San Francisco is currently a hub for diverse and captivating museum exhibitions. This guide highlights the top displays art enthusiasts and cultural explorers must not miss!
Key Takeaways
- Yayoi Kusama's Immersive Mirror Rooms at SFMOMA offer a kaleidoscopic experience in her first solo museum presentation in Northern California.
- Takashi Murakami's Exhibition at the Asian Art Museum features over 75 iconic monster artworks, interactive cosplay activities, and monster parties.
- Botticelli Drawings at the Legion of Honor presents a rare collection of over 60 pieces from the Renaissance, offering a unique glimpse into Botticelli's preparatory works.
San Francisco’s Finest Museum Exhibitions of 2024
San Francisco, known for its vibrant cultural scene, currently hosts diverse museum exhibitions catering to various interests and artistic tastes. Here’s a roundup of some of the must-see exhibitions:
1. Designing Peace
Dates: Open now through February 4, 2024
Location: Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 3rd St, San Francisco
The Museum of Craft and Design showcases “Designing Peace,” featuring 30 design projects from 20 artists worldwide. These projects promote peaceful interactions across various societal issues, including hunger, poverty, and climate change.
2. Sitting on Chrome: Mario Ayala, rafa esparza, and Guadalupe Rosales
Dates: Open now through February 19, 2024
Location: SFMOMA, 151 3rd St, San Francisco
SFMOMA’s collaborative exhibition “Sitting on Chrome” explores the visual language of lowriders, showcasing customized cars and performances by rafa esparza.
3. Wolfgang Tillmans: To look without fear
Dates: Open now through March 3, 2024
Location: SFMOMA, 151 3rd St, San Francisco
SFMOMA presents the most comprehensive presentation of Wolfgang Tillman’s work, spanning several decades. The exhibit includes photographs, video work, and large table pieces, curated by Tillmans himself.
4. JoeSam.: Text Messages
Dates: Open now through March 3, 2024
Location: Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St, San Francisco
The Museum of the African Diaspora displays a collection of 20 mixed-media paintings by JoeSam, reflecting his career from 1985-2020 in San Francisco.
5. Mr. Roboto
Dates: February 24-June 30, 2024
Location: Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 3rd St, San Francisco
This exhibition at the Museum of Craft and Design, presented by San Jose State University students, explores the creative potential of working with robots in various artistic realms.
6. First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art
Dates: Open now through April 28, 2024
Location: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St, San Francisco
The Contemporary Jewish Museum showcases neon and glass art by She Bends, focusing on light as a transformative force.
7. Lhola Amira: Facing the Future
Dates: Open now through May 5, 2024
Location: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The de Young Museum hosts Lhola Amira’s solo exhibition, featuring spiritual portals and a film documenting her journey in Bahia, Brazil.
8. Disney Cats & Dogs
Dates: Open now through June 2, 2024
Location: Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St, San Francisco
The Walt Disney Family Museum presents “Disney Cats & Dogs,” showcasing over 300 archival sketches and paintings from classic Disney films.
9. RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped
Dates: Open now through July 28, 2024
Location: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St, San Francisco
The Contemporary Jewish Museum features photographs by Jay Blakesberg, capturing the evolution of San Francisco’s music scene from 1978-2008.
10. Zanele Muholi: Eye Me
Dates: Open now through August 11, 2024
Location: SFMOMA, 151 3rd St, San Francisco
SFMOMA showcases the work of South African visual activist Zanele Muholi, focusing on the South African LGBTQ+ community.
11. Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors
Dates: Open now through October 13, 2024
Location: SFMOMA, 151 3rd St, San Francisco
SFMOMA’s “The Visitors” features nine large video screens presenting an hour-long musical composition by Ragnar Kjartansson and friends.
12. Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Love
Dates: Open now through September 7, 2024
Location: SFMOMA, 151 3rd St, San Francisco
At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition is a mesmerizing journey through her immersive mirror rooms. Marking her first solo museum presentation in Northern California, the exhibit includes classics like the Infinity Mirror Room and innovative installations like “Dreaming of Earth’s Sphericity, I would Offer My Love,” offering a kaleidoscopic experience.
13. Takashi Murakami: Unfamiliar People — Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego
Dates: Open now through February 12, 2024
Location: Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St, San Francisco
The Asian Art Museum is currently home to over 75 works by the legendary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. The exhibition, showcasing his famous monster artworks, is complemented by cosplay activities and monster parties.
14. Botticelli Drawings
Dates: Open now through February 11, 2024
Location: Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave, San Francisco
The Legion of Honor is showcasing the first-ever exhibition dedicated to the drawings of Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Featuring over 60 ancient pieces, this exhibit is a rare congregation of Botticelli’s work, including preparatory drawings for his famous paintings.
15. Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style
Dates: Open now through August 11, 2024
Location: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The de Young Museum deepens into women’s local fashion history. With over 50 fashion designers represented, this exhibition from the Fine Art Museums’ permanent collections is augmented with AR mirrors for an interactive experience.
These unique exhibitions offer visitors a glimpse into diverse artistic expressions and cultural narratives, making San Francisco’s museum scene a rich and engaging experience for art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
