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What to expect
Every week, Essential Arts covers the depth and breadth of Southern California’s complex cultural sphere: the latest biennial, the avant-garde building design, a groundbreaking opera and the Pulitzer Prize-winning play — along with all the bits of related news emerging from the region and beyond.
This begins with the voices of our award-winning critics, who bring a depth of reporting and experience to the region’s cultural scene: Christopher Knight’s profound knowledge of art in Los Angeles; Mark Swed’s longtime immersion in classical music; Charles McNulty’s deep understanding of theater, and his ability to identify the idea that stays with you long after the performance is over.
But it also includes our reporting: investigations, profiles, interviews, photo essays and explanatory pieces produced by a team of longtime journalists who know what’s happening in the creative corners of L.A. — and beyond.
Latest Essential Arts newsletters
The L.A. Times’ Festival of Books takes over USC, Andrew Scott does “Vanya,” TCM fest shines across L.A. Here’s your ultimate culture guide to this weekend and beyond.
A sweet new LACMA show, USC Opera, ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ and Maurice Sendak’s ‘Wild Things’ at Skirball Cultural Center top our list of SoCal’s best culture to experience.
What to see and do in L.A. this week? We’ve got a must-see at the Geffen Playhouse, pioneering photography at the Getty and a Judy Garland musical.
A standout concert, a promising play, the return of the Butterfly Pavilion and more recommendations for your week ahead. Plus ICYMI briefs on the Broad museum expansion and more.
In 10 years at The Times, I have gotten to immerse myself in a vibrant artistic community that belies every trope about a culture-less L.A.
Frida Kahlo’s story has been told and retold, but there are still pieces left to divulge, as evidenced in the new Prime Video documentary ‘Frida.’
‘Barbie’ and ‘Poor Things’ use architecture to conjure fantastical worlds. In ‘The Zone of Interest,’ it channels the banality of evil.
Architecture criticism is not dead yet. The New York Review of Architecture turns its eye to L.A. — from cemetery design to the rising Lucas Museum.
Ed Templeton’s photos from his time as a pro skateboarder also record poignant moments of friendship, love and loneliness — not to mention broken bones.
Decaying high-rises in L.A. — as well as Pyongyang and Caracas — represent the limitations of technology and grand building schemes.
