San Francisco Museum Exhibits
Top Traveling & Temporary Shows for 2018
Discover a full calendar of current and upcoming San Francisco museum exhibits. My schedule offers a monthly look at the top upcoming 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. For many of the art exhibits, you will need to buy a ticket in addition to the general admission tickets. You can pick these up when you arrive or in advance online.
Click the links below to jump ahead to the month you plan to visit.
| 2018 Museum Exhibits | ||
|---|---|---|
| August | September | October |
| November | December | |
| 2019 Museum Exhibits | ||
|---|---|---|
| January | February | March |
| April | May | |
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August 2018
Visit these museums for the top San Francisco museum exhibits in August 2018.
Asian Art Museum
Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- Dec. 5 - Sept. 16
A Guided Tour of Hell: April 20 - Sept. 16
>> Pick up advanced tickets to the Asian Art Museum
>> Find tips to visit this museum
California Historical Society
¡Murales Rebeldes!: L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege -- 4/7 - 9/16
>> More about visiting this museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 12/2
Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, from the Collection of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem -- 8/30/18 - 1/6/19
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 7/27 - 11/3
>> More about visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum
de Young Fine Arts Museum
Cult of the Machine --3/24 - 8/12
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
Judy Dater: Only Human -- 4/7 - 9/16
Weapons of Mass Seduction: The Art of Propaganda -- 5/3 - 10/7
The Companions: Sounds for a Lost Screenplay -- 6/17 - 9/4
First Impressions: Prints from the Anderson Collection -- 6/2 - 12/8
Ranu Mukherjee: A Bright Stage -- 7/14 - 1/20
Native Artists of Western North America -- Through 12/31
>> More about visiting the de Young
Exploratorium
Inflatable, Expanding Works of Art -- May 6 - September 3
>> Read more about the Exploratorium
>> Pick up advanced tickets to this museum
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
Julian Schnabel: 4/21 - 8/5
Paris 1913: "La Prose du Transsiberien" and the Flowering of the Avant Garde -- 3/10 - 8/12
Truth and Beauty: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters -- 6/30 - 9/30
Islam and the Classical Heritage -- 8/25 - 1/27
>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- 10/7 - 9/4
Alexander Calder -- 10/21/2017 - 1/13/2019
Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- 3/3 - 9/16
Nothing Stable under Heaven -- 3/3 - 9/16
Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- 3/24 - 9/23
Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- 5/19 - 10/28
Donald Judd: Specific Furniture -- 7/16 - 11/4
Susan Meiselas: Mediations -- 7/21 - 10/21
>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA
Walt Disney Museum
Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - 3/8 - 9/3
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, The Masters of Animation -- 5/17 - 1/7
>> More on visiting the Disney Museum
>> Things to do in SF in August
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 2-day tour here.
September 2018
Top San Francisco museum exhibits for September 2018.
Asian Art Museum
Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- 12/5 - 9/16
A Guided Tour of Hell: 4/20 - 9/16
Haroon Mirza, Painting Is My Everything: Art from India's Mithila Region: 9/7 - 12/9
California Historical Society
¡Murales Rebeldes!: L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege -- 4/7 - 9/16
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, from the Collection of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem -- 8/30/18 - 1/6/19
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 7/27 - 11/3
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
Judy Dater: Only Human -- 4/7 - 9/16
Weapons of Mass Seduction: The Art of Propaganda -- 5/3 - 10/7
The Companions: Sounds for a Lost Screenplay -- 6/17 - 9/4
First Impressions: Prints from the Anderson Collection -- 6/2 - 12/8
Ranu Mukherjee: A Bright Stage -- 7/14 - 1/20
Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- 9/22 - 1/6
Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- 9/22 - 2/1
Native Artists of Western North America -- Through 12/31
Exploratorium
Inflatable, Expanding Works of Art -- May 6 - September 3
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
Truth and Beauty: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters -- 6/30 - 9/30
Islam and the Classical Heritage -- 8/25 - 1/27
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- 10/7 - 9/4
Alexander Calder -- 10/21/2017 - 1/13/2019
Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- 3/3 - 9/16
Nothing Stable Under Heaven -- 3/3 - 9/16
Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- 3/24 - 9/23
Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- 5/19 - 10/28
Donald Judd: Specific Furniture -- 7/16 - 11/4
Susan Meiselas: Mediations -- 7/21 - 10/21
New Work: Etel Adnan -- 9/1 - 1/6
Walt Disney Museum
Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - 3/8 - 9/3
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, The Masters of Animation -- 5/17 - 1/7
>> More things to do in September
>> September events calendar for SF
October 2018
More top San Francisco museum exhibits for October 2018.
Asian Art Museum
Haroon Mirza, Painting Is My Everything: Art from India's Mithila Region: 9/7 - 12/9
California Historical Society
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, from the Collection of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem -- 8/30/18 - 1/6/19
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 7/27 - 11/3
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
Weapons of Mass Seduction: The Art of Propaganda -- 5/3 - 10/7
First Impressions: Prints from the Anderson Collection -- 6/2 - 12/8
Ranu Mukherjee: A Bright Stage -- 7/14 - 1/20
Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- 9/22 - 1/6
Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- 9/22 - 2/1
Native Artists of Western North America -- Through 12/31
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
Islam and the Classical Heritage -- 8/25 - 1/27
Apocalypse 1906: Photographs of the San Francisco Earthquake by Arnold Genthe -- 10/5 - 2/23
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- 5/19 - 10/28
Donald Judd: Specific Furniture -- 7/16 - 11/4
Susan Meiselas: Mediations -- 7/21 - 10/21
New Work: Etel Adnan -- 9/1 - 1/6
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Alexander Calder -- 10/21/2017 - 1/13/2019
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Walt Disney
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, The Masters of Animation -- 5/17 - 1/7
>> More things to do in October
>> Calendar of October events in SF
November 2018
Current San Francisco museum exhibits on display in November 2018.
Asian Art Museum
Haroon Mirza, Painting Is My Everything: Art from India's Mithila Region: 9/7 - 12/9
California Historical Society
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, from the Collection of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem -- 8/30/18 - 1/6/19
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 7/27 - 11/3
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
First Impressions: Prints from the Anderson Collection -- 6/2 - 12/8
Ranu Mukherjee: A Bright Stage -- 7/14 - 1/20
Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- 9/22 - 1/6
Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- 9/22 - 2/1
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 4/7
Native Artists of Western North America -- Through 12/31
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
East Meets West: Jewels of the Maharajas from the Al Thani Collection -- 11/3 - 2/24
Islam and the Classical Heritage -- 8/25 - 1/27
Apocalypse 1906: Photographs of the San Francisco Earthquake by Arnold Genthe -- 10/5 - 2/23
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Donald Judd: Specific Furniture -- 7/16 - 11/4
New Work: Etel Adnan -- 9/1 - 1/6
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Alexander Calder -- 10/21/2017 - 1/13/2019
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Art & China After 1989: Theater of the World -- 11/10 - 2/24
Brassai -- 11/17 - 2/18
Walt Disney
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, The Masters of Animation -- 5/17 - 1/7
>> More things to do in November
>> This month's event calendar
December 2018
Current calendar of San Francisco museum exhibits for December 2018.
Asian Art Museum
Haroon Mirza, Painting Is My Everything: Art from India's Mithila Region: 9/7 - 12/9
California Historical Society
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, from the Collection of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem -- 8/30/18 - 1/6/19
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
First Impressions: Prints from the Anderson Collection -- 6/2 - 12/8
Ranu Mukherjee: A Bright Stage -- 7/14 - 1/20
Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- 9/22 - 1/6
Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- 9/22 - 2/1
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 4/7
Native Artists of Western North America -- Through 12/31
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
East Meets West: Jewels of the Maharajas from the Al Thani Collection -- 11/3 - 2/24
Islam and the Classical Heritage -- 8/25 - 1/27
Apocalypse 1906: Photographs of the San Francisco Earthquake by Arnold Genthe -- 10/5 - 2/23
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
New Work: Etel Adnan -- 9/1 - 1/6
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Alexander Calder -- 10/21/2017 - 1/13/2019
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Art & China After 1989: Theater of the World -- 11/10 - 2/24
Brassai -- 11/17 - 2/18
Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory -- 12/15 - 3/31
Walt Disney
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, The Masters of Animation -- 5/17 - 1/7
>> Top things to do every December in SF
>> Best events this month in SF
January 2019
California Historical Society
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, from the Collection of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem -- 8/30/18 - 1/6/19
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
East Meets West: Jewels of the Maharajas from the Al Thani Collection -- 11/3 - 2/24
Islam and the Classical Heritage -- 8/25 - 1/27
Apocalypse 1906: Photographs of the San Francisco Earthquake by Arnold Genthe -- 10/5 - 2/23
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
New Work: Etel Adnan -- 9/1 - 1/6
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Alexander Calder -- 10/21/2017 - 1/13/2019
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Art & China After 1989: Theater of the World -- 11/10 - 2/24
Brassai -- 11/17 - 2/18
Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory -- 12/15 - 3/31
Walt Disney
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, The Masters of Animation -- 5/17 - 1/7
February 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
California Historical Society
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
East Meets West: Jewels of the Maharajas from the Al Thani Collection -- 11/3 - 2/24
Apocalypse 1906: Photographs of the San Francisco Earthquake by Arnold Genthe -- 10/5 - 2/23
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Art & China After 1989: Theater of the World -- 11/10 - 2/24
Brassai -- 11/17 - 2/18
Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory -- 12/15 - 3/31
March 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
California Historical Society
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: Youth Voices on Roots and What Matters Most -- 3/25/18-3/25/19
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory -- 12/15 - 3/31
April 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Contemporary Jewish Museum
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
May 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Contemporary Jewish Museum
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Legion of Honor
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/27
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
More About These Museums
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Flowers |
Jewish Museum |
Arts Museum |
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Honor |
Modern Art |
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Hi there! I'm Jill and I love writing about San Francisco travel as much as I love exploring my amazing city. Thanks for stopping by and let me know how I can help!
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