San Francisco Museum Exhibits
Top Traveling & Temporary Shows for 2020
NOTE: As of July 30, San Francisco and Bay Area counties are slowing the reopening process due to a spike in cases. Many large events, theater performances, and concerts are cancelled or postponed. Click here to stay up-to-date with what's open and opening soon.
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.
April 2020 | May 2020 | June 2020
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
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
Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment -- 1/17 - 5/3
Jean Shin: Pause -- 2/6 - 5/24
>> Find tips to visit this museum
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
Threads of Jewish Life: Ritual and Other Textiles from the San Francisco Bay Area -- 2/13 - 8/9
>> More about visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum
de Young Museum of Fine Art
Soul of the Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power -- 11/9 - 3/15
The Turkman Storage Bag -- 8/31/2019 - 11/15/2020
Uncanny Valley, Being Human in the Age of AI -- 2/22 - 10/25
Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving -- 3/21 - 7/26
>> More about visiting the de Young
Legion of Honor
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
Curious and Wonderful: Selections from the Achenbach Vault -- 11/16 - 3/22
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
>> More about visiting the Legion of Honor
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
Thought Pieces: 1970s Photographs of Lew Thomas, Donna-Le Phillips and Hal Fischer -- 1/4 - 8/9
Tatiana Bilbao: Architecture from Outside In -- 3/21 - 8/16
>> Tips for visiting the SF MOMA
>> What to pack for your March visit
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 tour options here.
April 2020
Asian Art Museum
Chang Dai-chien: Painting from Heart to Hand -- 11/26 - 4/26
Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment -- 1/17 - 5/3
Jean Shin: Pause -- 2/6 - 5/24
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
Threads of Jewish Life: Ritual and Other Textiles from the San Francisco Bay Area -- 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
Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving -- 3/21 - 7/26
Legion of Honor
Alexandre Singh: A Gothic Tale -- 9/7 - 4/12
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave -- 4/18 - 8/30
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
Thought Pieces: 1970s Photographs of Lew Thomas, Donna-Le Phillips and Hal Fischer -- 1/4 - 8/9
David Park: A Retrospective -- 4/11 - 9/7
David Park and His Circle: The Drawing Sessions -- 4/11 - 9/7
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Tatiana Bilbao: Architecture from Outside In -- 3/21 - 8/16
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
May 2020
Asian Art Museum
Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment -- 1/17 - 5/3
Jean Shin: Pause -- 2/6 - 5/24
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
Threads of Jewish Life: Ritual and Other Textiles from the San Francisco Bay Area -- 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
Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving -- 3/21 - 7/26
Legion of Honor
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave -- 4/18 - 8/30
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
Thought Pieces: 1970s Photographs of Lew Thomas, Donna-Le Phillips and Hal Fischer -- 1/4 - 8/9
David Park: A Retrospective -- 4/11 - 9/7
David Park and His Circle: The Drawing Sessions -- 4/11 - 9/7
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Tatiana Bilbao: Architecture from Outside In -- 3/21 - 8/16
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
June 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
Threads of Jewish Life: Ritual and Other Textiles from the San Francisco Bay Area -- 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
Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving -- 3/21 - 7/26
Legion of Honor
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave -- 4/18 - 8/30
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
New Work: Nevin Aladag -- 12/7 - 6/7
Thought Pieces: 1970s Photographs of Lew Thomas, Donna-Le Phillips and Hal Fischer -- 1/4 - 8/9
David Park: A Retrospective -- 4/11 - 9/7
David Park and His Circle: The Drawing Sessions -- 4/11 - 9/7
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Tatiana Bilbao: Architecture from Outside In -- 3/21 - 8/16
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
>> What to pack for your stay in June
July 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
Threads of Jewish Life: Ritual and Other Textiles from the San Francisco Bay Area -- 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
Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving -- 3/21 - 7/26
Legion of Honor
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave -- 4/18 - 8/30
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Thought Pieces: 1970s Photographs of Lew Thomas, Donna-Le Phillips and Hal Fischer -- 1/4 - 8/9
David Park: A Retrospective -- 4/11 - 9/7
David Park and His Circle: The Drawing Sessions -- 4/11 - 9/7
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Tatiana Bilbao: Architecture from Outside In -- 3/21 - 8/16
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
August 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
Threads of Jewish Life: Ritual and Other Textiles from the San Francisco Bay Area -- 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
Legion of Honor
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave -- 4/18 - 8/30
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Thought Pieces: 1970s Photographs of Lew Thomas, Donna-Le Phillips and Hal Fischer -- 1/4 - 8/9
David Park: A Retrospective -- 4/11 - 9/7
David Park and His Circle: The Drawing Sessions -- 4/11 - 9/7
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Tatiana Bilbao: Architecture from Outside In -- 3/21 - 8/16
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
>> Additional events in August
>> Free things to do in August
September 2020
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything -- 9/17 - 1/24
Legion of Honor
The Book of Now: Dieter Roth and Ed Ruscha -- 3/28 - 9/2
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
David Park: A Retrospective -- 4/11 - 9/7
David Park and His Circle: The Drawing Sessions -- 4/11 - 9/7
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
>> September events calendar for SF
>> What to pack for your stay in September
October 2020
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything -- 9/17 - 1/24
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
>> More events this October in SF
>> What to pack for your upcoming stay in October
November 2020
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything -- 9/17 - 1/24
Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
Future Histories: Theaster Gates and Cauleen Smith -- 4/25 - 11/1
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence -- 4/25 - 11/1
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
>> November events calendar for SF
>> Fun free ideas for your November stay
December 2020
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything -- 9/17 - 1/24
Walt Disney Museum
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II -- 5/13 - 1/11
>> More December and holiday events
>> Free ideas for your December visit
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Hi there! I'm Jill Loeffler and welcome to my site. I've been exploring San Francisco for almost two decades and I can't wait to help you find the best things to do here! Thanks for stopping by and please contact me if you have any questions before your trip.
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