Get ready to challenge your perceptions of art, peace, and participation because Yoko Ono’s groundbreaking interactive exhibition is coming to The Broad, and it’s unlike anything Los Angeles has ever seen. This spring, the iconic 92-year-old artist, activist, and partner to John Lennon will debut her first solo museum show in Southern California, Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind, opening on May 23 and running through October 11, 2026. But here’s where it gets even more captivating: this isn’t just an art show—it’s an invitation to become part of the art itself.
As you approach The Broad, you’ll be greeted by a striking outdoor installation: the museum’s olive trees transformed into wish trees, a concept Ono first introduced in 1996. Visitors will be encouraged to write their wishes on tags and hang them from the branches, turning the plaza into a living, breathing testament to collective hope. And this is the part most people miss—Ono’s work has always been about breaking down barriers between artist and audience, a theme that feels especially resonant today.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Ono’s career, spanning over seven decades, has been both celebrated and criticized. From her early days in the Fluxus movement to her bold performance pieces like Cut Piece (1964), where audience members literally cut away her clothing, Ono has never shied away from provoking thought—or discomfort. Her collaboration with Lennon, including iconic protests like Bed Peace (1969), blurred the lines between art and activism, sparking debates that continue to this day. Is her work revolutionary, or is it too avant-garde for its own good? We’ll let you decide.
‘Yoko’s work transforms audiences from observers into participants,’ says Connor Monahan, her studio director. ‘That sense of agency and connection feels especially powerful right now.’ And with Los Angeles’s spirit of experimentation, it’s the perfect city to embrace her vision. But don’t just take our word for it—the exhibition includes interactive ‘instruction’ pieces, drafts of her 1964 book Grapefruit, and archival materials from her peace campaigns. It’s a deep dive into a mind that’s been reshaping art, music, and activism since the 1950s.
Joanne Heyler, founding director of The Broad, puts it best: ‘Yoko Ono’s ideas about peace, imagination, and collective participation are both timeless and newly urgent.’ In a world divided by headlines, Ono’s work reminds us of the power of unity and creativity. But we have to ask: Can art truly bridge societal divides? Or is it just a mirror reflecting our own limitations?
From her first meeting with Lennon—where he famously climbed a ladder to read the word ‘yes’ through a magnifying glass—to her enduring legacy as a cultural provocateur, Ono’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and unapologetic vision. As Sarah Loyer, Broad curator, notes, ‘Ono’s work asks us to look at the world differently and find ways to make change, often starting within ourselves.’
So, what’s your take? Is Yoko Ono a visionary ahead of her time, or a polarizing figure whose work remains misunderstood? Let us know in the comments—and don’t miss Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind at The Broad. It’s not just an exhibition; it’s an experience that might just change the way you see the world.
