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.
February 2019 | March 2019 | April 2019 | May 2019
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
February 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
California Boomtowns: Photographs of San Francisco and Los Angeles -- 10/13 - 3/10
>> 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 - 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 - 4/28/19
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 4/7
Specters of Disruption -- 8/15 - 4/30
Steve Kahn: The Hollywood Suites -- 9/29 - 3/31
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 6/23
Monet: The Late Years -- 2/16 - 5/27
>> More about visiting the de Young
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
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 6/30
>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/26
Wayne Thiebaud -- 9/29 - 3/10
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
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
The Sea Ranch -- 12/22 - 4/28
Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory -- 12/15 - 3/31
New Work: Rodney McMillian -- 2/9 - 6/9
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 6/28/2020
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon -- 2/23 - 4/28
>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA
>> Additional things to do in February
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.
March 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Lifting Barbells -- 9/28 - 5/12
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
Show Me As I Want to Be Seen -- 2/7 - 7/7
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 4/7
Specters of Disruption -- 8/15 - 4/30
Steve Kahn: The Hollywood Suites -- 9/29 - 3/31
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 6/23
Monet: The Late Years -- 2/16 - 5/27
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
Legion of Honor
The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine -- 5/14/16 - 4/7/19
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 6/30
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Wayne Thiebaud -- 9/29 - 3/10
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/26
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory -- 12/15 - 3/31
snap+share: transmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 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
>> Other things to do this month
April 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Lifting Barbells -- 9/28 - 5/12
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
Fans of the Eighteenth Century -- 3/31/18 - 4/28/19
Specters of Disruption -- 8/15 - 4/30
Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey -- 11/17 - 4/7
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 6/23
Monet: The Late Years -- 2/16 - 5/27
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
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
Small Inventions: Artist's Books by Charles Hobson -- 2/2 - 6/30
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Louis Stettner: Traveling Light -- 10/27 - 5/26
The Sea Ranch -- 12/22 - 4/28
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
Johannes Brus: New to the Collection -- 10/27 - 5/27
snap+share: transmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 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
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon -- 2/23 - 4/28
Pat O'Neill: Three Answers -- 4/20 - 8/4
>> More April events around SF
>> Additional fun things to do this month
May 2019
Asian Art Museum
Kimono Refashioned -- 2/8 - 5/5
Lifting Barbells -- 9/28 - 5/12
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
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 - 6/23
Monet: The Late Years -- 2/16 - 5/27
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
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
snap+share: transmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 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
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
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
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 -- 6/27 - 2/19
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things -- 12/15 - 6/23
Matt Mullican: Between Sign and Subject -- 3/9 - 1/26
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)
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
snap+share: transmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 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
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
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
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 -- 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
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)
Louise Bourgeios: Spiders -- 10/7 - 7/14
snap+share: transmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> More SF activities this month
August 2019
Asian Art Museum
Tattoos in Japanese Prints -- 5/31 - 8/18
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin -- 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
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)
snap+share: transmitting photographs from mail art to social networks -- 3/30 - 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
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
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin -- 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
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
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 -- 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
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 -- 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
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 -- 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
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
>> Additional things to do in December
More About These Museums
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Museum |
Society |
Art Museum |
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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 please contact me if you have any questions before your trip.
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