Yoko Ono’s first solo museum exhibition in Southern California is about to turn Grand Avenue into a low-key peace lab. Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind opens this Saturday at The Broad in downtown Los Angeles and runs through October 11, 2026, bringing together seven decades of Ono’s instruction-based works, films, and anti-war collaborations with John Lennon. Several pieces spill out from the galleries to the plaza, setting up participatory stations that invite visitors to leave their own wishes, words, and gestures behind.
What’s on view
The Broad is presenting the show as a mix of archival material, instruction scores, and hands-on installations, organized in collaboration with Tate Modern. Visitors will find early Grapefruit typescripts, films such as FLY and Freedom, and more recent installations including Helmets (Pieces of Sky) and Add Colour (Refugee Boat). “Her foundational contributions to 1960s conceptualism and her lifelong commitment to participation have redefined what art can be and do,” Sarah Loyer, curator and exhibitions manager at The Broad, said in a statement. The museum’s press release lays out the full program and exhibition dates, according to The Broad.
Citywide programming and performances
The exhibition is not staying politely inside the museum walls. The Broad has lined up a season of live and offsite programming, including seven digital billboards across Los Angeles that will flash peace slogans such as THINK PEACE and PEACE is POWER. The museum will also stage new performances of Ono’s landmark works Cut Piece and Sky Piece to Jesus Christ as part of the run.
Music fans get their own moment in August with an evening dubbed Yoko Only, guest-curated by Yuka Honda and featuring artists including Yo La Tengo, Nels Cline, and a broader lineup that nods to Ono’s reach across genres. These programming details and the billboard campaign were reported by the Los Angeles Times.
From Tate to Grand Avenue
Music of the Mind originated at Tate Modern in London as a large-scale survey of Ono’s instructional and performance work, with critics highlighting its focus on audience participation and its sweeping, career-long scope. That history helps explain why The Broad’s version leans equally into archival context and visitor involvement, echoing the London presentation documented in coverage of the Tate run. For more background on the originating show, see reporting by The Guardian.
Plan your visit
General admission to The Broad is still free, but timed tickets are required and many of the special programs and performances need separate reservations. The museum advises checking its event listings for the latest schedule and ticket availability.
The July restagings of Cut Piece and Sky Piece to Jesus Christ will take place at REDCAT, with tickets for select programs already appearing on event pages. For full exhibition details, see The Broad’s information at The Broad, and for performance dates and tickets, visit REDCAT.
