STANDOUT MOMENTS AS THE BROAD TURNS 10

To mark the downtown museum's anniversary, a look at key highlights from across the years

- LEIGH-ANN JACKSON

A CROWD gathers, for opening day, Sept. 20, 2015. The late philanthropist Eli Broad, established the museum, which has featured shows like the still-running "Infinity Mirrored Room," and "Mickalene Thomas: All About Love."

Ten years ago, a new destination emerged in downtown L.A., bringing yet another architectural spectacle to Grand Avenue and bolstering the city's art offerings.

The Broad, home to the vast art collection of Eli and Edythe Broad, aimed to deliver world-class art to the masses for free.

Originally set to debut in late 2014 (but delayed due to complications with the construction of the stark white facade known as “the veil”), the 120,000-square-foot museum opened Sept. 20, 2015. Public demand was so high it temporarily crashed the Broad's online ticketing system.

Since then, an estimated 6.7 million visitors have made their way inside to take in contemporary art by boldface names, among them Ed Ruscha, Robert Rauschenberg, Kara Walker and Mark Bradford. Special exhibitions by the likes of Jeffrey Gibson and Shirin Neshat, as well as an eclectic slate of concerts, film screenings and artist talks, have helped sustain the buzz among tourists and locals alike.

But the first decade hasn't been all sunshine and rainbow-colored Jeff Koons sculptures. Early on, critics panned the building’s unconventional design, calling it everything from “tight” and “unadventurous” to a “supersized cheese grater.” There's been fuss about long lines and special exhibition pricing. When the pandemic hit, the museum was forced to shutter for 14 months and laid off 130 employees. Most recently, two former staffers sued the Broad for alleged discrimination, which the museum denies.