USC Fisher Museum of Art

On USC’s campus at 823 W Exposition Blvd, the USC Fisher Museum of Art presents works spanning the 15th to 21st centuries. Its collection includes painting, prints, drawings, photography and sculpture, with a focus on American and European art and a particular interest in Latin America. Temporary exhibitions bring in outside work, including shows that address social justice through visual art. Outside, Jenny Holzer’s Blacklist pairs marble benches with text about artists excluded from Hollywood in the 1950s. Admission is free.

A collection across five centuries

The USC Fisher Museum of Art was founded in 1939 as the first art museum established in Los Angeles. Its permanent collection contains more than 1,800 objects, with works spanning the 15th through the 21st centuries. Painting, prints, drawings, photography and sculpture are represented.

The collection includes 19th-century American landscapes, 16th- and 17th-century Northern European paintings, 18th-century British portraiture and 19th-century French Barbizon paintings. It also holds 20th-century works on paper, paintings and sculpture. Art from the Americas, especially Latin America, is a focus of the museum’s exhibitions and programming.

Temporary exhibitions and Blacklist

Alongside its collection, the museum presents temporary exhibitions, including work by outside artists. Some exhibitions address social justice through visual art, and student showcases and events may also be part of the programme. The displays change, so check what is scheduled before visiting if you have a particular interest.

Outside the gallery, Jenny Holzer’s Blacklist commemorates motion-picture artists who were denied work in the 1950s after refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Ten marble benches refer to the Hollywood Ten. Text from the First Amendment and words from people affected by blacklisting are etched into the benches and walkways, among vivid plantings.