Our art and research collections span ancient to modern times.
The Getty Center, opened to the public on December 16, 1997, is a hilltop campus in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, celebrated for its striking architecture, lush gardens, and panoramic views of the city. It houses the J. Paul Getty Museum’s collections of European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography spanning from prehistoric to modern times.
History
The Getty Center is part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, an institution founded by oil magnate and art collector J. Paul Getty, who in 1953 established the Trust to promote the visual arts. After the success of the Getty Villa in Malibu (opened in 1974), the Getty Center was commissioned to accommodate its growing collection and research missions. Designed by architect Richard Meier, construction began in the late 1980s, culminating in the grand opening in 1997. The campus also includes the Getty Research Institute, Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, and the Trust’s administrative offices.
Mission
The Getty Center is part of a broader mission of the J. Paul Getty Trust: to exhibit, conserve, and interpret the world’s artistic and cultural heritage. Based in Los Angeles and with global outreach, Getty supports scholarship, research, conservation, and public programming both onsite and online.
