The Hammer Museum, which is affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles, is an art museum and cultural center known for its artist-centric and progressive array of exhibitions and public programs. Founded in 1990 by the entrepreneur-industrialist Armand Hammer to house his personal art collection, the museum has since expanded its scope to become "the hippest and most culturally relevant institution in town." Particularly important among the museum's critically acclaimed exhibitions are presentations of both historically overlooked and emerging contemporary artists. The Hammer Museum also hosts over 300 programs throughout the year, from lectures, symposia, and readings to concerts and film screenings. As of February 2014, the museum's collections, exhibitions, and programs are completely free to all visitors.
Image: Wdmk Hammer Box Black
Image: Hammer Museum Westwood June 2012
Pablo Picasso, 1904, Le repas frugal (The Frugal Repast). Printed in 1913. Etching. Plate: 46.7 x 36 cm; Sheet: 65.4 x 47.6 cm
Vincent van Gogh. Hospital at Saint-Rémy, 1889. Oil on canvas. 36 5/16 x 28 7/8 in. (92.2 x 73.4 cm). The Armand Hammer Collection, Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation. Hammer Museum, Los Angeles.
Armand Hammer was an American business manager and owner. He spent decades with Occidental Petroleum in the mid 20th century. Called "Lenin's chosen capitalist" by the press, he was also known for his art collection and his close ties to the Soviet Union.
Hammer in 1982
Sign of the Armand Hammer Golf Course in Holmby Park in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles
Family tomb in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery