San Francisco Museum Exhibits
Top Traveling & Temporary Shows for 2019
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.
July 2019 | August 2019 | September 2019 | October 2019 | November 2019 | December 2019
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
July 2019
Asian Art Museum
The Bold Brush of Au Ho-nien -- 5/31 - 8/18
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, Connection -- 5/31 - 8/25
>> Find tips to visit this museum
California Historical Society
Mark Ruwedel: Westward the Course of Empire -- 3/21 - 9/8
>> More about visiting this museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art, Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26/18-7/30/19
Show Me As I Want to Be Seen -- 2/7 - 7/7
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
>> More about visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 7/14
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Ed Hardy: Deeper than Skin -- 7/13 - 10/6
Ana Prvacki: Detour -- 6/11 - 9/29
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
>> More about visiting the de Young
Legion of Honor
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 7/14
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Fantaisie Francaise: Prints from the Vanderryn Collection -- 5/25 - 8/4
Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism and the Book -- 7/20 - 11/10
>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
snap+share: trasmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 8/4
Paul Klee & Anni Albers -- 3/23 - 8/4
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here -- 4/20 - 8/4
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Pat O'Neill: Three Answers -- 4/20 - 8/4
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
Andy Warhol-From A to B and Back Again -- 5/19 - 9/2
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
April Dawn Alison -- 7/6 - 12/1
Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes -- 7/20 - 12/1
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
New Work: Erin Shirreff -- 7/20 - 10/27
>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More SF activities this month
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.
August 2019
Asian Art Museum
The Bold Brush of Au Ho-nien -- 5/31 - 8/18
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, Connection -- 5/31 - 8/25
California Historical Society
Mark Ruwedel: Westward the Course of Empire -- 3/21 - 9/8
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Ed Hardy: Deeper than Skin -- 7/13 - 10/6
Ana Prvacki: Detour -- 6/11 - 9/29
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Fantaisie Francaise: Prints from the Vanderryn Collection -- 5/25 - 8/4
Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism and the Book -- 7/20 - 11/10
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
snap+share: trasmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 8/4
Paul Klee & Anni Albers -- 3/23 - 8/4
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here -- 4/20 - 8/4
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Pat O'Neill: Three Answers -- 4/20 - 8/4
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
Andy Warhol, From A to B and Back Again -- 5/19 - 9/2
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
April Dawn Alison -- 7/6 - 12/1
Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes -- 7/20 - 12/1
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
New Work: Erin Shirreff -- 7/20 - 10/27
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More events this month in SF
>> Additional fun things to do in August
September 2019
Asian Art Museum
Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan -- 9/27 - 12/8
California Historical Society
Mark Ruwedel: Westward the Course of Empire -- 3/21 - 9/8
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Ed Hardy: Deeper than Skin -- 7/13 - 10/6
Ana Prvacki: Detour -- 6/11 - 9/29
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism and the Book -- 7/20 - 11/10
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
Andy Warhol-From A to B and Back Again -- 5/19 - 9/2
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
April Dawn Alison -- 7/6 - 12/1
Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes -- 7/20 - 12/1
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
New Work: Erin Shirreff -- 7/20 - 10/27
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> Additional things to do this month in SF
October 2019
Asian Art Museum
Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan -- 9/27 - 12/8
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Ed Hardy: Deeper than Skin -- 7/13 - 10/6
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism and the Book -- 7/20 - 11/10
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
April Dawn Alison -- 7/6 - 12/1
Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes -- 7/20 - 12/1
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
New Work: Erin Shirreff -- 7/20 - 10/27
Soft Power -- 10/26 - 2/17
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More fun things to do in October
November 2019
Asian Art Museum
Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan -- 9/27 - 12/8
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Soul of the Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power -- 11/9 - 3/8
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism and the Book -- 7/20 - 11/10
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
April Dawn Alison -- 7/6 - 12/1
Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes -- 7/20 - 12/1
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
Soft Power -- 10/26 - 2/17
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More fun things to do in November
December 2019
Asian Art Museum
Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan -- 9/27 - 12/8
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Soul of the Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power -- 11/9 - 3/8
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
April Dawn Alison -- 7/6 - 12/1
Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes -- 7/20 - 12/1
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
Soft Power -- 10/26 - 2/17
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> Additional things to do in December
January 2020
Asian Art Museum
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Izidora Leber LETHE: Peristyle -- 7/25/19 - 1/19/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Soul of the Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power -- 11/9 - 3/8
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space -- 7/20 - 1/20
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
Soft Power -- 10/26 - 2/17
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
February 2020
Asian Art Museum
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Soul of the Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power -- 11/9 - 3/8
Moving Forward, Looking Back: Prints from the Anderson Graphic Arts Collection -- 7/27 - 2/2
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
Soft Power -- 10/26 - 2/17
March 2020
Asian Art Museum
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Contemporary Jewish Museum
What We Hold: A Youth Audio Project -- 4/14/19 - 3/15/20
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 3/12 - 8/23
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Soul of the Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power -- 11/9 - 3/8
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
April 2020
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 3/12 - 8/23
de Young Museum of Fine Art
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31 - 7/5
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
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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 please contact me if you have any questions before your trip.
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