SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.

San Francisco Museum Exhibits: Top Traveling Shows for 2024

Jill on a windy day at the Golden Gate Bridge

by Jill Loeffler  •

Updated: February 29, 2024

Discover a full calendar of current and upcoming San Francisco museum exhibits. My schedule offers a monthly look at the top shows at popular museums such as the de Young, the SF Museum of Modern Art, and the Asian Art Museum. 

The calendar includes traveling and temporary exhibits with the dates they will be open to the public. You will need to buy a ticket in addition to the general admission tickets for many of the art exhibits.

You can pick these up when you arrive or in advance online.

Click the links below to jump ahead to a specific month:

San Francisco Museum Exhibits: Asian Art Museum

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

March 2024

Asian Art Museum

Deities, Paragons, and Legends: Storytelling in Chinese Pictorial Arts, 9/14 - 7/8

Japanese Ink Paintings, 12/21 - 5/6

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31

Japanese Tastes in Chinese Ceramics, through 5/6


Contemporary Jewish Museum

L'Chaim: Celebrating Our Building at 15, 2/16 - 6/9/2024

First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art, 12/7 - 4/28

Radiant Practices: Illuminating Jewish Traditions, 12/7 - 4/28

RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped, 8/31 - 7/28

Annie Albagli: We Become [Vessels], 3/23/23 - 7/28/24


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15/2024

Lhola Amira: Facing the Future, through 5/5

Lee Mingwei: Rituals of Care, 2/17 - 7/7

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, 1/20 - 8/11

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Irving Penn, 3/16 - 7/21


Legion of Honor

Bouke de Vries: Memories in Porcelain, 7/22 - 3/24

Benoit Editeur: Through 3/10/2024

Zuan-cho: Kimono Design in Modern Japan (1868 - 1912), 3/30 - 8/25

Drawing the Line: Michelangelo to Asawa, through 4/7


Museum of African Diaspora

JoeSam.: Text Messages, thru 3/3

Spectrum: On Color & Contemporary Art, thru 3/3

Lishan AZ: Eugene's Cove, thru 3/3

The Only Door I Can Open: Women Exposing Prison Through Art & Poetry, thru 3/3

MoAD Teens 2023: Old Roots, New Leaves, thru 3/3

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Marshall Brown Projects: Dequindre Civic Academy, 8/12 - 5/27

Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Love, thru 5/28

Sea Change: Photographs from the Collection, 3/17

Wolfgang Tillmans: To look without fear, 11/11 - 3/3

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me, 1/18 - 8/11

Chiura Obata, 12/21 - 7/14

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

What Matters: A Proposition in Eight Rooms, through September 2024


Walt Disney Family Museum

Disney Cats & Dogs: 6/24 - 6/2/2024

Pawsibilities Unleashed: A Pet Portrait Exhibition, 11/16 - 3/24


>> Find additional events in March

Find Tickets to Our Top Museums

Hop On Hop Off Bus: One of the best ways to explore the city and these San Francisco museum exhibits is with the Hop On Hop Off Bus. It will take you directly from attraction to attraction with ease. Learn more about the tour options here.

April 2024

Asian Art Museum

Deities, Paragons, and Legends: Storytelling in Chinese Pictorial Arts, 9/14 - 7/8

Japanese Ink Paintings, 12/21 - 5/6

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31

Japanese Tastes in Chinese Ceramics, through 5/6

Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age, 4/19 - 7/22


Contemporary Jewish Museum

L'Chaim: Celebrating Our Building at 15, 2/16 - 6/9/2024

First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art, 12/7 - 4/28

Radiant Practices: Illuminating Jewish Traditions, 12/7 - 4/28

RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped, 8/31 - 7/28

Annie Albagli: We Become [Vessels], 3/23/23 - 7/28/24


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Lee Mingwei: Rituals of Care, 2/17 - 7/7

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, 1/20 - 8/11

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15

Lhola Amira: Facing the Future, through 5/5

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Irving Penn, 3/16 - 7/21


Legion of Honor

Zuan-cho: Kimono Design in Modern Japan (1868 - 1912), 3/30 - 8/25

Japanese Prints in Transition: From the Floating World to the Modern World, 4/6 - 8/18

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20

Drawing the Line: Michelangelo to Asawa, through 4/7


Museum of African Diaspora

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Marshall Brown Projects: Dequindre Civic Academy, 8/12 - 5/27

Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Love, thru 5/28

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me, 1/18 - 8/11

Chiura Obata, 12/21 - 7/14

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

What Matters: A Proposition in Eight Rooms, through September 2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


Walt Disney Family Museum

Disney Cats & Dogs: 6/24 - 6/2/2024


>> More top events in April

May 2024

Asian Art Museum

Deities, Paragons, and Legends: Storytelling in Chinese Pictorial Arts, 9/14 - 7/8

Japanese Ink Paintings, 12/21 - 5/6

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31

Japanese Tastes in Chinese Ceramics, through 5/6

Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age, 4/19 - 7/22


Contemporary Jewish Museum

L'Chaim: Celebrating Our Building at 15, 2/16 - 6/9

RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped, 8/31 - 7/28

Annie Albagli: We Become [Vessels], 3/23/23 - 7/28/24


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Lee Mingwei: Rituals of Care, 2/17 - 7/7

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, 1/20 - 8/11

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Irving Penn, 3/16 - 7/21

American Beauty: The Osher Collection of American Art, 5/18 - 10/20


Legion of Honor

Zuan-cho: Kimono Design in Modern Japan (1868 - 1912), 3/30 - 8/25

Japanese Prints in Transition: From the Floating World to the Modern World, through 8/18

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20


Museum of African Diaspora

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/13/2024

Marshall Brown Projects: Dequindre Civic Academy, 8/12 - 5/27

Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Love, thru 5/28

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me, 1/18 - 8/11

Chiura Obata, 12/21 - 7/14

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

Art of Noise, 5/4 - 8/18

What Matters: A Proposition in Eight Rooms, through September 2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


Walt Disney Family Museum

Disney Cats & Dogs: 6/24 - 6/2/2024


>> More events in May

June 2024

Asian Art Museum

Deities, Paragons, and Legends: Storytelling in Chinese Pictorial Arts, 9/14 - 7/8

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31

Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age, 4/19 - 7/22


Contemporary Jewish Museum

L'Chaim: Celebrating Our Building at 15, 2/16 - 6/9

RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped, 8/31 - 7/28

Annie Albagli: We Become [Vessels], 3/23/23 - 7/28/24


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Lee Mingwei: Rituals of Care, 2/17 - 7/7

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, 1/20 - 8/11

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Irving Penn, 3/16 - 7/21

American Beauty: The Osher Collection of American Art, 5/18 - 10/20

Bouquets to Art 2024, 6/4 - 6/9

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25


Legion of Honor

Zuan-cho: Kimono Design in Modern Japan (1868 - 1912), 3/30 - 8/25

Japanese Prints in Transition: From the Floating World to the Modern World, through 8/18

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20


Museum of African Diaspora

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me, 1/18 - 8/11

Chiura Obata, 12/21 - 7/14

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

Art of Noise, 5/4 - 8/18

What Matters: A Proposition in Eight Rooms, through September 2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


Walt Disney Family Museum

Disney Cats & Dogs: 6/24 - 6/2/2024


>> June events calendar

July 2024

Asian Art Museum

Deities, Paragons, and Legends: Storytelling in Chinese Pictorial Arts, 9/14 - 7/8

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31

Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age, 4/19 - 7/22


Contemporary Jewish Museum

RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped, 8/31 - 7/28

Annie Albagli: We Become [Vessels], 3/23/23 - 7/28/24


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Lee Mingwei: Rituals of Care, 2/17 - 7/7

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, 1/20 - 8/11

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Irving Penn, 3/16 - 7/21

American Beauty: The Osher Collection of American Art, 5/18 - 10/20

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25


Legion of Honor

Zuan-cho: Kimono Design in Modern Japan (1868 - 1912), 3/30 - 8/25

Japanese Prints in Transition: From the Floating World to the Modern World, through 8/18

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20


Museum of African Diaspora

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me, 1/18 - 8/11

Chiura Obata, 12/21 - 7/14

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

Art of Noise, 5/4 - 8/18

What Matters: A Proposition in Eight Rooms, through September 2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


>> July events calendar

August 2024

Asian Art Museum

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, 1/20 - 8/11

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

American Beauty: The Osher Collection of American Art, 5/18 - 10/20

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25

About Place: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift, 8/10 - 7/20


Legion of Honor

Zuan-cho: Kimono Design in Modern Japan (1868 - 1912), 3/30 - 8/25

Japanese Prints in Transition: From the Floating World to the Modern World, through 8/18

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20


Museum of African Diaspora

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me, 1/18 - 8/11

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

Art of Noise, 5/4 - 8/18

What Matters: A Proposition in Eight Rooms, through September 2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


>> Fun events in August

September 2024

Asian Art Museum

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Nampeyo and the Sikyátki Revival, through 9/15

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

American Beauty: The Osher Collection of American Art, 5/18 - 10/20

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25

About Place: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift, 8/10 - 7/20


Legion of Honor

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20


Museum of African Diaspora

Rachel Jones: !!!!!, 3/27 - 9/1

Unruly Navigations, 3/27 - 9/1


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


>> September events calendar

October 2024

Asian Art Museum

Into View: New Voices, New Stories, thru 10/17

RAD (Research and Development), through 10/31


de Young Museum of Fine Art

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

American Beauty: The Osher Collection of American Art, 5/18 - 10/20

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25

About Place: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift, 8/10 - 7/20

Tamara de Lempicka, 10/12 - 2/9

Art and War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries, 10/19 - 1/12


Legion of Honor

Woodcut: Primary Printmaking, 4/13 - 10/20

Mary Cassatt at Work, 10/5 - 1/26


Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, 11/5/2022 - 10/14/2024

Mary Lovelace O'Neal, 3/16 - 10/2024

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, 4/6 - 10/6


>> More top events in October

November 2024

de Young Museum of Fine Art

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25

About Place: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift, 8/10 - 7/20

Tamara de Lempicka, 10/12 - 2/9

Art and War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries, 10/19 - 1/12

Rose B. Simpson: LEXICON, 11/16 - 6/29


Legion of Honor

Mary Cassatt at Work, 10/5 - 1/26

Dress Rehearsal: The Art of Theatrical Design, 11/9 - 4/27

>> Calendar of events for November

December 2024

de Young Museum of Fine Art

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family, 3/16/24 - 3/16/26

Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, 6/22/24 - 6/22/25

About Place: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift, 8/10 - 7/20

Tamara de Lempicka, 10/12 - 2/9

Art and War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries, 10/19 - 1/12

Embroidered Histories, 12/14 - 12/7

Rose B. Simpson: LEXICON, 11/16 - 6/29

Legion of Honor

Mary Cassatt at Work, 10/5 - 1/26

Dress Rehearsal: The Art of Theatrical Design, 11/9 - 4/27

>> December events for SF

SF Museum Exhibits: Calendar at Top Museums Around SF

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group

It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.

You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!

Come join the fun here!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Exclusive Member of Mediavine Travel

Copyright © 2009-2024 by SFTourismTips.com. All rights reserved.

This website does not sell any personal information. (See privacy policy)