San Diego Museum of Art

San Diego Museum of Art Located in the heart of Balboa Park, The San Diego Museum of Art brings the world's finest art to America's finest city. Always free for members.
(2947)

The Museum’s nationally renowned collections include Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings, and 19th and 20th century American paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule of programs. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.

More than meets the eye.Elizabeth Catlett's Mis Hijos (My Sons) is more than a portrait of three children in calavera ma...
02/07/2025

More than meets the eye.

Elizabeth Catlett's Mis Hijos (My Sons) is more than a portrait of three children in calavera masks. It's a story etched in bold lines, shaped by love, identity, and the echoes of a life lived across borders. Created in 1955 Mexico City, this linocut reveals as much as it conceals. Learn more about what lies beneath in this episode of Masterpiece Minute.

Listen now to Masterpiece Minute podcast episode 86.

Featured:
Elizabeth Catlett (Mexican, born United States, 1915 – 2012). My Sons (Mis hijos), 1955. Linocut on paper. Museum purchase with funds from the Bequest of Janet Brody Esser, 2024.32.

Now Open: “Ruud van Empel Theatre”Step into a world where reality blurs with illusion. Dutch photographer Ruud van Empel...
02/06/2025

Now Open: “Ruud van Empel Theatre”

Step into a world where reality blurs with illusion. Dutch photographer Ruud van Empel’s breathtaking panoramas invite you to experience nature as if seeing it for the first time. Created through thousands of meticulously combined photographic fragments, these dreamlike landscapes dazzle with vivid color and impossible detail.

From lush forests to desert nightscapes, explore scenes that celebrate the wonder of nature while questioning photography’s connection to truth.

“Ruud van Empel Theatre” now open through July 27, 2025 in Galleries 14/15.

Featured:
Ruud van Empel, “Theatre #8 (detail),” 2013. Archival pigment print. Gift of the artist in honor of Deborah Klochko. © Ruud van Empel

Curious about how to get involved with Art Alive this year? Join our team of volunteers!We are looking for volunteers to...
02/05/2025

Curious about how to get involved with Art Alive this year? Join our team of volunteers!

We are looking for volunteers to help us celebrate

Volunteers will receive free admission to the Art Alive floral exhibition on the day of volunteering so they can enjoy the floral fun for free before or after their volunteer shift!

If you are interested, email [email protected] with your name and contact info. Must be 18+.

We look forward to seeing you at

Visit “Art Alive 2025” link in our bio to learn more or purchase tickets.

02/04/2025

If their initial appears on this video, they owe you a Museum date 👀!

❤️Tag your Museum date down below.

Featured:
“Sampler (with Alphabet design),” undated. Wool. Bequest of Mr. William Weis, 1957.31.9.

This Black History Month, we honor the powerful contributions of Black artists featured in “Art of the Americas” in Gall...
02/03/2025

This Black History Month, we honor the powerful contributions of Black artists featured in “Art of the Americas” in Galleries 1-3, highlighting stories of heritage, resilience, and creativity.

Nick Cave’s “Rescue" (2013) transforms flea-market finds into a striking exploration of power, loyalty, and cultural symbolism. In Justin Sterling’s “Study for the Chapel of the Rocks (Interior Window),” shattered stained glass, salvaged from New York City streets, becomes a luminous reflection on resilience and justice.

Celebrate the art that shapes and redefines the American experience this Black History Month.

Featured:
Nick Cave, “Rescue,” 2013. Mixed media. Museum Purchase with funds from the Bequest of Dr. Janet Brody Esset, 2022, 2022.18.

Justin Sterling, “Study for Chapel of the Rocks (Interior Window),” 2022. Found Window, Stain, Caulking. Gift of the Artist, 2023.20.

February is San Diego Museum Month!Pick up your free pass at any San Diego Public Library and enjoy 50% off admission at...
01/31/2025

February is San Diego Museum Month!

Pick up your free pass at any San Diego Public Library and enjoy 50% off admission at The San Diego Museum of Art and other participating institutions all month long.
Get your pass today and get ready to explore, learn, and be inspired!

Please note: The San Diego Museum of Art Museum Month half-off museum admission is with Printed Pass only. No Museum Month Digital Passes will be accepted at the door. Offer valid February 1-28, 2025. Discount is limited to 4 tickets.

Happy Lunar New Year 🧧!Celebrate the year of the snake with bold strength and transformation. May your year be filled wi...
01/29/2025

Happy Lunar New Year 🧧!

Celebrate the year of the snake with bold strength and transformation. May your year be filled with luck and abundance 🐍!

Featured:
“A cobra (Maja tripudians) with hood spread,” 1785-1789. Opaque watercolor on paper. Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.1361.

Join the Art of Reading Book Club where art, literature, and history come together!This February 8 chat with author Lind...
01/28/2025

Join the Art of Reading Book Club where art, literature, and history come together!

This February 8 chat with author Linda Moore about her gripping novel “Five Days in Bogota,” in which art, intrigue, and danger collide during the 1990s drug wars. Follow young widow Ally Blake as she risks it all to save her family in a high-stakes art deal tied to a money laundering scheme.
Enjoy coffee, snacks, and a docent-led tour of related works after the discussion!

📅 Saturday, February 8
🕥 10:15 a.m.–noon
📍 SDMA Boardroom

Save your spot by visiting the link in bio.

01/27/2025

Art Alive returns April 24-27, 2025!

Celebrate the return of Art Alive with an astonishing array of colorful floral interpretations and four days of fun-filled events, including the Premiere Dinner and the 10th edition of the iconic Bloom Bash event. Art Alive is The San Diego Museum of Art’s signature annual fundraiser, providing essential support for the Museum’s exhibitions, education, outreach, and public programs. Join us this spring as we construct another astounding year of flowers and art! The 2025 event celebrates art and architecture inspired by the groundbreaking architectural designs of Lord Norman Foster and his internationally renowned studio Foster + Partners.

Reserve your timed tickets to see the floral exhibition on view throughout the Museum April 25-27 and the 21+ kick-off event, Bloom Bash, on April 25.

Tickets are on sale now at the link in bio!

Happy International Day of Education! This International Day of Education we celebrate the power of arts learning to ins...
01/24/2025

Happy International Day of Education!

This International Day of Education we celebrate the power of arts learning to inspire new ideas and build a brighter future. The San Diego Museum of Art is proud to support lifelong learning through our Docent Guest Lecture Series, Community and Student Art Workshops, Books & Art, and more.

Let’s keep learning, exploring, and growing together!

For more on education at the Museum, visit sdmart.org.

Closing Soon: “William Gropper: American Agitator”“William Gropper: American Agitator” delves into Gropper's satirical t...
01/22/2025

Closing Soon: “William Gropper: American Agitator”

“William Gropper: American Agitator” delves into Gropper's satirical takes on the U.S. Senate, capturing the theater and pageantry of political life with biting humor. From his early days on the Lower East Side to his dramatic run-ins with Senator McCarthy, Gropper’s work is a powerful testament to the struggles and triumphs of democracy.

“William Gropper: American Agitator” on view through January 26 in Gallery 20.

All artwork: Collection of Craig Gropper © William Gropper.

Art Alive 2025 tickets are now available to Museum members!Celebrate the return of Art Alive with an impressive display ...
01/21/2025

Art Alive 2025 tickets are now available to Museum members!

Celebrate the return of Art Alive with an impressive display of colorful floral arrangements interpreting works of art from the Museum’s collection and four days of sensational events. Art Alive is The San Diego Museum of Art’s signature fundraiser, providing essential support for the Museum’s exhibitions, education, and outreach programs. Join us this spring to enjoy expressionistic explosions of color and the elegant beauty of nature during this extraordinary annual event. Show your support for the arts in your community!

Members receive FREE access to Art Alive all weekend, including the Members’ Preview on Friday, April 25, where you can vote for the Members’ Choice favorite floral interpretations. Individual members can reserve one timed ticket for Art Alive; all other members may reserve two timed tickets for Art Alive. Timed entry tickets are required.

Not an SDMA member? Become one today! Museum membership includes unlimited Museum admission, invitation to members-only events, early access to exhibitions and more! Learn more about Museum membership and get Art Alive tickets by visiting the link in our bio.

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His vision of equality, justice, and unity continu...
01/20/2025

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His vision of equality, justice, and unity continues to inspire us to create a brighter, more compassionate future.

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this holiday, we also reflect on the artist who captured key moments from what became his final year. Photographer Benedict J. Fernandez documented the last year of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life then compiled these photographs into a portfolio entitled “Countdown to Eternity: Photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s,” which includes this poignant photo. This powerful portfolio provides a poignant reminder of his lasting impact on the fight for civil rights and reveals the humanity behind the leader—his moments of quiet reflection, tireless activism, and the weight of his mission. These images not only document history, but also inspire us to continue his legacy of justice, equality, and nonviolent change.

Featured:
Benedict J. Fernandez, “Martin Luther King, Jr. addresses the crowd outside the United Nations, 4/15/67,” gelatin silver print on paper. MoPA – Gift of the artist and the Professional Printing and Publishing Imaging Division of Eastman Kodak Company, M.1993.019.001.

Fridays are for Flowers 💐A charming bouquet of peonies, white carnations, and roses—perfectly capturing timeless beauty....
01/17/2025

Fridays are for Flowers 💐

A charming bouquet of peonies, white carnations, and roses—perfectly capturing timeless beauty.

Featured:
Henri Fantin-Latour, “Peonies, White Carnations and Roses.” 1874. Oil on canvas. Gift of Mrs. Maxwell H. Gluck, 1989.13.

01/16/2025

Open a window this 2025!

Join us on January 18 and January 21 for a special window collage workshop that celebrates transformation and intention-setting for the new year. Create your own collage to reflect your goals, and then explore artworks in the Museum that explore themes of transformation.

All materials provided—just drop in at the Community Art Workshop!

🎨 Community Art Workshop: Window Collage
📅Saturday, January 18 and Tuesday, January 21
🕥11:45 a.m-1:45p.m.
📍The San Diego Museum of Art Library

*Museum admission is not included.

POV: Writing my New Year's Resolutions two weeks into the year because the first two weeks were a free trial into 2025.F...
01/14/2025

POV: Writing my New Year's Resolutions two weeks into the year because the first two weeks were a free trial into 2025.

Featured:

Okumura Masanobu, “A man and a woman watching a young man write,” 1740-1750. Woodblock. Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett, 1957.61.

Last call for K-12 youth art submissions: “Young Art 2025: Nurture and Nature” art submissions are due this weekend!The ...
01/13/2025

Last call for K-12 youth art submissions: “Young Art 2025: Nurture and Nature” art submissions are due this weekend!

The San Diego Museum of Art’s biennial youth exhibition, “Young Art,” holds the extraordinary distinction of being the longest-running program in the Museum’s history. “Young Art 2025” marks the 48th celebration over more than 90 years with the 2025 theme being “Nurture & Nature” and we encourage all schools, teachers, guardians, and caregivers of youth artists to apply!

“Young Art 2025” will be held in the Dammeyer Gallery at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) and is scheduled to open on April 5, 2025. “Young Art 2025: Nurture and Nature” will be complemented by several programs and activities, including Student Art Workshops, docent-led guided tours, and more.

Digital Submission Deadline – Sunday, January 19, 2025

For more information on submission details, visit the link in bio!

Featured: Destiny Clo-Trombley, age 15, "Spreading," 2023. UV print on litho-grade polystyrene. Collection of the artist. © Destiny Clo-Trombley.

Last chance to experience "Garry Winogrand: Man of the Crowd" Don't miss the opportunity to see the work of one of the m...
01/07/2025

Last chance to experience "Garry Winogrand: Man of the Crowd"

Don't miss the opportunity to see the work of one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. From New York City streets to Texas football fields, Winogrand’s dynamic, wide-angle images capture the energy and complexity of the 1960s and 70s.

“Garry Winogrand: Man of the Crowd” is on view through Sunday, January 12 in Galleries 14/15. Entry to Galleries 14/15 is FREE and can be accessed just to the right of the Museum restaurant, Panama 66.

01/06/2025

✨ New Year, New Possibilities! ✨ Manifesting that all the artful fun from 2024 duplicates and grows in 2025! This year, let your resolutions come to life through art and creativity. Whether it's learning from docent guest lectures, creating your own masterpieces at workshops, getting active with your steps to see more art, or experiencing art in exciting new ways, we look forward to seeing you at the Museum. Make your artful resolutions come true by visiting at SDMA and MOPA@SDMA!

Where steel meets the sea.Dive into the interwar era with “U-Boats,” a stunning gelatin silver print by San Diego photog...
01/04/2025

Where steel meets the sea.

Dive into the interwar era with “U-Boats,” a stunning gelatin silver print by San Diego photographer Florence B. Kemmler. This photograph captures the clash of industry and nature, showcasing two submarines slicing through reflective waters—a striking nod to the Machine Age and its fascination with modern engineering. This internationally exhibited work bridges artistic movements and connects San Diego’s creative legacy to the global stage.

Uncover more about Kemmler’s vision and the incredible journey of “U-Boats” in this episode of Masterpiece Minute.

Listen now to Masterpiece Minute episode 85.

Featured:
Florence B. Kemmler, “U-Boats,” ca. 1930 (recto). Gelatin silver print. Museum purchase, 2007.129. © Estate of Florence B. Kemmler.

Closing Soon: “Art of Devotion”Don’t miss your chance to explore how faith in Europe and the Americas shaped art from th...
01/02/2025

Closing Soon: “Art of Devotion”

Don’t miss your chance to explore how faith in Europe and the Americas shaped art from the Early Medieval era to the Baroque. From majestic cathedrals to emotionally charged masterpieces by Rubens and El Greco, this exhibition unravels the powerful role of religion and the arts during pivotal moments like the Counter-Reformation.

“Art of Devotion” is on view through January 7, 2025 in Gallery 16.

Restfully ringing in the New Year!Here is to a year filled with creativity, curiosity, and unforgettable moments in the ...
01/01/2025

Restfully ringing in the New Year!

Here is to a year filled with creativity, curiosity, and unforgettable moments in the world of art. We hope you visit us soon this 2025!

Featured:
Thurston Hopkins, “‘End of the Party,’ Highgate, London,” 1955. Gelatin silver print. MoPA - Gift of Thurston Hopkins and Grace Robertson, M.2000.021.007.

Closing Soon! Don’t miss your chance to experience “Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic Wor...
12/30/2024

Closing Soon!

Don’t miss your chance to experience “Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World.”
Explore celestial marvels, natural wonders, and human ingenuity, with over 200 stunning works, spanning 13 centuries of traditional craftsmanship and treasures to contemporary masterpieces.

“Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World” is on view through this Sunday, January 5, 2025 in Galleries 4-6.

Please note: Due to the staff and logistics necessary for this special exhibition, there is an additional charge ($5) for nonmembers, ages 7+. Members receive free admission. Advanced tickets are not required. For more information, visit the link in bio.

Fridays are for Flowers 💐 This late Mughal artist pays homage to the exquisite flora and fauna pictures produced during ...
12/27/2024

Fridays are for Flowers 💐

This late Mughal artist pays homage to the exquisite flora and fauna pictures produced during the height of imperial patronage under the early Mughal emperors. Both the primary and secondary elements of this painting consist of flora: the stokesia, a perennial herb, occupies the center of the composition; elegant tendrils and floral motifs flourish in the borders and margin.

Another highly decorative border is continued on the reverse, framing the portrait of Abdul Rahim Khan-e Khanna. He was a poet and avid patron of early Mughal painting who lived during the time of emperors Akbar and Jahangir in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Featured:

“Album page with Stokesia and portrait of Abdul Rahim Khan-e Khanan,” ca.1800. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, mounted on an album page. Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.391.

Step away from the screen and step into nature!Take a refreshing stroll, hit the trails, or explore the beauty of Balboa...
12/26/2024

Step away from the screen and step into nature!

Take a refreshing stroll, hit the trails, or explore the beauty of Balboa Park.

and soak up some fresh air today!

Prefer indoor strolls? The Museum is open today 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Featured:

William Merritt Chase, “An Afternoon Stroll,” ca.1890-1895. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase with funds provided by the Gerald and Inez Grant Parker Foundation and Earle W. Grant Acquisition Funds, 1976.1.

Happy Holidays!  This season, we’re filled with gratitude for art, culture, and the connections that bring us all togeth...
12/25/2024

Happy Holidays! 
 
This season, we’re filled with gratitude for art, culture, and the connections that bring us all together. May your days be merry, bright, and filled with creativity and inspiration. 
 
The Museum will be closed across our two locations (SDMA and MOPA at SDMA) today, December 25. Both locations will reopen on Thursday, December 26.
 
 

Even the art is bundling up in this cold! Don’t forget to stay warm this winter and maybe opt for wearing something fest...
12/23/2024

Even the art is bundling up in this cold!

Don’t forget to stay warm this winter and maybe opt for wearing something festive.

Featured:
Hendrick Goltzius, “Quis Evadet? (detail),” 1594. Engraving mounted on paper. Gift of Norman Leitman and Todd Butler, 2004.103.

Hendrick Goltzius, “Bacchus (detail),” ca. 1592. Engraving mounted on paper. Gift of Norman Leitman and Todd Butler, 2004.117.

A shorter day and a longer night. Happy Winter Solstice! Stay warm, cozy, and artful this Winter Solstice by spending yo...
12/22/2024

A shorter day and a longer night.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Stay warm, cozy, and artful this Winter Solstice by spending your day (and night) at SDMA! We're open today 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. See you soon!

Featured:
Utagawa Hiroshige, “Kambara: Night Snow from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road,” 1833. Woodblock. Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett, 1957.230.

Out with the old and in with the new! The Japanese word “Oosouji” translates to “big cleaning” and is used to refer to t...
12/17/2024

Out with the old and in with the new!

The Japanese word “Oosouji” translates to “big cleaning” and is used to refer to the Japanese tradition of end-of-year cleaning. Oosouji is performed to drive away evil spirits, welcome the Shinto New Year's deity, and prepare for the New Year. It's also said to show gratitude for the harvests and good of the last year.

Let’s sweep away the year!

Featured:
Kitagawa Utamaro, “Cleaning of a Samurai house for New Year’s festivities,” 1798-1800. Woodblock. Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett, 1957.130.1-2.

Kitagawa Utamaro, “Cleaning of a Samurai house for New Year’s festivities,” 1798-1800. Woodblock. Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett, 1957.131.1-2.

Not all hair can serve Dyson Air Wrap blow-out…sometimes they’re bowl cuts, baby bangs, or powdered wigs.Here is some ha...
12/16/2024

Not all hair can serve Dyson Air Wrap blow-out…sometimes they’re bowl cuts, baby bangs, or powdered wigs.

Here is some hair-spo for your End-of-the-Year salon appointment or your “New Year, New Me” haircut.

Featured:

Hans Memling, “Portrait of a Man,” ca.1480-1490. Oil on panel. Gift of Anne R. and Amy Putnam, 1947.1.

John Singer Sargent, “John Alfred Parsons Millet,” 1892. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase with funds from The Jack Thomas Family Charitable Fund in memory of Patricia B. Thomas; Toni Bloomberg; Gene and Taffin Ray; Sheryl and Harvey White; and Mrs. John Burnham, by exchange, 2017.261.

Anton Raphael Mengs, “Portrait of Don Luis de Borbón, Infante de Spain (1727-1785),” 1768. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase, 2011.133.

Address

1450 El Prado
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when San Diego Museum of Art posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to San Diego Museum of Art:

Videos

Share

Category