The Wall Project was designed as a public art initiative/live event. The centerpiece was an 80ft. stylised wall that was placed across Wilshire Boulevard on November 8, closing down the busiest thoroughfare in L.A. and symbolically dividing the city into east and west. Prominent artists such as Thierry Noir, Shepard Fairey, and Kent Twitchell, as well as the public participated in painting it.

A second wall comprised of ten sections of the original Berlin Wall went up along Wilshire Boulevard. At midnight on November 8, a celebration attended by over 1000 people culminated with the Wall Across Wilshire being torn down. The Wall Project was the largest commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. It received worldwide media attention and helped the museum establish an international reputation.

The Project kicked off with a Los Angeles press conference on Aug. 13, 2009. Artists Thierry Noir, Shepard Fairey, and Kent Twitchell were announced as participants. A website and Facebook page were also launched on that date. On the evening of October 9, 10 sections of the original Berlin Wall were placed on Wilshire blvd, and local TV coverage as well as igniting international press coverage. The weeks leading up to the anniversary held public events and forums. The night of November 8, over 1000 people gathered to witness the Wall across Wilshire divide LA into east and west and then at midnight celebrate it being torn down.

The Wall Project was the largest commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. The Nov. 9 midnight celebration included a special live video message from Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Woweriet and was broadcast live in Germany. It drew the attention of global media in over 20 countries. In the weeks surrounding the event it was featured in more than 600 articles in Germany. The Wall Street Journal said “Judging from its brief history, the museum promises to be a major asset to that new institutional category, “Sites of Conscience,” which has creatively expanded the museum field in recent years.”