April 2-3, 2026 Art Parties & Events
Thursday, Friday April 2-3, 2026 Art Parties & Events kick off a fun holiday weekend. Happy Passover to all our Jewish readers. It started yesterday and will run through April 2026. And of course the weekend closes out with Easter Sunday. Tonight the UCLA Dept of Art hosts an opening for its MFA #2 Exhibition. Plus we have theatre shows also. Then celebrate First Fridays at several museums, and enjoy the art parties, as well as more theatre and comedy too.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
In Westwood…UCLA Department of Art throws an opening art party for its 2026 MFA #2 Exhibition. Artists include: Samar Al Summary, Markele Cullins, Ashley Michelle Hannah, and Jazmin Jazzy Romero. The exhibition will remain on view through April 10, 2026; Art Party: 5-8pm; Parking in Visitor Parking Structure 3: $5/hour or $17/day; New Wight Gallery, Broad Art Center, Suite 1100, 240 Charles E. Young Drive, LA 90095; https://www.art.ucla.edu/events/
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Beverly Hills
The Unexpected Guest recently opened at Theatre Forty. Written by Agatha Christie, and directed by Warren Davis, it is a classic “whodunit?” The wealthy Richard Warwick has been murdered, needless to say, there is no shortage of suspects. Inspector Thomas is on the case – find out how the story ends. Performance: 7:30pm; Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills 90212; https://theatre40.org
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Venice
At the Electric Lodge, take in The Best Boarding House in Delaware written and directed by Marja-Lewis Ryan. The play is inspired by the chilling true crimes of Dorothea Puette. It tells the horrid story of Puette running a social security scam out of her boarding house for seniors. Performance: 8pm; The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, CA 90291; https://www.electriclodge.org
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Friday, April 3, 2026
We have a lot going on tonight, but I want to remind you all – It’s First Friday. Some of the museums charge for event entry, while others allow free access for the public to view its current exhibitions. Just confirm on the website.
Natural History Museum (NHM) always hosts a fun First Friday event. Moreover tonight it celebrates 20 years with live music from Arima Ederra, DJ sets from MIDI Riperton and Grace Ktown. Plus enjoy discussions on “Life, From Our Guts to the Galaxy. 6-10pm;
Be aware there is a NHM First Friday event fee of $30/$20 for NHM members; Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007; https://nhm.org/first-fridays
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Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum also offers free admission to their collections during its monthly Free First Fridays event; 4-7pm; Norton Simon Museum, 411 West Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 91105; https://www.nortonsimon.org
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Downtown
MOCA First Fridays at The Geffen Contemporary starts at 4, but from 11am-8pm the museum offers free admission for MONUMENTS. Additionally, this First Friday features The BERG Collective, DJs, cocktails, and food trucks. 4-8pm; The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012; https://www.moca.org
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Los Feliz
La Luz de Jesus Gallery debuts Zara Kand: Caught in the Folds. Known for her divine feminine and also spiritual paintings, Kand brings a mysterious tone to her work in this new exhibition.
Runs through April 29, 2026; Art Party: 7-10pm; La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., LA, 90027; https://laluzdejesus.com/
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Beverly Hills
You have another chance to catch the Unexpected Guest at Theatre Forty. See above listing for more info. Performance: 7:30pm; Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills 90212; https://theatre40.org
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Venice
Once again The Best Boarding House in Delaware plays at the Electric Lodge tonight. See above for additional info. Performance: 8pm; The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, CA 90291; www.electriclodge.org
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West Hollywood
Jetpack Comedy is LA’s best Friday stand-up comedy showcase. Comics from HBO, Netflix, and also SNL cast members, all drop-in for a night of laughter.
Headliners and surprise drop-ins have included: Sarah Silverman, Kevin Nealon, Fred Armisen, Bob Odenkirk, Pete Holmes, Hannibal Buress, Kumail Nanjiani, Maria Bamford, Hasan Minhaj, Jeff Garlin, Ali Wong, Demetri Martin, as well as many more. Event begins: 8:30pm; Admission starts at $20; Visit the website to RSVP for events (multiple dates); FB Page; Bar Lubitsch, 7702 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, 90046; https://jetpackcomedy.com/
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For additional art exhibitions, and performances as well as culinary events, see LAArtParty’s Upcoming Events Page.
Read more about Arts and Entertainment throughout the world on our sister site EatTravelGo.com, an art inspired travel site.
Or enjoy artist / gallerist interviews on our Art Talk Page also on ETG.
