Free things to do in Los Angeles this month

Corey Helford Gallery regularly hosts fun shows highlighting the artistry of pop-culture subjects, and the lastest exhibit is no exception. Presented in partnership with Mattel Creations, “Toys as Art” celebrates eight decades of Mattel and the impact of its brands, from Barbie to Fisher-Price. See original toy-inspired artwork by over 80 artists from around the world—if you’ve got a cool million lying around, you can even take home a life-size Hot Wheels toy car. Free Saturday programming includes L.A. artist and cartoonist Gary Baseman signing his new UNO deck (March 22, 2pm), a panel of artists discussing toys and their creative processes (March 29, 2pm) and an inner-child workshop led by Case Kenny of Instagram fame (April 5, 2pm). 

“Let’s hang out at the Pier” is something Santa Monica locals probably say next to never, but this monthly series is trying to change that. Every third Thursday from September to May, you’ll find everything from live music to storytelling to a classic car show on the Santa Monica Pier, all free to attend.

The South Bay shopping center is welcoming spring with a celebration of sustainability and renewal, hosting a series of free eco-friendly activities, workshops and exhibitions into April. On March 22, you can take part in a 5K fun run for World Water Day. On April 5, you’ll find a springtime market with pop-up vendors, a wellness bar and live music. And on Earth Day, April 22, guests will receive free wildflower seeds to plant, as well as free treats from gourmet cotton candy company the Jolly Sheep.

The desert-spanning biennial is back, with premieres of site-specific works from about a dozen artists. For its fifth iteration, Desert X will once again stage outdoor installations across about 40 miles of the Coachella Valley through May 11—making it the perfect pit stop if you’re making your way out to Coachella in April. This year’s works explore Indigenous futurism, activism and technology’s role in society, among other themes. Don’t miss Agnes Denes’s monumental The Living Pyramid.

The Los Angeles–based conceptual artist and now-retired CalArts educator is back with his first L.A. solo exhibition since 2019, debuting new works from his Numbers and Trees series. The colorful and complex works combine Plexiglas, watercolors and his signature numeric grid systems to depict the baobab trees Gaines photographed on a recent trip to Tanzania. The show opens February 19 with a conversation between the artist and LACMA’s Naima J. Keith, followed by an opening reception (6–8pm). The event is free, but reservations are recommended.

This spectacular exhibition from the Icelandic–Danish artist brings a new series of optical installations to MOCA’s Little Tokyo location. You’ll need a timed ticket, which costs $18, to visit it on most days, but look for reservations on the first Friday of the month (5–8pm) for free admission.

See over 50 garments from Diane von Furstenberg, best known for her iconic wrap dress, during this career-spanning exhibition at the Skirball. Alongside artwork and fabric swatches, the show will also focus on her philanthropic work as well as how her life was shaped as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Tickets to the Skirball will cost you $18—except on Thursdays, when entry is free with a reservation.