood after reestablishing its identity in 2017; it began in 1988 as the Santa Monica Museum of Art.
The museum describes its mission as supporting art that sparks discovery and challenges how people see and experience the world, themselves and each other. ICA LA identifies The Broad, the California African American Museum, MOCA, The Underground Museum and the Vincent Price Museum among neighborhood institutions.
For a wider Los Angeles museum itinerary, you can also plan a visit to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Current Exhibitions and Visitor Experience
ICA LA presents contemporary art through exhibitions and public programs rather than a permanent collection. Its program can include exhibition tours, lectures and discussions, performances, book talks, workshops, and programs for schools and communities.
Exhibitions may use sound, light and other sensory elements: the museum notes that some artworks can include loud noise, flashing lights or low lighting. Large-print exhibition guides in English and Spanish are available at the front desk, and introductory exhibition texts are in both languages.
The bookstore and reading room are open to the public whenever the museum is open. They offer a way to spend more time with art-related books and materials as part of a museum visit.
Hours, Admission and Accessibility
Admission is free. It closes on public holidays. Hours can change, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Wednesday to Sunday: 11 AM–6 PM
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
The entrance, restrooms, lobby and exhibition spaces are wheelchair accessible. One ADA parking space sits directly in front of the museum; call (213) 928-0833 to reserve it.
Free onsite parking is available during normal operating hours, limited to the duration of a museum visit. Nearby street and lot parking is limited; additional paid parking is available across the street and behind the museum at the AVA Arts District apartments.
For accommodations at public programs, call the museum at (213) 928-0833. Live ASL interpretation may be available by request for tours.
How do you get to ICA LA from Huntington Park?
From Casa Bella Inn- Huntington Park, Florence station is about 26 minutes on foot or about 4 minutes by car. From the museum’s listed transit stops, you can reach ICA LA by bus; the Metro Gold Line stop at Little Tokyo/Arts District is followed by a 1.2-mile walk south on Alameda or a four-minute car ride. For help with local transport before setting out, use this guide to getting around Huntington Park.
For driving directions, ICA LA identifies access from the 5 and 101 freeways at Seventh Street, and from the 10 freeway at Santa Fe Avenue. The museum has free onsite parking during operating hours, subject to the visit-duration limit; nearby parking is limited.
Bus lines 60, 62 and 720 stop at 7th/Decatur, while lines 16, 18, 53, 62 and 720 stop at 6th/Central. Pair the visit with another museum in the area, such as The Broad, the California African American Museum or MOCA.
FAQs
Is ICA LA a collecting museum?
No. ICA LA describes itself as a non-collecting contemporary art museum.
Does ICA LA offer programs beyond exhibitions?
Yes. Programs can include tours, talks, performances, workshops and activities for schools and communities.
Are exhibition guides available in Spanish?
Yes. Large-print exhibition guides and introductory texts are available in English and Spanish.
Can you request ASL interpretation for a tour?
Live ASL interpretation can be available by request. Call (213) 928-0833 about accommodations for public programs.