Friday, 6 March 2026

Discover Asian Art and Asian American History at L.A. Museums

Wu Chi-Tsung, 水晶城市系列 007, Crystal City 007,  2015
Photo: Wu Chi-Tsung
L.A. museums exhibit world-class Asian art collections and Asian American cultural artifacts. From ancient art to contemporary works, Los Angeles museums showcase world-class collections of Asian art and Asian American cultural history.

1) THE CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM

425 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles 90012
213-485-8567
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The Chinese American Museum (CAM) is the first museum in Southern California dedicated to examining the United States of America’s cultural and ethnic diversity by sharing the Chinese American experience and history. Symbolically located in the last surviving structure of Los Angeles’ original Chinatown, CAM seeks to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural legacy and continuing contributions of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles. The permanent exhibit, Origins: The Birth and Rise of Chinese American Communities in Los Angeles, provides insight into the growth and development of Chinese American enclaves from Downtown L.A. to the San Gabriel Valley. Over the years CAM has proven to be an excellent cultural resource for visitors and locals alike.
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2) KOREAN AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

Korean American National Museum
3727 W 6th St #400, Los Angeles 90020
213-388-4229
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Located in the heart of the largest community of ethnic Koreans in the world outside of Asia, the Korean American National Museum was established to interpret and preserve Korean American history, culture and achievements. This museum is modest in size but large in its devotion to all things Korean. Exhibitions range from Korean American small businesses to spiritual practices, as well as art and history. With a focus on how Koreans have impacted Los Angeles and vice versa, the museum offers an in-depth perspective of Koreatown’s history and community.

Located at the intersection of 6th Street and Vermont Avenue, the future home of the Korean American National Museum is part of a seven-story mixed use project. The two-story, 30,000 square-foot museum is scheduled to open in 2022.
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3) USC PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM

USC Pacific Asia Museum
N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101
626-449-2742
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One of only four U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands, the USC Pacific Asia Museum has a collection of more than 15,000 objects, spanning more than 4,000 years from the region of Persia to the Pacific Islands. Since 1971, the museum seeks to further intercultural understanding through its focus on classic and contemporary arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Housed in the Grace Nicholson building in Pasadena, the Chinese-inspired architecture is a registered California State Historic Landmark. The museum’s courtyard is inspired by the classic gardens of China, where architecture is in harmony with nature. Dragons, the most important of the mythical beasts, can be seen perched on the ends of the roof. Lotus and peony flowers are strewn throughout, providing a visual feast for the eyes to all visitors.
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4) NORTON SIMON MUSEUM

Chess Set from India (c. 1850)
411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91105
626-449-6840
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Named for the billionaire industrialist and philanthropist, the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena is home to a painting and sculpture collection from South and Southeast Asia that includes works from Afghanistan to Indonesia and everywhere in between. Amongst the highlights are bronze sculptures from India, manuscripts from Myanmar and Sri Lanka, paintings from Nepal and Tibet and much more.
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5) THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART MUSEUM, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

The Garden of Flowing Fragrance
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino 91108
626-405-2100
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One of the world’s greatest cultural, research and educational centers, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens feature must-see gardens themed from around the world. With sights that engage all of the senses, the Huntington is an ever-changing exhibition of color and breathtaking scenery. Among the most popular attractions are the Chinese and Japanese gardens. The Chinese garden, known in Chinese as Liu Fang Yuan (Garden of Flowing Fragrance), offers a glimpse into the traditional style of scholar gardens from Suzhou, China. The garden complex is complete with pavilions, a teahouse and tea shop, stone bridges and waterfalls that together comprise a scenery evoking tranquility.

The Japanese Garden celebrated its centennial in April 2012 and includes a drum bridge, Japanese house, traditional Zen garden, expansive bonsai court, and a ceremonial teahouse and tea garden.
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