Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) (CLOSED)

The Westside's art scene continues to offer plenty of interesting shows, with new galleries cropping up at regular intervals. However, this contemporary art gallery is the most prestigious of the lot. Housed in a former trolley stop on the LA-Santa Monica red line, the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) attracts sizable crowds to its openings, which herald lively temporary exhibitions by local and international artists. The only kunsthalle (non-collecting museum) in Southern California, SMMoA presents exhibitions and programs that reveal the vibrant, untold stories and pivotal moments in the history of contemporary art and culture. The institution and its longstanding executive director Elsa Longhauser are beloved by LA's veteran artists. Keep an eye out for sporadic special events (lectures, discussions, family-oriented days and the like) that accompany the shows. And don't miss the annual Incognito fundraiser auction: Place the winning bid on your favorite anonymously-created work of art and discover whether you've picked a Baldessari or a budding newbie. It's one of the most fun art events of the year.