Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind - A Transformative Exhibition at the Broad Museum
Yoko Ono is preparing to showcase her first solo museum exhibition in Southern California at the Broad museum this spring. The exhibition, titled “Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind,” will open on May 23 and run until Oct. 11, 2026. The interactive show, a collaboration with Tate Modern in London, will feature an outdoor installation using the Broad’s olive trees to create “wish trees” where visitors can write wishes on tags and attach them to the branches.
Ono’s art has always been characterized by its performative and interactive nature, influenced by her experiences during World War II in Tokyo. Her commitment to peace, love, and understanding has been a central theme in her work since the 1960s when she became associated with the Fluxus movement in New York. Ono’s art invites viewers to become active participants, shaping the works and the exhibition itself, fostering a sense of agency and connection that resonates with audiences.
The exhibition will showcase Ono’s interactive “instruction” exhibits spanning from the mid-1950s to the present, featuring brief texts that suggest actions for guests to complete or contemplate. Additionally, viewers will have the opportunity to see drafts of her 1964 book, “Grapefruit,” which contains over 200 instructions in various art forms. The show will also highlight Ono’s activism through materials and ephemera from her peace campaigns, including collaborations with John Lennon in protests against the Vietnam War.
Los Angeles, with its spirit of experimentation and openness, is the perfect setting for Ono’s boundary-pushing art and enduring vision. The city’s creative community is expected to embrace Ono’s work, which challenges viewers to look at the world differently and find ways to make change, starting from within themselves towards peace. The exhibition will feature film and video footage, including iconic performances like “Cut Piece,” where Ono allowed the audience to cut away pieces of her clothing, showcasing the power of personal stories and collective action in her work.
In conclusion, Yoko Ono’s upcoming exhibition at the Broad museum promises to be a transformative experience for visitors, inviting them to engage with her art, activism, and enduring message of peace and connection. Los Angeles provides the ideal backdrop for Ono’s innovative and thought-provoking work, offering a platform for personal reflection and collective action in pursuit of a better future.