The Museum of Peace and Quiet is an unexpected oasis of calm tucked away on a side street in Los Angeles. Part boutique showroom for the minimalist fashion brand Museum of Peace and Quiet, part contemporary art gallery focused onstillness, this hybrid space offers a uniquely tranquil experience. As soon as you enter the bright, plant-filled atrium, you‘ll notice the decibel level drops as the outside world seems to fade away.
I recently spent an afternoon wandering through the museum‘s rotating exhibits and product displays. As a longtime fan of the brand‘s simple yet striking designs, I was excited to view their latest collections. But more than that, I was craving the sense of ease and presence their clothing aims to inspire. By the time I left a few hours later, I did indeed feel grounded, refreshed and inspired to carry that "peace and quiet" with me.
In this review, I‘ll give you an inside look at what you can expect during a visit to the Museum of Peace and Quiet, including must-see exhibits, boutique offerings and why their brand ethos resonates now more than ever.
Finding Stillness in an Unlikely Place
The Museum of Peace and Quiet resides in a converted industrial building on the outskirts of LA‘s Arts District. As you approach the address printed on your free admission ticket, you may second guess yourself. Where‘s the entrance? The plain brick exterior seems to advertise vacant warehouse space rather than a world-class cultural institution.
But then you spot it – a small white placard reading "Museum of Peace and Quiet" hovering by an unassuming door. As soon as you cross the threshold into the bright central atrium suffused with desert sunlight, you‘ll grasp the perfection of this unexpected setting. Without the pomp and grandeur of a city museum, you can fully embrace the simplicity of experience to come.
Skylights cascade sunshine onto lounge chairs sprinkled across the polished concrete floors. The high ceilings host lush vertical gardens, immersing you in tranquil nature. Gentle acoustics dampen urban noise while amplifying the soothing sounds of trickling water features. The sudden serenity instantly unwinds nerves jangled by the city streets.
Exhibits That Captivate Through Minimalism
At first glance the museum seems small, with three galleries branching off the central lounge. But the power lies in the limited number of works curated in each thoughtfully designed vignette. As you slowly wander past sound art installations, video projections, and interactive sculpture, every piece speaks to the overarching theme of evaluating the elusive concept of peace.
In the North gallery, a single bench faces a stark white wall. But as you take a seat, you notice nearly invisible speakers embedded throughout the walls. An audio composition featuring calming tones with hints of natural soundscapes envelops you once seated, becoming more pronounced the longer you linger.
Another exhibit projects slow motion video footage of erupting volcanoes and ocean waves onto ceilings and floors, surrounding you with these larger than life manifestations of earth energy. Though visually arresting, the looped clips play without sound, asking the viewer to imaginatively fill the silence.
While intellectually compelling, the exhibits also instill bodily calm. Comfortable places to sit scattered throughout galleries invite you to slow down and fully absorb what you see. The negative space between artworks lets each piece breathe. And the closed-in architecture minimizes visual distraction, helping you sink into meditative focus.
By the end, you‘ve experienced a full spectrum of sensory engagement targeted to relax both mind and body. The simplicity of the installations strip away outside diversions, granting you permission to quiet your own mind.
Boutique Shopping That Sustains Ethics
In addition to the rotating art exhibitions, Museum of Peace and Quiet functions as a boutique storefront for their line of sustainably crafted casual wear. Display rooms interspersed among the galleries showcase their latest collections of sweats, tees, jackets and accessories artfully draped on modern fixtures.
While visually retail spaces, these "exhibits" continue the museum theme by framing the clothing as functional art. Placards detail the natural fabrics, low impact dyes, and ethical manufacturing processes behind each garment. You gain appreciation for the craftsmanship applied to create such clean silhouettes, Luxe sweatpants woven from organic cotton with hand stitched detailing or a boxy linen jacket with intricate desert cactus applique.
Trying on the clothing feels like an extension of the art experience. Slipping an oversized hemp blend shirt over your shoulders or sliding your feet into comfy sneaker slippers seems to infuse you with the same grounded, present awareness cultivated in adjacent galleries. Beyond acquiring a covetable addition to your wardrobe, each purchase fuels the sustainable slow fashion movement through directly supporting independent creators.
Why the Museum Matters Now
While the Museum of Peace and Quiet offers a uniquely immersive experience onsite in LA, their underlying ethos speaks to a broader cultural movement. After almost three years spent in a global pandemic, climate change fueled natural disasters, and political unrest, the concept of seeking stillness, simplicity and sanctuary feels especially urgent.
The museum‘s co-founder Ashley Lennon says their goal is "to provide visitors with permission to hit pause – even just for an hour – on the chaos of constant connectivity." By showcasing art and fashion centered on mindful presentation, the space allows you to reset anxiety circuits overloaded by the modern world.
Since opening in spring 2021, the museum has welcomed over 50,000 in-person visitors, with attendance numbers steadily climbing each month. And their fashion lines and branded merchandise now ship worldwide, spreading their message through wearable art.
"We wanted to create a brand that bottles the essence of finding peace in nature," says co-founder Christian Lennon. "But we also hope to inspire our community to carry that energy of quiet contemplation with them back into daily life." Judging from my blissed out yet strangely invigorated state after spending an afternoon immersed in their exhibits, I‘d say they succeeded beautifully.
The Verdict: A Must-See LA Gem
Wandering this unexpected oasis in the heart of artsy, bustling LA felt like discovering a secret sanctuary. The Museum of Peace and Quiet exceeded my already high expectations. From minimalist installations infused with tranquility to ethically crafted casual wear designs, every element artfully transports you into their "mindful movement."
I highly recommend visiting the museum in person if you find yourself in the Los Angeles area and crave a dose of Zen. But you can also bring their vision to life through purchasing pieces from the MoPQ fashion line, like their custom woven cactus slide sandals I sported on the flight home as a memory of this inspiring place.
Wherever you live, I hope you‘ll join the global community keening for more stillness by integrating a hint of peace and quiet into your own life, even for just an hour. You‘ll emerge refreshed, recentered and reassured by how good it feels to hit pause.
