Norton Simon Museum

411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA

Address:	411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
Phone:	+1 626-449-6840
Site:	nortonsimon.org
Rating:	4.7
Working:	12–5PM Closed 12–5PM 12–5PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 13

Bill McElroy

Ten stars if possible. Great museum with paintings and sculptures from the Great Masters. This museum houses some of the greatest artworks of mankind and is a pleasure to visit. There are also outside sculpture gardens and a pond that make the experience even more great. Do not miss the ancient Asian exhibit or the special exhibits on the lower level. Plenty of on site parking, low entry cost, and ease of freeway access makes this a perfect stop for the art enthusiast and traveler. Special thanks to the staff member that found my camera case that had dropped out of my pocket and then searched for me to return it. Super clean bathrooms, helpful people at each exhibit, and security that rivals Fort Knox make this museum a good visit. Be sure to allow two to four hours or more, and be sure to bring your camera {NON-Flash photography is allowed}.

N J

This is a small gallery but with a wide-ranging and deeply thoughtful collection, ranging from 14th to 20th century European art on one level, a separate level containing South and Southeast Asian art and a beautiful sculpture garden. I was caught up in the European art and did not make it to the Asian level in the time available to me. But the European art alone is worth making the time to visit. Interspersed among the collection are small and large masterpieces. I particularly appreciated seeing Rembrandt, Goya, Lippi, Cézanne, Pissarro, Picasso, Vuillard and among the sculptures, Giacometti and Hepworth. The entry to the gallery is a beautifully serene walkway, which sets the scene.

David Gardiner

If youre ever in the Pasadena area you need to check out the Norton Simon Museum. This museum may be on the smaller side, but it contains works of art from the 14th to 19th centuries by famous European artists like Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh, Cezzane, and many more. You will also find Asian and Indian art, historical items of interest, as well as a sculpture garden. This is the prefect place to start your afternoon. Its conveniently located near the 110 freeway on Colorado Blvd and a few blocks from Downtown Pasadena, which is complete with many shops and great restaurants. I highly recommend a visit to this special museum, which is undoubtedly one of LAs secret gems.

Roger Parrish

The Norton Simon Museum encompasses collections from: Asia including; paintings, wood block prints, tapestries and sculptures along with extensive pieces by European sculptures, painters, and tapestries designers. The Norton Simon has a sculpture garden displaying many sculptors work in a beautiful manner around a large lily pond. The museum also contains the Norton Simon Theater. My wife and I are most fond of the Impressionists pieces available for you at the Norton Simon. The Garden Café is an excellent place to have a snack. Well worth the drive to Pasadena. Parking can be somewhat problematic as the Eastside lot fills up quickly on the weekends.

Peter Nightingale

There are some good paintings here, van Gogh, Renoir, Pissarro etc. The gardens are nice, we went out there to sit and contemplate, but there are no seats, so we came back in again. Theres a cafe that seems nice. Theres something about the place though. It might have just been my mood at the time, but its like an atmosphere of smugness, superiority. Everyone speaks in whispers, there are lots of staff to make sure you behave yourself. We also felt it was quite expensive. Tripadvisor said it would be $7 to get in, its now $12, plus $3 for the audio guide. Which is well done, but not necessary, each picture has a label with enough background.

Jeannette G.

While the displayed collection at NSM is small there is a great variety. On the day of my visit I went right after work, which was great change of environment. Using my student ID, I was able to get free admission. But, I had to rush a bit through the galleries and take a quick stroll through the botanical garden as they close at 6pm. The basement floor has changing exhibit and on this occasion, they had an exhibit on printmaking in America - quite informative. Their gift shop is small, but they have a good collection of prints. I got a couple of 8x11 for only $3.50 each, which is not bad because other museums have the same for $6.

Raquel Hunter

Each year, I renew my subscription to Norton Simon Museum. Ill never grow tired of viewing their collections of Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Diego Rivera, and Rembrandt van Rijn, If you are a student and have a student ID, you can visit the museum for free. Just show your student ID at the ticket window. If you visit the museum on the first Friday of every month, admission is free for everyone between the hours of 6pm and 9pm. There are lots of lectures, performances, and films, especially during the summer. During summer evenings, I love taking a stroll through the sculpture garden. It is soothing and reinvigorating.

Олег Покровский

Мой любимый музей в Калифорнии,ради которого стоит приехать в Пасадену.Статуи Родена и Майоля на входе, приветливый персонал,можно фотографировать.Отличная коллекция азиатского искусства начала 1 тысячелетия.Мои любимые Зурбаран,Эль Греко,Кранах и Ботичелли.Потрясающая коллекция!

Mike Brazell

It looks like a world class museum and the sculptures and grounds are beautiful. We showed up to see a presentation on Chinese New Year but didnt see any signage when we showed up so we asked the kids behind the counter who told us it would end at 3:00 to which we replied, "yeah, we know but its only 2:15 now, where do we go?" They repeated that it ended at 3:00, exchanged looks and started to ignore us. Further inquiry only got us the same response of "they stop at 3:00," shrug, exchanges looks and stare off. Maybe the museum clock was wrong and they thought WE were rude/unreasonable ones.

Tom Smith

The art of Norton museum is well known so no point in my further elaborating on it. Get the audio guide for $3 as some labels are not extensive. The indoor garden and sculpture garden is small but pretty. Tip for budget travelers is diagonally across from museum on Colorado St is Ralph’s grocery store, which sells sandwiches for $6-8 and many salads besides all regular groceries and fruits. They have iron chairs and table in front patio so decent place to get inexpensive lunch; much cheaper than museum café and better food selection.

Claire Kinder

One of my favorite Los Angeles museums, and a must see for tourists and art aficionados. They have big name artists always on display and often a special rotating exhibit. Expensive collections for modern art, Dutch golden age, baroque, medieval, as well as Asian and Indian sculpture. Lovely outdoor sculpture garden, lily pond and café for good weather days (aka just about always). Only wish they rotated the permanent collection more often. Free admission first Friday of every month (5-8pm)

Bill Goldstein

I am ashamed of Norton for displaying Nazi looted art that rightfully was owned, and illegally confiscated and the family has never been reimbursed. The works in question are The Adam and The Eve works. Shame ! Shame ! Shame ! on this museum for fighting the surviving family and refusing to give up the paintings..! Please people...think about this. This is a FACT, and if you will go to Snopes or Fact Check you will see how underhanded this is. Bill Goldstein Griffin, Ga.

A Private User

It just boggles the mind that the charming, hilarious and in every way phenomenal Tiepolo - The Triumph of Virtue and Nobility Over Ignorance - is there for all to see and enjoy just a few hundred feet from the 210 freeway. Other knockouts are a painting called Marine by Courbet. The Norton Simon and its beautiful treasures are a soothing, hopeful presence, like the San Gabriel Mountains to the north. I would give it six stars, at least.