The Broad has had both positive and negative media coverage. I say: ignore it all and make your own assessment. I can’t imagine any art lover would be disappointed with the collection(s) curated for the Broad’s opening. In addition to the art, the architecture – internally and externally – give The Broad life in a completely different and profoundly artistic way. Surrounding DTLA also serves as a laboratory where The Broad is simply one of its constantly moving organisms.

I can now say (almost still in disbelief) that I’ve seen multiple Warhols, Harings, and Basquiats – in one day. One of the most moving and painful exhibits I’ve ever seen, by Kara Walker, highlights in intense detail the horrors of slavery and the continuation of slavery in this country in its multiple forms. Walker uses color (black and white) and silhouette to translate experiences; it is gripping. The minute I walked into the room housing her work, I was teary-eyed. If there is one thing art has the special power to do, it’s move people. Between Haring’s pre-death piece “Red Room” and Walker’s work, I was emotional more than once as I wandered the Broad’s palatial galleries.

As far as whimsy, Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog in blue (who is the highest paid living artist for a piece of this same kind of work according to The Hollywood Reporter) and Rabbit are must-sees. I discovered a new favorite artist in Takashi Murakami with the beautiful skull imagery in his End of Line. I could have stared at it for hours (and would have been happy toting the giant canvas home with me to Culver City).

Finally, if there’s one moment I would live over and over again, it’s the few seconds I was able to spend in Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room (The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away)… see the pics below to (try and) understand the wonder created by this room. More importantly, my few words won’t do this stunning museum justice – you must go see it for yourself: The Broad. Reserve tickets online first and know that you must also make reservations/put your name on the list once you get there for the Infinity Mirrored Room.