Michael Govan Redefines LACMA With Ambitious Expansion
The museum director's vision culminates in the new David Geffen Galleries, emphasizing accessibility and a deconstruction of traditional museum models.
Michael Govan, CEO and director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), has realized a 20-year vision with the unveiling of the David Geffen Galleries, a significant expansion aimed at redefining the museum's role and accessibility.
The new 347,500-square-foot structure, designed by architect Peter Zumthor, features a curving concrete-and-glass design. Its open and flat layout reflects Govan's commitment to dismantling traditional hierarchies between art mediums and global cultural displays. Instead of chronological or geographically divided arrangements, the galleries organize exhibits around bodies of water, such as the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
"It was really about taking the constraints off of the model and setting it free," Govan stated. The $724 million expansion project, which began during his tenure as director in 2006, is seen by Govan as both a culmination of his efforts and the beginning of a new chapter for LACMA.
Govan, known for his fundraising abilities, is also steering LACMA toward greater community engagement. The museum is forging partnerships with schools and libraries to extend its reach and is in the initial planning phases for a new museum location in South Los Angeles. "This," Govan declared, "is the big accessibility decade."