San Diego Museum of Art

09/04/2026

Summer vacation might be over, but we still have so much to discover at the Museum.

🎨 The San Diego Museum of Art | 1450 El Prado
📸 The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art | 1649 El Prado
🔗 Visit the link in bio or the SDMA events calendar at sdmart.org/events

09/03/2026

Before feature exhibition 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́𝘴 & 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤 takes its final bow, hear from two of the scholars who know Toulouse-Lautrec best.

On Friday, September 11, Dr. F***y Girard, Director of the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi, France joins SDMA’s Senior Curator of European Art, Dr. Michael Brown, for a conversation about Lautrec’s remarkable legacy, the international collaboration that made the exhibition possible, and the artist’s lasting influence on modern art. This engaging discussion offers audiences a deeper appreciation of the exhibition while highlighting the enduring relevance of one of France’s most celebrated artists.

Following the lecture, guests are invited to enjoy a guided docent tour of the exhibition.

🎤 MOPA at SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater, Balboa Park.
🎟️ Members & Students: $15 | Seniors & Military: $20 | Non-Members: $30
🔗 Visit the link in bio or the SDMA events calendar at sdmart.org/events for ticket information
💨 Hurry, tickets are going fast!

This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections.

Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council.

09/01/2026

C’est magnifique! Jane is on the move once again, and for her final stop she will be appearing at the French Asian steakhouse Le Coq in La Jolla from September 1 through 13. The menu blends fresh ingredients from local waters and farmers markets, with unexpected riffs worthy of Toulouse Lautrec himself.

While you’re paying Jane a visit, don’t forget to share a photo of your experience and tag @‌sandiegomuseumofart and Le Coq

Every tag enters you to win a pair of tickets to 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́𝘴 & 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤 at SDMA — on view through September 20.

You will also be entered to take home our Grand Prix package:
🌸 An 11x13 art print of Toulouse-Lautrec’s 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘭
🌸 A one-year Friend Level Membership to SDMA, valued at $250
🌸 A French dinner experience and w**e pairing in Coronado.

🍸 Le Coq, 7837 Herschel Ave, La Jolla - reservations recommended
🏛️ 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́𝘴 & 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤 on view through September 20 at The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
🔗 Visit the link in bio or sdmart.org for SDMA and MOPA at SDMA exhibition info and tickets

Hand painted Jane Avril cutout painted by Stefanie Bales | San Diego Fine Artist, Muralist, Aestheticist

08/31/2026

New school year, same struggles.

Whether you’re debuting a new outfit or forgot about a project due tomorrow, somehow the SDMA permanent collection has a way of capturing the experience. We’re here for you, all school year and beyond.

Visit the link in bio or sdmart.org for The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA at SDMA exhibition info and tickets.

Image Credits:
Charles Webster Hawthorne, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩, ca. 1912. Oil on panel. Bequest of Mrs. Irving T. Snyder, accession no. 1975.92.
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins, 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘋𝘰𝘨, ca. 1871. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase and a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S. Larsen, 1969.76.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 𝘚𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯—𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 1896. Lithograph. Gift of the Baldwin M. Baldwin Foundation, 1987.82.
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘌𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸, 1648. Etching, drypoint, and burin on laid paper. Museum purchase with funds provided by the Helen M. Towle Bequest, 1947.64.d.
Carl Paul Jennewein, 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 1924. Silver on polychromed wood base. Gift of Mrs. Henry A. Everett, 1927.84.
Unknown Artist, 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘢 𝘢𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 (𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘋𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘪), 6th century. Sandstone. Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.144.

08/28/2026

So much to do, so much to see at both locations.

💃 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤
🎨 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
🖼️ 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵 1300–1900
📷 𝘊𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥

‌🔗 Visit sdmart.org for The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA at SDMA exhibition info and tickets

08/26/2026

They came. They sniffed. They stole the show. 🐾

Happy National Dog Day from our favorite four-legged visitors, the Pups of Art Alive Petal Pop Ups.

🐶 Swipe through for the best in show and drop a photo of your pup in the comments

🔗 Visit the link in bio or sdmart.org for current exhibition info and tickets.

08/25/2026

𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 has been extended through May 31, 2027.

The response to this exhibition has been extraordinary and we are so grateful to everyone who has walked through these galleries and shared their experiences. There is still time to experience over 120 works that tell the story of how the SDMA collection has grown into one that will enrich the lives of generations to come.

Picasso. Monet. Wahol. Sargent. The gang is all here.

🏛️ 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
🖼️ On view now through May 21, 2027
📍The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
🔗 Visit the link in bio or https://www.sdmart.org/exhibition/forging-a-legacy-15-years-of-landmark-acquisitions/ for exhibition info and tickets

08/24/2026

We’re delighted that 𝘊𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 was featured in the San Diego Union Tribune! Plan your visit at https://www.sdmart.org/exhibition/cecil-beatons-fashionable-world/

The latest “In the Curator’s Words” by Michael James Rocha in Sunday’s San Diego Union-Tribune Arts & Culture section takes a fascinating look at Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, now on view at Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art.

Curator Kara Felt takes readers behind the scenes of the exhibition and explores Beaton’s extraordinary influence on fashion, photography and design, from portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Coco Chanel to his wartime photography and Oscar-winning work on My Fair Lady.

Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World is on view at MOPA@SDMA through early next year. Read more in the San Diego Union-Tribune at https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/08/23/in-the-curators-words-cecil-beatons-fashion-photos-come-into-focus-at-mopasdma/ ⬅️

08/24/2026

Before you visit 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺, let’s talk about art movements. 🎨

From the Renaissance to Pop Art. Swipe through for nine movements worth knowing, then come see many of them brought to life in 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, on view now at SDMA.

Because knowing the language makes the art hit different.

Practice the vocab on the regular by becoming a member and visiting often.
Join: one membership, two museums.

🏛️ 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 on view now.
📍 The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
🔗 Visit the link in bio or sdmart.org/membership for SDMA and MOPA at SDMA admission info and membership

08/21/2026

Did you know the shade of red in Gallery 18 was inspired by a color Toulouse-Lautrec himself used repeatedly in his most iconic posters?

Every detail of 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤 was considered, from the wall color to the layout, to immerse visitors in the world of Belle Époque Paris.

In this video, Dr. Michael Brown, Senior Curator of European Art at The San Diego Museum of Art, walks us through the gallery and shares the thought behind its design.

𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤 is on view now at The San Diego Museum of Art through September 20. Featuring works from SDMA’s permanent collection, including lithographs, posters, drawings, and two oil paintings, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to experience one of the most comprehensive collections of Toulouse-Lautrec’s work outside of France.

📍 The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
🔗 Visit the link in bio for SDMA and MOPA at SDMA admission info and tickets

08/20/2026

The best things in the gallery are the ones you almost missed.✨

The art of noticing is a practice that gets richer the slower you go. Swipe though for a few details we spotted in the galleries that reward the unhurried eye and give a fresh perspective.

If you’re ready to make slowing down a habit, our Art + Wellbeing Experience (Awe) Tours were made for you.

Awe Tours are an immersive monthly experience integrating wellness practices like movement, breathwork, meditation, journaling and sound within the Museum galleries. An hour of unhurried attention, where each artwork becomes a conversation, a meditation, a mirror.

No rush. No agenda. Just the art and the space to truly see it.

📍 The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
🗓️ August 23 and every fourth Sunday of every month at 3 PM
🎟️ Free with Museum admission – registration requested
🔗 Visit https://sdma.ticketapp.org/portal/product/192/events?_ga=2.184404898.564035653.1787246266-253603078.1775930929 to save your spot

08/19/2026

Balboa Park has always drawn photographers.

Around every corner is a composition waiting to be discovered. With grand architecture, lush gardens, and that golden light, it’s fitting, then, that the park is also home to a world class photography collection that invites you to see through someone else’s lens.

Since merging in 2023, The San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Photographic Arts are one institution and together they house over 15,000 works of film, video and still photography spanning the full arc of the medium’s history.

Here’s where to find the best photography on view in Balboa Park right now. 📷

📍 The San Diego Museum of Art | 1450 El Prado
📍 The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art | 1649 El Prado
🔗 Link in bio for hours and admission info

08/18/2026

Join us on November 1 for Día de los Mu***os at The San Diego Museum of Art as we continue our year-long centennial celebration marking 100 years of The San Diego Museum of Art.

Be part of our free community event bringing together families, friends, and neighbors to honor the lives of those we have lost. It’s going to be a day of community, remembrance, and celebration.

Contribute to the community 𝘰𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢 on view in the Plaza de Panama in front of SDMA with art making activities designed by Visiting Artist Betsabeé Romero. The day-long celebration will also feature free admission to both SDMA and MOPA at SDMA.

The Taco Party, a ticketed event featuring an afternoon of unlimited taco tastings, cold drinks, art-making, and good company in the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Garden, further enhances the day. The Taco Party is sponsored by Museum Travel Alliance and tickets are on sale now. 

🗓️ Sunday, November 1 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🌸 Día de los Mu***os Community Celebration – free to the public, no ticket required
🌮 The Taco Party – tickets on sale now, beginning at noon
🎟️ Members: $50 | Nonmembers: $60 | Youth (ages 0-6): $20
🏛️ Free admission to both SDMA and MOPA at SDMA

Visit the link in bio or sdmart.org/event/the-taco-party for tickets.