Free admission for all with a suggested donation of $5, a small neighborhood museum with rotating exhibits that reflect current events. read more

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I would call this a hidden gem in Torrance. I had heard about it, but finally decided to visit. Best part, it's free. No charge. It's located in the civic center, in the back, so you can't see it off of the street. It's almost a game of hide and seek, where you need to find it. Even when I did finally find it, I wasn't sure I was at the right place or if it was even open. However, I was not disappointed when I finally walked inside. It's a teeny place. More like a gallery than what I would call a museum. Open floor plan. Great art though. An eclectic collection of paintings and mixed media when I visited. There were a couple other parties viewing the artwork. Not crowded. Parking: Free lot. read more

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Closed again for installation removal before reopening again in January with a new exhibit. My bad luck. They apparently change exhibits every 2 months. Maybe one day my timing will improve. Make sure you call before showing up. read more

On one hand, I really want to give the Torrance Art Museum a fair chance for a fair rating and review from yours truly. But on the other hand, the anachronism I discovered on their locked front door during an hour they should have been open completely befuddled me, and I had to find a different place nearby to find some peace and quiet. While planning a day trip to Torrance, I had a handful of locations lined up in my itinerary. That included a quick stop at the Torrance Art Museum, where they are supposed to be open from 11 AM to 5 PM on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Previously, I consulted their website, which stated that the museum would reopen to the public on January 18, the day I went. What the website did *not* show, at least at the time I checked, was that they would reopen from 6 PM to 9 PM, well past their normal operating hours. I understand they were doing an exhibition installation, which explained why they were closed to the public for an extended period of time. However, the info I read online made it seem like they would be open normal business hours rather than open only in the evening when they would normally be closed. Either that, or that inconspicuous information was surreptitiously placed on a different webpage that I overlooked. Either way, I couldn't stay that late, so I had to replace this particular line item with another one that just so happened to be in the same area and provided a place for me to chill, rest, and recharge. I detest and abhor when wrenches like this one are untimely thrown into my plans; had I known this beforehand, I would have visited a different location or spent more time at a place that I was already planning to visit. Admission to this museum is free to the public, but maybe not for me since I will have had to drive there twice to finally get inside, and it's not a short drive, especially since it's quite far from the freeways. As much as I appreciate good art presented at a good art museum, I may never get to see the art presented inside this museum, especially considering I rarely visit this part of town anyways. read more

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My Yelp friend recently wrote a review for Torrance Art Museum. While I was glad to see it is still 5 stars for this free entry museum in Torrance, CA, I was taken aback that I had never written a review for the place. That was one of my daughter's and my last outings in California before we moved over 1,000 miles away. We were here on June 14, 2022. I remember all the patterns, the well-maintained grounds, and the modern architecture. There were rather large, captivating paintings by artist Theodore Svenningsen towards the front right side. Several of the displays in the back room were part of the Studio Systems 3 exhibition. That is to say several artists were actively working on projects AND my daughters and I got to be part of their designs. Specifically my daughters loved working with Amanda Mears (of the United Kingdom) who invited them to express their ideas about the earth and everything they were passionate about on these folded book pages... it was very interesting and I appreciated her taking the time to explain her concepts to me. Clean restrooms. Free parking. Nice area. We would go back often if we could. My young daughters loved it. read more

A legit cool place to explore art! Torrance Art Museum is small but on my most recent visit, we spent a good 20-30 minutes admiring the latest exhibit: Greenhouse - Houseplants in Contemporary Art. There was also a live performer outside featuring experimental music and noise. Also in one of the galleries, there was a lecture from an artist whose video installation was featured in one of the rooms. A lot of activities for the short time we were there! This recent visit influenced me to give them a follow on IG. Would love to revisit for new exhibits and installations. Free to visit but might as well donate to support the arts. If you don't carry cash to slip into the donation box, they have QR codes to donate cashless. read more

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Simply because any location is a museum of art, they pretty much deserve five stars as they are giving back to the community and offering a space where an artist's work may be viewed by the public, This is the case with the Torrance Art Museum. The Torrance Art Museum is located in admits all of the official Torrance facilities, like the police station, the courthouse, and the other meeting places in Torrance. So, if you know, Torrance, it is very easy to get to. The art museum itself is a very open and airy environment. Perhaps the greatest thing about this art museum is that it is free. Yes, it is free all of the time. As many local art museums only feature the artwork of local artist, this is not the case with the Torrance Art Museum. Yes, they do show some local and/or California artists, but they also show international artists, as well. So, you'll be sure to have some interesting works of art to look at. Not a large art museum, but it is a very interesting space. There are two large viewing rooms, each of which nicely display the art that they're showing at any particular exhibit. The staff here are always nice. If you have any questions, they're happy to answer them for you. Overall, great art space in the South Bay of Los Angeles. read more

Always a pleasure to visit this museum. Volunteers are friendly. It is a smaller, more intimate museum so you don't feel overwhelmed and can really appreciate the art. Afterwards, recommend taking a stroll on the Japanese garden. read more

Came here on a Saturday and the parking lot was pretty empty. Though, I did notice they were setting up the Main courtyard for something that was going on later in the day. The Museum is pretty small and can be done in 30 minutes or so. The art displays in here are very quirky. They also have a small room that was showing some shorts when I was there. I believe there were 4 films about 10 minutes each. Overall, it's a good way to spend 30-60 mins and the best thing is that it's free. There's also a small koi pond right outside that you can sit and just enjoy the silence. read more

A lovely free museum in the South Bay! I took my child here and the space was easy to navigate given its small size. We both really enjoyed our short but sweet art experience! We look forward to checking out future exhibits. Would be useful to have some tape on the ground or wire ropes surrounding the art pieces to ensure no one gets too close. So if you do bring children, keep an eye on them and only bring them if they truly understand looking with their eyes and not hands lol thankfully it wasn't a problem for us. There's also a video/media room but we opted not to watch just in case it wasn't age appropriate. $5 suggested donation. Plenty of free parking! read more

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I came here since I saw that it was free. It is a very small art museum with three small rooms. I think the art rotates and this time was pretty dark art with a lot of hospital type artworks. It was quite interesting and gives you a different prospective to things although it was probably too dark for my liking. I was done in about 15 minutes, it's that small. Plenty of parking outside. read more

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A lovely space, two sizeable rooms for diverse displays of various artists. The houseplant exhibit I saw was vibrant and fun, and the other room held some moving pieces addressing the drug trafficking underworld. A great place to pop into if you're in the area and have some time to kill - who wouldn't want to see some art for free? read more

Small museum with a well-curated display of contemporary art. Btw, you can see everything in 20 minutes or 10 minutes if you don't linger or read. Free admission (suggested donation). Ample parking in a huge lot. Contemporary art can be really hit or miss nowadays, especially with heavy-handed social justice messaging attached to mediocre and uninteresting art. The pieces in this museum were really well-curated, in my opinion. They had a social message for sure but they were interesting and compelling works that drew you in. There was also a good amount of variety in terms of media. I really enjoyed the fiber art (Social Fabric) on display (until 12/4). It also seems like they swap out their exhibitions every 2-3 months and keep it fresh. My one issue with the museum was the staff. She was nice to me but when I was leaving, there was a family arriving. It was about 320PM. The staff member tried to turn the family away, saying they were closing at 330PM that day. I had previously noticed the updated hours on their website (thanks for the update, btw) stating that they were closing at 4pm on 11/6. So I mentioned it on my way out. The staff member said she needed to call someone and ask. I mean... you'd think she'd know the exact closing time, especially if it was listed online? Also, even if they were closing at 330PM, you can totally see this tiny museum in 10 minutes. She should have just let the family in, noting the time constraint. Wasn't a good look. read more

Torrance Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

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Came here for the late night opening exhibition. Cute place with 3 galleries. I was very impressed by the art work and the interactive exhibition on display. Lots of parking and also dog friendly. read more

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Great place to see some interesting and unusual art. You won't find anything boring here. It's a small museum that is willing to be bold and that's what makes it stand out from the rest. Came for the Ultra performance (Beck and Col, Ibuki Kuramochi) and it was a packed show. I appreciate that this museum takes risks and is willing to try new things and showcase new artists. Looking forward to what's next. read more

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A wonderful, small, and free (!) art museum showcasing local art! The Torrance art museum has free parking and free entrance. It is pretty small and will take about an hour to see everything in its entirety if you're taking your time. The staff are so friendly and are happy to answer any questions, tell you about the artist, or chat about the exhibits. They also have a shelf of art books that are free to take, which is a great way to provide art experiences beyond what their small collections allow. The Torrance civic center has a bunch of wonderful and affordable art and culture options. The pine wind garden is walking distance to the museum and is a really beautiful little garden with a relaxing koi pond. read more

Torrance Art Museum - Inside - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

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It's a great little art museum. Today was my first trip. The art was cool They also had a video on loop about picachu and another character explaining that the South American art was not worthy. read more

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The Torrance Art Museum is wonderful. It is not large, it has two galleries, I think, but what is in them is changes often and everything is quite amazing. It is adjacent to the Fine Arts Wing of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center and across the street from the Torrance Police Department. Parking is free as is admission, although making a donation sure would be nice. It is a great way to spend an hour or so just looking at what's new. For the most part it is always Contemporary Art and Modern Art. This museum is offers cutting edge exhibits. You will love it. read more

A very nice small museum in the Torrance civic center. We went for the recent opening. $5 suggested donation or free admission is lovely. There was quite a variety from paintings to sculpture to 3D and 2D art. There are 3 medium sized rooms and one small room. Thanks to Jason Jenn, a curator for inviting us. read more

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Highly recommend checking out the new exhibit (free) at the lil art gallery, Torrance Art Museum & then checking out the lil Japanese garden next door(free), at the Torrance Cultural Center. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am- 5pm Easy free parking too. read more

Torrance Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

Full 4 stars fror this free find - maybe not a diamond in the rough, but not cubic zirconium either. Prob most ideal for people who are in the art world and actually can "get" contemporary art, though I particularly enjoyed the friendly reception upon entry. read more

My kids and I visited this gem of a Museum nestled in the South Bay . Upon arrival , we were warmly greeted by a lady with short black hair ( didn't get her name ) she was very very sweet and welcoming. She briefly explained the different rooms before my kids and I explored the museum . It's a small museum , but we really enjoyed looking at the beautiful art pieces. Definitely recommend!! read more

Torrance Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

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I really do fancy this cute little museum. Such a calm and serene art gallery in the TAM. Spacious and free, the museum really grants sufficient room for the viewer to really appreciate the different angles of many of the art pieces while also allowing a multitude of visitors to peruse without trampling each other. Hidden near the police station parking and admission is free. It'll probably take you 20 to 25 minutes to see everything, but it could take possibly an hour or longer if you truly want to appreciate the little details. I came to view the collection of Generation W(ar). It was a fusion of multiple mediums including Film, photography, cloth work tapestries, molded statues, inflatables, pastel, etc. touching on so many topics relating to America and a role in various war efforts throughout our history, I adored the idea of local artists having their pieces displayed for the community to appreciate. Art galleries that pay homage to artists that utilize unique mediums to convey their themes are always great in my book, especially with post war focus. I particular enjoyed the work of Shusuke Ao and his masterful utilization of synthetic leather, metal, and various fabrics to make "AIM-7 sparrow" and "AGM-84 harpoon". read more

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A definite treasure and a locate source of great art in The South Bay! My nights that were once filled with attending gallery openings have been taken over with closing at work, so I was in need of a little escape that was close by. My most recent visit was to the "Baker's Dozen 4" exhibition. It was pleasant and calm and exactly what I was craving. I was the only visitor which was a little foreign but surprisingly nice. I felt like a comic book fanatic at Comic Con! While hidden, visitors are welcomed with glass doors and a receptionist table aligned right in the center with informal fliers in hand. There are two rooms for installations, a lobby area, and an outside patio that features two grand art sculptures. The rooms are all white with matte wall contrasting glossy concrete floors. The museum was nice and cool, luckily because I went on a very hot day! The receptionist was very kind and informative. She had me fill out a little survey at the end of my visit. TAM asking for visitor input is definitely a nice gesture. TAM is a local favorite of mine and it is near many places that are also free or inexpensive! It is hidden but not difficult to find and very peaceful! read more

Torrance Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

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The Torrance Art Museum is a nice place in the South Bay. It's not a huge museum, but has feature exhibits, so it's a good place to stop by to check out. There's not so many creative museums in the Beach Cities / South Bay, so it's a good place to come to for locals. Parking is easy and the staff is friendly. Also, for the annual So Cal "Free Museum Day" 2015, held in January, for taking public transit (Metro / MTA) the TAM offered a free gift of our choice and we selected and received (and I included photos with my review) a piece of original artwork entitled: Keil Johnson drawing of SPINDEL by Shiva Aliabadi read more

Torrance Art Museum - Keil Johnson drawing of SPINDEL by Shiva Aliabadi (Back Side with Credits) - 2015 Free Museum Day @ Torrance Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

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The TAM is a true hidden gem in South Bay LA! Located in the Civic Center in Torrance, it is in a cuItural "town square" that is connected via a landscape plaza with the James Armstrong Theatre. Entrance is completely free but you may make a donation if you wish. The lady working at the front was very sweet and never pressured anyone to donate. The TAM promotes local talent through its focus on contemporary style art. The main showroom is on the far right of the entrance. This showroom was spacious and well-lit. Here you will fine anything from paintings, photography, pop art, mixed media, acrylic objects, ceramics, sketchings, and more. I believe they change their artwork once a month so it will vary on when you go. There is also a smaller room directly behind the front desk. Before you even enter this room, there is a tv that normally shows graphic animations relating to the exhibition that is currently on display. The room itself has a similar blend of artwork as the main showroom. Albeit smaller in size, I found a lot of the artwork at the TAM captivating and highly imaginative. I was suprised by how much time I spent in here looking at each piece. I found the artwork in here better than some of the other museums who do charge an entrance fee. I really liked that they kept their displays localized to promote the talent of the surrounding communities. This museum is a staple that local residents can enjoy and passerbys can relish as well. If you have an appreciation for art, take a meaningful visit to the TAM. read more

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Yelp 100 Challenge 2016 - Review 2 of 100... Thanks, Yelp, for giving me a reason (the Museums Free for All event listing for January 30th, 2016) to visit this jewel of a cultural spot in the South Bay! This museum, with history dating back into the 60s, is part of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center that houses the Armstrong Theater adjacent to the Torrance Police Station (so you can trust your car will be safe when you visit). ;) I started in the larger of the two galleries to view the "Sibling Rivalries" exhibit which runs through March 12th, 2016... this space, which is to the right of the entrance, is a large concrete floored, 13-feet tall white walled space with two-feet tall windows aligning the top of the wall that faces northeast. The space is wide open, minus a half wall in the middle, three pieces that sat on the floor, two pieces suspended from the ceiling, and one piece I thought fell from the wall - it was actually designed to look like it did as it straddled the wall and floor. The gallery included two televisions, one that included a scary as heck voice that reminded me of the lady in the crystal ball at the end of Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. I walked by very quickly - a little too eery for my liking. The creative designs were created with almost every type of imaginable canvas and utilized tools including acrylic paint/oil on linen, plasters and oils on wood, ceramics, animation, mixed media (with graphic images), and caulking which looked like 3D paint. I left this space thinking I had seen all there was and being fine with that until co-curator, Ben, informed me of another smaller gallery straight back from the entrance with art by Steve DeGroot, as well as a darkroom with a projector with two film shorts from the "Sibling Rivalries" exhibit. I went into the middle room (which is much smaller than the main and has lower ceilings and no windows) and enjoyed the randomness of DeGroot's art... some was sticking out of the sides of walls. The third room on left of the entrance was the smallest. Each wall of the smaller 20 by 20 foot space was painted black and had a large projector that showed a man with makeup fully nude doing random things like laying on hay, pulling fliers out his mouth, and lip singing in different wigs. On that note, it was time for me to go! I signed up on mailing list so I can return for future exhibits of interest... nothing like local culture! read more

Torrance Art Museum - Very compact but powerful spaces here... - Art Museums Near Me - Torrance, California

It was perfect small place for my preschooler to explore. When I took my son there, we were the only ones and it was quiet relaxing for us to observe their exhibition. read more

The current exhibition at the TAM, Sur:Biennial, closes this Friday Oct 31. If you're in the area plan on stopping by to check out this really outstanding blend of some fantastic artwork! The TAM has consistently exhibited some of the most provocative and inspiring work in the South Bay. It's truly a gem. Don't miss it! read more

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This local museum is small and quaint but has nice contemporary art on display. When we went there there were no other people there besides the nice lady at the front. There were a few works of art that were pretty cool and unique, kinda reminded me of the stuff you would see at the BROAD. It was a short visit but I enjoyed my time there. Parking and entrance is free and you probably will not spend too much time (maybe 15 minutes) top in this 2 room museum. Though I think it's worth a visit if you're close by. read more

No permanent collection was on display but the temporary contemporary art exhibits like "Phantom Lim" show were solid. With only a couple gallery spaces, the place is small and only took 15 minutes to visit, but it was also free. read more

TAM is a unique space in Los Angeles. Operating like a "kunstalle" it is City of Torrance run and operated. Exhibitions feature local, national and international contemporary art in a light- filled space. Definitely worth visiting. read more

Easy to get to very nice quiet and small place the best part is that it was free and kids these days get bored in 5 minutes which means their imagination is really low and we need more places to get kids brain working again read more

Blown away. The place isn't that big, but the art they have inside is exquisite and thought provoking. Definitely worth visiting.

I teach at an art program for adults with special needs, and recently I took a group of my students to view the "Pulped Fiction" exhibit. We we repeatedly warned not to touch any of the pieces on display, which was quite understandable. Then I and the two other intstructors present were told that we were 'legally responsible' for any damage to the exhibit caused by our party, a statement laughable not only in its falseness but also because our students were acting not at all rowdy or disrespectful. The staff clearly thought they were dealing with children - a common issue for many members of this population - and proceeded to watch us like a hawk the entire time we were there, even refusing to let anyone advance to the next room of the space. Unnecessary and unacceptable treatment of a group of no more than ten clients with three instructors on hand to supervise. a real shame, because the exhibit itself was an excellent one. I am not sure why an institution as small as this one could act so cold and unwelcome towards any group of respectful visitors. We will not be returning to this museum. read more