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
April	May	June
July	August	September
October	November	December

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San Francisco Museum Exhibits: April 2018

Where to find the best San Francisco museum exhibits for April 2018.

Asian Art Museum

Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- Dec. 5 - Sept. 2

A Guided Tour of Hell: April 20 - Aug. 12

Divine Bones - March 9 - July 29

>> 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 -- April - August

>> More about visiting this museum

Contemporary Jewish Museum

In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art - Alison Smith and Christina Zetterlund -- July 20, 2017- July 3, 2018

Kutiman: offgrid offline -- July 20 - July 8, 2018

Contraption: Rediscovering California Jewish Artists -- Feb. 22 - July 29

The Art of Rube Goldberg -- Mar 15 - July 8

>> More about visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum

de Young Fine Arts Museum

Maori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer's New Zealand -- September 9 - April 1

Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- Mar. 1 - Aug. 26

Cult of the Machine -- Mar. 24 - Aug. 12

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Judy Dater: Only Human -- Apr. 7 - Sept. 16

>> More about visiting the de Young

>> Pick up tickets in advance

Legion of Honor

The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- May 14, 2016 - August 26, 2018

Casanova: The Seduction of Europe -- Feb. 10 - May 28

Julian Schnabel: April 21 - Aug. 5

>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor

Museum of Craft and Design

Tom Loeser: Please Please Please - Jan. 20 - May 20

T.W.Five - Jan. 20 - May 20

>> Visiting tips for the Museum of Craft & Design

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- Oct. 7 - Sept. 4

Alexander Calder -- Oct. 21 - Aug. 19

Designed in California -- Jan. 27 - May 27

Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Nothing Stable under Heaven -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

The Train: RFK's Last Journey: Mar. 17 - June 10

Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- Mar. 24 - Sept. 23

New Work: Lanza Atelier -- Mar. 31 - July 29

>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA

>> Pick up tickets in advance

Museo Italo Americano (Italian American Museum)

PERSPECTIVES Works by Gianluca Franzese, Marietta Patricia Leis and Giuseppe Palumbo - Jan. 18 - April 29

>> Tips to visit

Walt Disney Museum

Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - Mar 8 - Sept. 3

>> More on visiting the Disney Museum

>> More things to do in April

>> April events calendar

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.

San Francisco Museum Exhibits: May 2018

Best San Francisco museum exhibits to visit in May 2018.

Asian Art Museum

Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- Dec. 5 - Sept. 2

Divine Bones - March 9 - July 29

A Guided Tour of Hell: April 20 - Aug. 12

California Historical Society

¡Murales Rebeldes!: L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege -- April - August

Contemporary Jewish Museum

In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art - Alison Smith and Christina Zetterlund -- July 20, 2017- July 3, 2018

Kutiman: offgrid offline -- July 20 - July 8, 2018

Contraption: Rediscovering California Jewish Artists -- Feb. 22 - July 29

The Art of Rube Goldberg -- Mar 15 - July 8

de Young Fine Arts Museum

Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- Mar. 1 - Aug. 26

Cult of the Machine -- Mar. 24 - Aug. 12

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Judy Dater: Only Human -- Apr. 7 - Sept. 16

Legion of Honor

The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- May 14, 2016 - August 26, 2018

Casanova: The Seduction of Europe -- Feb. 10 - May 28

Julian Schnabel: April 21 - Aug. 5

Museum of Craft and Design

Tom Loeser: Please Please Please - Jan. 20 - May 20

T.W.Five - Jan. 20 - May 20

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- Oct. 7 - Sept. 4

Alexander Calder -- Oct. 21 - Aug. 19

Designed in California -- Jan. 27 - May 27

Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Nothing Stable under Heaven -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

The Train: RFK's Last Journey: Mar. 17 - June 10

Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- Mar. 24 - Sept. 23

New Work: Lanza Atelier -- Mar. 31 - July 29

Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- May 19 - Oct. 28

Walt Disney Museum

Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - Mar 8 - Sept. 3

>> More things to do in May

>> Fun events this month in SF

San Francisco Museum Exhibits: June 2018

Full calendar of top San Francisco museums exhibits for June 2018.

Asian Art Museum

Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- Dec. 5 - Sept. 2

Divine Bones - March 9 - July 29

A Guided Tour of Hell: April 20 - Aug. 12

California Historical Society

¡Murales Rebeldes!: L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege -- April - August

Contemporary Jewish Museum

In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art - Alison Smith and Christina Zetterlund -- July 20, 2017- July 3, 2018

Kutiman: offgrid offline -- July 20 - July 8, 2018

Contraption: Rediscovering California Jewish Artists -- Feb. 22 - July 29

The Art of Rube Goldberg -- Mar 15 - July 8

de Young Fine Arts Museum

Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- Mar. 1 - Aug. 26

Cult of the Machine -- Mar. 24 - Aug. 12

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Judy Dater: Only Human -- Apr. 7 - Sept. 16

Legion of Honor

The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- May 14, 2016 - August 26, 2018

Julian Schnabel: April 21 - Aug. 5

Truth and Beauty: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters -- June 30 - Sept. 30

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- Oct. 7 - Sept. 4

Alexander Calder -- Oct. 21 - Aug. 19

Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Nothing Stable under Heaven -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

The Train: RFK's Last Journey: Mar. 17 - June 10

Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- Mar. 24 - Sept. 23

New Work: Lanza Atelier -- Mar. 31 - July 29

Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- May 19 - Oct. 28

Walt Disney Museum

Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - Mar 8 - Sept. 3

>> More things to do in June

>> More events in June

July 2018

Discover the best San Francisco museum exhibits for July 2018.

Asian Art Museum

Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- Dec. 5 - Sept. 2

Divine Bones - March 9 - July 29

A Guided Tour of Hell: April 20 - Aug. 12

California Historical Society

¡Murales Rebeldes!: L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege -- April - August

Contemporary Jewish Museum

In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art - Alison Smith and Christina Zetterlund -- July 20, 2017- July 3, 2018

Kutiman: offgrid offline -- July 20 - July 8, 2018

Contraption: Rediscovering California Jewish Artists -- Feb. 22 - July 29

The Art of Rube Goldberg -- Mar 15 - July 8

de Young Fine Arts Museum

Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- Mar. 1 - Aug. 26

Cult of the Machine -- Mar. 24 - Aug. 12

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Judy Dater: Only Human -- Apr. 7 - Sept. 16

Legion of Honor

The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- May 14, 2016 - August 26, 2018

Julian Schnabel: April 21 - Aug. 5

Truth and Beauty: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters -- June 30 - Sept. 30

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- Oct. 7 - Sept. 4

Alexander Calder -- Oct. 21 - Aug. 19

Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Nothing Stable under Heaven -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- Mar. 24 - Sept. 23

New Work: Lanza Atelier -- Mar. 31 - July 29

Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- May 19 - Oct. 28

Walt Disney Museum

Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - Mar 8 - Sept. 3

>> More things to do in July

>> More events in July

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. 2

A Guided Tour of Hell: April 20 - Aug. 12

California Historical Society

¡Murales Rebeldes!: L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege -- April - August

California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- August - December

de Young Fine Arts Museum

Ana Prvacki: In Residence -- Mar. 1 - Aug. 26

Cult of the Machine -- Mar. 24 - Aug. 12

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Judy Dater: Only Human -- Apr. 7 - Sept. 16

Legion of Honor

The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- May 14, 2016 - August 26, 2018

Julian Schnabel: April 21 - Aug. 5

Truth and Beauty: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters -- June 30 - Sept. 30

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- Oct. 7 - Sept. 4

Between Two Worlds, Art of California -- Aug. 5 - Mar. 4

Alexander Calder -- Oct. 21 - Aug. 19

Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Nothing Stable under Heaven -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- Mar. 24 - Sept. 23

Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- May 19 - Oct. 28

Walt Disney Museum

Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - Mar 8 - Sept. 3

>> Things to do in SF in August

>> Event calendar this month

September 2018

Top San Francisco museum exhibits for September 2018.

Asian Art Museum

Traces of the Past & Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy -- Dec. 5 - Sept. 2

Haroon Mirza, Painting Is My Everything: Art from India's Mithila Region: Opens in September

California Historical Society

California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- August - December

de Young Museum of Fine Art

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Judy Dater: Only Human -- Apr. 7 - Sept. 16

Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- Sept. 22 - Jan. 6

Legion of Honor

Truth and Beauty: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters -- June 30 - Sept. 30

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Louise Bourgeois Spiders -- Oct. 7 - Sept. 4

Between Two Worlds, Art of California -- Aug. 5 - Mar. 4

Sublime Seas: John Akomfrah and J.M.W. Turner -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Nothing Stable under Heaven -- Mar. 3 - Sept. 16

Selves and Others: Gifts to the Collection from Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein -- Mar. 24 - Sept. 23

Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- May 19 - Oct. 28

Walt Disney Museum

Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane - Mar 8 - Sept. 3

>> More things to do in September

>> September events calendar for SF

October 2018

More top San Francisco museum exhibits for October 2018.

de Young Museum of Fine Art

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- Sept. 22 - Jan. 6

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Between Two Worlds, Art of California -- Aug. 5 - Mar. 4

Rene Magritte: The Fifth Season -- May 19 - Oct. 28

>> More things to do in October

>> Calendar of October events in SF

November 2018

Current San Francisco museum exhibits on display in November 2018.

de Young Museum of Fine Art

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- Sept. 22 - Jan. 6

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Between Two Worlds, Art of California -- Aug. 5 - Mar. 4

>> More things to do in November

>> This month's event calendar

December 2018

Current calendar of San Francisco museum exhibits for December 2018.

de Young Museum of Fine Art

Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- Mar. 31 - April 28, 2019

Contemporary Muslim Fashion -- Sept. 22 - Jan. 6

Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)

Between Two Worlds, Art of California -- Aug. 5 - Mar. 4

>> Top things to do every December in SF

>> Best events this month in SF

More About These Museums

Asian Art Museum	California Historical Society	Cartoon Art Museum

Conservatory of Flowers	Contemporary Jewish Museum	de Young Fine Arts Museum

Legion of Honor	SF Museum of Modern Art	Walt Disney Museum

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