Splendor in the garden; family fun outdoors; cool shows indoors

Late summer in our garden

When Robert Irwin designed Getty’s Central Garden, he split it into sections with distinct color palettes. Rich greens, browns, and violets with deep-red accents complement the reddish-brown Carnelian granite walls. “Sometimes it can get to being almost too much,” Irwin said about the garden’s intensity. “It can really rattle your teeth, which…was exactly the kind of abandon I was aiming for.” What colors, scents, and textures are peaking right now in our garden? 

Find out

Getty’s newest artist in residence

Since 1992, Getty has hosted 37 artists in residence, providing them with dedicated time and space to develop new creative output. This year’s guest is Carolina Caycedo, a Colombian multidisciplinary artist born in London and living in Los Angeles.

Meet Carolina

The long history of the medieval plague

If you know one thing about the Middle Ages, chances are it’s that a plague swept across Europe in the late 1340s, causing mass death and destruction. Medievalists usually call this specific outbreak the “Black Death.” A new study of victims buried in a London cemetery sheds light on what caused the scourge.

Getty medievalist Larisa Grollemond talks about illness in the Middle Ages

Garden Concert for Kids: Pierce Freelon

Sat. and Sun., Aug. 19 and 20, 4:00 pm
Getty Center, Central Garden

Pierce Freelon’s joyful music blends hip-hop, electronic jazz, and soul. His dynamic sound is inspired by his journey as a millennial dad and crafted for today’s modern families. 

Learn more about this free concert

Making Scents of the Ancient World

Sat., Aug. 26, 11:00 am–3:00 pm
Getty Villa, Outer Peristyle

Make your own perfumes by exploring ancient Roman spices and oils, and learn why these materials were considered alluring.

Learn more about this free, drop-in workshop

Making Manuscripts: Family Workshop | Diseño de manuscritos: taller familiar

Sun., Aug. 27, 11:00 am–3:00 pm
Museum Courtyard, Getty Center

Join a modern-day scriptorium and design your own illuminated manuscript page. Stop by the touch table and explore the tools and materials used to make these one-of-a-kind works of art! Led by artist Daniel González and produced in partnership with Self Help Graphics & Art.

Learn more about this free, bilingual, drop-in family workshop

Artist-at-Work: Modern Calligraphy | Artista en acción: caligrafía moderna

Sun., Aug. 27, 11:00 am and 1:30 pm
Museum Courtyard, Getty Center

Explore the art of calligraphy in this live demonstration with multidisciplinary creative Melissa Govea. Discover how expressive lettering styles are still used by contemporary artists. This program is produced in partnership with Self Help Graphics & Art.

Learn more about this free, bilingual, drop-in family program

Getty Center:

Beyond the Light: Identity and Place in 19th-Century Danish Art

Tim Walker: Wonderful Things

Giacomo Ceruti: A Compassionate Eye

Eugène Atget: Highlights from the Mary & Dan Solomon Collection

Mercedes Dorame: Woshaa’axre Yaang’aro (Looking Back)

Pastel Portraits: Drawn from Life?

Getty Villa:

The Horse and Rider from Albania

The Gold Emperor from Aventicum

Last chance for Getty Pubs 50% off summer sale

Looking for a summer read? We’ve got you covered. Get 50% off dozens of Getty books, including volumes on Gustave Caillebotte, the Los Angeles Central Library, fashion photography, Mayan lintels, conservation, and many more!

Shop the sale

CAAM reopens with five new exhibitions

The California African American Museum (CAAM) just reopened with exhibitions that range in subject from the Great Migration to Black leisure in California, and include both solo and group exhibitions of contemporary art. Now is a great time to visit; admission is free!

Get more info