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.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
April 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Lifting Barbells -- 9/28 - 5/12
>> 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
Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo -- 7/26 - 6/9
Show Me As I Want to Be Seen -- 2/7 - 7/7
>> More about visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 6/30
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 6/23
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 7/14
Monet: The Late Years -- 2/16 - 5/27
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
>> More about visiting the de Young
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/14/19
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 7/14
>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/26
The Sea Ranch -- 12/22 - 6/2
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here -- 4/20 - 8/4
New Work: Rodney McMillian -- 2/9 - 6/9
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon -- 2/23 - 4/28
Pat O'Neill: Three Answers -- 4/20 - 8/4
Public Knowledge, Take Part -- 1/25 - 4/28
Paul Klee & Anni Albers -- 3/23 - 8/4
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA
>> More April events around SF
>> Additional fun things to do 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.
May 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Lifting Barbells -- 9/28 - 5/12
The Bold Brush of Au Ho-nien -- 5/31 - 8/18
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
Tanabe Chikuunsai IV Collection -- 5/31 - 8/25
California Historical Society
Mark Ruwedel: Westward the Course of Empire -- 3/21 - 9/8
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
Show Me As I Want to Be Seen -- 2/7 - 7/7
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 7/14
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 6/23
Monet: The Late Years -- 2/16 - 5/27
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 6/30
Legion of Honor
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 6/30
Fantaisie Francaise: Prints from the Vanderryn Collection -- 5/25 - 8/4
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/26
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here -- 4/20 - 8/4
New Work: Rodney McMillian -- 2/9 - 6/9
The Sea Ranch -- 12/22 - 6/2
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Pat O'Neill: Three Answers -- 4/20 - 8/4
Stephen Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
Paul Klee & Anni Albers -- 3/23 - 8/4
Andy Warhol-From A to B and Back Again -- 5/19 - 9/2
JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco -- 5/23 - 4/27 (2020)
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More fun things to do all around town this month
June 2019
Asian Art Museum
The Bold Brush of Au Ho-nien -- 5/31 - 8/18
California Historical Society
Mark Ruwedel: Westward the Course of Empire -- 3/21 - 9/8
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
Show Me As I Want to Be Seen -- 2/7 - 7/7
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 7/14
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Spectors of Disruption -- 8/15/2018 - 11/10/2019
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 6/23
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 6/30
Legion of Honor
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 7/14
Fantaisie Francaise: Prints from the Vanderryn Collection -- 5/25 - 8/4
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
The Sea Ranch -- 12/22 - 6/2
Paul Klee & Anni Albers -- 3/23 - 8/4
Suzanne Lacy: We Are Here -- 4/20 - 8/4
New Work: Rodney McMillian -- 2/9 - 6/9
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Pat O'Neill: Three Answers -- 4/20 - 8/4
Stephen 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)
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> SF events calendar for June
>> More things to do in SF in June
July 2019
Asian Art Museum
The Bold Brush of Au Ho-nien -- 5/31 - 8/18
California Historical Society
Mark Ruwedel: Westward the Course of Empire -- 3/21 - 9/8
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
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
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
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
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 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More SF activities this month
August 2019
Asian Art Museum
The Bold Brush of Au Ho-nien -- 5/31 - 8/18
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
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
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
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Mythos, Psyche & Eros -- 3/30 - 10/14
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 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
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
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
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
Legion of Honor
The Early Celebrity of Peter Paul Rubens -- 4/6 - 9/8
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> Additional things to do this month in SF
October 2019
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
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
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More fun things to do in October
November 2019
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
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
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More fun things to do in November
December 2019
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World -- 6/27 - 2/19
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped -- 7/25 - 1/19
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Stephen 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> Additional things to do in December
More About These Museums
 |
 |
 |
Museum |
Society |
Art Museum |
 |
 |
 |
Flowers |
Jewish Museum |
Arts Museum |
 |
 |
 |
Honor |
Modern Art |
Museum |
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.
- 60-Minute Bay Cruises: Up to 50% off on Goldstar
- 7D Experience: Save on this Pier 39 attraction on Groupon
