San Francisco Museum Exhibits
Top Traveling & Temporary Shows for 2019 & 2020
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.
January 2020 | February 2020 | March 2020 | April 2020 | May 2020
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
November 2019
Asian Art Museum
Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan -- 9/27 - 12/8
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
>> Find tips to visit this museum
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
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art -- Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26 - 1/14
>> More about visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum
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 -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Lisa Reihana: In Pursuit of Venus [infected] -- 8/10 - 1/5
>> More about visiting the de Young
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism and the Book -- 7/20 - 11/10
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Curious and Wonderful: Selections from the Achenbach Vault -- 11/16 - 3/15
>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
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
Signs and Wonders: The Photographs of John Beasley Greene -- 8/31 - 1/5
Hannah Collins: I Will Make Up a Song - 8/31 - 1/5
Richard Mosse: Incoming - 10/26 - 2/17
>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art -- 9/25 - 1/6
>> More fun things to do in October
>> More fun things to do in November
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 1-day tour here.
December 2019
Asian Art Museum
Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan -- 9/27 - 12/8
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
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
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art -- Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26 - 1/14
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 -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Lisa Reihana: In Pursuit of Venus [infected] -- 8/10 - 1/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Curious and Wonderful: Selections from the Achenbach Vault -- 11/16 - 3/15
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
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
Signs and Wonders: The Photographs of John Beasley Greene -- 8/31 - 1/5
Hannah Collins: I Will Make Up a Song - 8/31 - 1/5
Richard Mosse: Incoming - 10/26 - 2/17
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art -- 9/25 - 1/6
>> Additional things to do in December
January 2020
Asian Art Museum
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
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
In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art -- Oxossi Ayofemi and Risa Wechsler -- 7/26 - 1/14
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 -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Lisa Reihana: In Pursuit of Venus [infected] -- 8/10 - 1/5
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Curious and Wonderful: Selections from the Achenbach Vault -- 11/16 - 3/15
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
Stephen ESPO Powers: Daymaker -- 5/18 - 1/1
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
Signs and Wonders: The Photographs of John Beasley Greene -- 8/31 - 1/5
Hannah Collins: I Will Make Up a Song - 8/31 - 1/5
Richard Mosse: Incoming - 10/26 - 2/17
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Elad Lassry -- 1/4 - 5/10
Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walk to the World -- 5/16 - 1/6
A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art -- 9/25 - 1/6
February 2020
Asian Art Museum
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
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
Levi Strauss: A History of American Style -- 2/13 - 8/9
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 -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Uncanny Valley, Being Human in the Age of AI -- 2/22 - 10/25
Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith -- 10/12 - 2/9
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Curious and Wonderful: Selections from the Achenbach Vault -- 11/16 - 3/15
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
Soft Power -- 10/26 - 2/17
Richard Mosse: Incoming - 10/26 - 2/17
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Elad Lassry -- 1/4 - 5/10
Dawoud Bey -- Opens February 15
March 2020
Asian Art Museum
Lost at Sea: Art Recovered from Shipwrecks -- 11/26 - 3/22
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
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
Levi Strauss: A History of American Style -- 2/13 - 8/9
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 -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Uncanny Valley, Being Human in the Age of AI -- 2/22 - 10/25
Legion of Honor
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Curious and Wonderful: Selections from the Achenbach Vault -- 11/16 - 3/15
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Elad Lassry -- 1/4 - 5/10
April 2020
Asian Art Museum
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 3/12 - 8/23
Levi Strauss: A History of American Style -- 2/13 - 8/9
de Young Museum of Fine Art
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Uncanny Valley, Being Human in the Age of AI -- 2/22 - 10/25
Legion of Honor
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
2019 SECA Art Award: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen -- 11/16 - 4/12
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Elad Lassry -- 1/4 - 5/10
May 2020
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Predicting The Past: Zohar Studios, The Lost Years -- 3/12 - 8/23
Levi Strauss: A History of American Style -- 2/13 - 8/9
de Young Museum of Fine Art
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Uncanny Valley, Being Human in the Age of AI -- 2/22 - 10/25
Judy Chicago: A Retrospective -- 5/9 - 9/6
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Elemental Calder -- 2/16/2019 - 5/3/2020
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Elad Lassry -- 1/4 - 5/10
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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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