Cal State Long Beach
University Art Museum

The laid-back waterfront attitude pervades Long Beach, but nothing is taken for granted at the California State University at Long Beach's University Art Museum (UAM). Behind its modest façade, the UAM pursues an active agenda, bringing together works on paper by contemporary artists for its permanent collection, showcasing the works of emerging artists and maintaining its unique outdoor sculpture collection.

The UAM uses its spartan space wisely, installing changing exhibitions in the two large galleries and smaller, more intimately scaled shows in a space just off the entrance. The dark concrete floors are softened by ample sunshine, and the exhibit spaces are proportioned in such a way that they can accommodate two-dimensional pieces just as easily as students' "new genre" installations--some of which are so "new" that museum staff may not know what they'll be until they're set up. And no UAM visit is complete without a walking tour of the outdoor sculpture collection (maps available).

Be the first to create a list »

Know something we don't? UPDATE LISTING