Norton Simon Museum
European paintings and sculpture, South and Southeast Asian art, modern works, and a sculpture garden fit within a museum whose scale encourages return viewing.
Artwork inspired by Corita Kent
European paintings and sculpture, South and Southeast Asian art, modern works, and a sculpture garden fit within a museum whose scale encourages return viewing. The collection’s strength is density, not encyclopedic coverage. Useful scale comes from three specifics: opened, 1975; collection, Private foundation; and setting, Pasadena.
Pair one European room with one South Asian gallery, then use the garden to notice how sculpture changes with distance and reflected light. The museum opens later than many institutions and stays open Friday and Saturday evenings; large bags and some photography setups are restricted. Close attention to South Asian galleries, sculpture garden, and European paintings turns the visit from a collection of sights into a connected argument about this place.
- Opened
- 1975
- Collection
- Private foundation
- Setting
- Pasadena
Quick guide
- Set the context
- Pair one European room with one South Asian gallery, then use the garden to notice how sculpture changes with distance and reflected light.
- Do not miss
- Compare South Asian galleries with sculpture garden, then use European paintings to test what the site is trying to communicate.
Know before you go
- Set the context
- Pair one European room with one South Asian gallery, then use the garden to notice how sculpture changes with distance and reflected light.
- Do not miss
- Compare South Asian galleries with sculpture garden, then test that reading against European paintings.
- Place in context
- Opened: 1975; Collection: Private foundation; Setting: Pasadena
- Plan the arrival
- For Norton Simon Museum, use the reviewed visitor entrance at 411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105. Before visiting Norton Simon Museum, check current parking, transit, reservation, security.
Good to know
The museum opens later than many institutions and stays open Friday and Saturday evenings; large bags and some photography setups are restricted.
Notice these
- South Asian galleries
- sculpture garden
- European paintings