Top Museums in Santa Monica

TAG The Artists' Gallery

Comprised of more than 30 artists, this collective gallery is devoted to exposing the work of its members and providing an educational art experience to the community. Artists, a couple of which join the group from a pool of applicants each year, include Beverly Grossman, Michael Knight, Valerie Mendez, Tanya Ragir, Jilda Schwartz and Ellen Star. Given the number of artists, the styles and mediums on display here are quite diverse, and are available at low prices since the gallery takes only a small commission.

Santa Monica Museum of Art

This small art museum is located inside the largeBergamot Station arts complex in Santa Monica. Despite the size, the permanent collection here ranges from contemporary painting and sculpture to regular presentations of performance art, dance, film and music. In addition, the museum features a host of special events as well as educational outreach programs dedicated to bringing art into the classroom. Call or email them for a current schedule of events. Admission is free.

Museum of Flying

This collection of aeronautical history lives next door to the Santa Monica Airport. On display are vintage planes like a 1924 Douglas World Cruiser, a DC3, as well as Spitfires and Mustangs, both fighter planes from World War II. You can get great close-up views of all these planes and learn about their history and what kinds of battles they were involved in. There is a gift shop selling aeronautical souvenirs and memorabilia as well as a theater showing footage of some of these planes in action.

Vintage Animation Gallery

Owned by avid collector and expert Mike Fazio, this shop specializes in animation artwork from studios like Disney, Warner Bros, Hanna Barbera, MGM and Walter Lantz, Inc. They have the world's only Animation Walk of Fame featuring the handprints and signatures of the world's greatest animators. You will find a ton of hand-painted production cells of all your favorite cartoon characters as well as some that are not so well-known, but just as beautifully drawn.

Bruce Kapson Gallery

Bruce Kapson Gallery sells art that is not just for viewing but that can be integrated into one's home and lifestyle in a functional manner. You will find furniture from the 30s to the 90s, art prints, photographic prints, Native American baskets, textiles and pottery, Karl Bodmer engravings, tribal feather work from the Amazon rain forest, glass items and jewelry, among other items. Bruce Kapson Gallery is warm and inviting and full of wonderful, unique items that will turn your home into a beautiful place to live.

Track 16 Gallery & Smart Art Press

Step into the world of art at the Track 16 Gallery & Smart Art Press, in Sanata Monica. Here, you will find the wild and the whacky. Track 16 Gallery is a 11,000 feet gallery filled with art. You will stumble across vintage neon signs, a 23 feet art deco bar and a patio for star-gazers. The largest room is 55 feet by 65 feet with a stage. Apart from encouraging innovative artistic endeavors, the gallery has played host to movie premieres, corporate, charity, and wrap events.

Edgemar Center for the Arts

For all you lovers of art—in all its forms—the address of Edgemar Center for the Arts should be noted down. From drama, dance and music to fine art, let your eyes take joy in all that they deliver. The mission of this entertainment complex is to promote performing and fine art by encouraging artists, writers and directors. So come along for an enjoyable experience.

California Heritage Museum

If you are a collector of art then a visit to this museum would sure prove worthwhile. Nestled in a heritage structure that was built in 1894, this museum has been running since 1980. Apart from a permanent collection of California furniture and pottery, they regularly feature interesting exhibitions and programs. In the past they have even showcased exhibits like Depression glass and Mexican pottery.

Adamm's Stained Glass Studio

This gallery is not only about beautiful displays. Adamm's Stained Glass Studio also represents budding talent and is known around the world for its work in glass. A visit to the gallery will bring you face to face with vessels, paperweights, lamps, plates, and sculptures of incredible design. What's more, Susan Gott, Gavin Heath and other designers make their art affordable to the public.

Magicopolis

Magicopolis is the place to experience mystery, grand-scale illusions and awe-inspiring magic. You'll see people dissolve in one place and reappear somewhere else and someone can read your thoughts. Objects move and change guided by the power of the mind. Reality is in the eyes of the beholder. In the lobby, visitors encounter the hand and footprints of magicians Penn & Teller, who helped inaugurate this theater of illusion back in 1998. This is the home of the legendary stained glass windows created 30 years ago for Merlin McFly's bar, representing posters of classic magicians like Houdini, Thurston, Kellar, Alexander and Blackstone. Humans float in mid-air and octopuses appear from nowhere. An attempt is made to escape from locks, chains and handcuffs just in time to avoid the free fall of 28 sharpened steel spikes. Again and again you are witness to impossible happenings. Sometimes you even become part of one.