LACMA Urban Lights
The Urban Lights installation at LACMA transforms from a historical curiosity during the day into a powerful sculptural rhythm after dark.
Urban Light fills the LACMA plaza on Wilshire Boulevard with 202 restored 1920s-1930s cast-iron streetlamps in a grid, each salvaged from a different American city. Unveiled in 2008, the installation becomes a glowing display after dark, when the lit lamps stand against the Los Angeles sky.
Chris Burden's Streetlamp Installation at LACMA
Chris Burden assembled 202 restored antique streetlamps, gathered from cities across the United States, into a permanent installation at LACMA that opened in 2008. The collection draws on more than 200 historic lamps from the 1920s and 1930s, and the piece has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and music videos since then. The work has become a recognized symbol of Los Angeles on the museum's campus.
Best Photo Spots
This guide lists 1 photo spot at LACMA Urban Lights: the plaza featuring the urban lamppost light installation.
LACMA Urban Lights Plaza
Photographs of This Location
Hollywood Sign's Street Lamps and LED Upgrade
The street lamps illuminating the Hollywood Sign were collected from various locations across Southern California before the installation was assembled. In 2018, Leonardo DiCaprio helped update all of the bulbs with LED versions, reducing power usage by 90%. The sign has appeared in productions including No Strings Attached and Modern Family, making it a widely recognized landmark.
Common Questions
Urban Lights is Chris Burden's permanent installation of 202 vintage streetlamps on the Wilshire Boulevard plaza, free to access at any hour from the street side of the campus with no ticket required.
Jazz at LACMA runs most Friday evenings from spring through fall in the outdoor courtyard, with free admission, and programming covers bebop, Latin jazz, contemporary improvisation, and fusion.
Practical Information
Purple Line to Wilshire/Western
Free on Sundays; $12-$15 before 7pm, free after 7pm; paid until 8PM
Thu-Tue 11AM-6PM, Fri until 8PM; Sunrise to 9am
Free; $25 adults, free for Urban Lights
Session Tips
- Photographers should plan sessions at multiple times of day because the Urban Lights installation reads differently in early morning, afternoon sun, and after dark.
- Visitors can stay for the Urban Lights after Jazz at LACMA ends on Friday nights, since the lamps on the Wilshire side continue to burn once the music crowds have dispersed.
- Metered parking on Wilshire Blvd is a free alternative on Sundays and has many open spots early in the morning.
- Arrive early between sunrise and 9am to avoid crowds and get unobstructed photos.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:24 PM - 1:49 PM
1:49 PM - 2:49 PM
12:34 AM - 1:34 AM
1:34 AM - 1:59 AM
Best Season
spring through fall
Avoid
Friday evenings
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:58 | 17:07 | 10h 8m |
| Feb | 06:37 | 17:37 | 10h 59m |
| Mar | 07:03 | 19:01 | 11h 57m |
| Apr | 06:22 | 19:25 | 13h 2m |
| May | 05:51 | 19:48 | 13h 56m |
| Jun | 05:41 | 20:06 | 14h 24m |
| Jul | 05:53 | 20:05 | 14h 12m |
| Aug | 06:15 | 19:40 | 13h 25m |
| Sep | 06:36 | 18:59 | 12h 22m |
| Oct | 06:58 | 18:19 | 11h 20m |
| Nov | 06:26 | 16:49 | 10h 23m |
| Dec | 06:51 | 16:45 | 9h 53m |
What to Expect During Your Session
The Urban Lights installation looks notably different depending on the time of day, so a single visit captures only part of what it offers. Early mornings between sunrise and 9am provide the best natural light and fewest people in frame, with metered parking on Wilshire Blvd free on Sundays and many open spots available then. On Friday evenings from spring through fall, after Jazz at LACMA ends in the outdoor BP Grand Entrance courtyard, the lamps along the Wilshire side remain lit once the music crowds have dispersed.
After Jazz at LACMA ends and the crowd disperses on Friday nights, the lit Urban lamps still burn on the Wilshire side of the campus.
“After the music ends and the Friday crowd disperses, the Urban Lights still burning on the Wilshire side offer a quiet, lingering quality worth staying for.”
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- The Urban Lights installation sits on the outdoor plaza and is accessible from the Wilshire side of the campus at all hours.
- Parking
- LACMA's parking structure on 6th Street charges around $20 for a few hours, with validation available for members.
- Public transit
- Wilshire/Western Purple Line
- Walking distance
- 15 minutes