A part of and nestled inside Balboa Park. This is a great Museum to visit. The outside is beautiful and the works of art inside more so. Admission is around $20 which I find affordable for the experience.
SD Residents Free Entrance third Tuesday of every month. Bring ID. Worth the visit. Was able to quickly view in an hour before they closed. Eclectic collection and displays. Not as big as most metropolitan cities but still a decent collection. Definite recommend for residents freebies.
Lots of historical artifacts, statues art from different eras of time and different parts of the world. Great history lesson in itself.
I went to Art Alive, the museum's annual flower exhibition that features artwork reinterpreted as flowers and other botanicals. It was my first Art Alive and my first visit to the museum in a few years, so there have been some changes. Even though things are reopened, they require masks on inside. Much of the Asian art from the closed Mingei museum has a place here now. There are new sections and room configurations. Some art pieces have been relocated to other rooms. They had an outdoor "bazaar" this year (tickets extra) that gave a nice seating area to eat and people watch with a nice soundtrack getting people into the party vibes. There were modest options for food and gifts. The family activity tent was a great way to do arts and crafts while learning about gardening from docents. You get a free take home succulent when done! I would do this activity last, so you don't have to carry around plant all day. The flowers are amazing and the two-story display in the rotunda is the best one. It was an enjoyable way to see familiar art in a new way. There were also new exhibitions to explore, like colored pencil art that look photographic. Pro-tip, head past Panama 66 for the sculpture garden, an outdoor extension of the museum that's free to see. They created a giant outdoor flower mural for the event.
This museum has an amazing collection of art! Many of their works that are on display are from well-known artists and there are plenty of opportunities to discover new artists along the way! Both floors of the museum were packed with beautiful paintings and the exhibits are well arranged. The gift shop was a bit pricey, but they did have an excellent collection of books that were for sale.
Very cool experience! Modern yet museum worthy! The friendship garden was amazing! And the fountain was a great photo op! We say many people taking formal photos that day!
This is the first time I have seen augmented reality implemented in an art museum. Some art pieces come alive on your phone using their app! Bank of America card holders can visit for free on certain weekends. There is also free Tuesdays every month, I would check their schedule. Even if you pay, the admission is well worth it. Renaissance art, modern art, expressionism, Asian artifacts, very few modern sculptures - something to see for everyone.
It's a nice well organized and compact museum. I was able to go through the large majority in about two hours. (Skipped the medieval Christian art gallery.) There is a survey of everything, but none of the jaw dropping size that you find in the Met or major New York galleries. It's designed for the every person so every piece has a descriptive label that provides information about the artist as well as the context of the piece. Current special exhibit includes some pieces around Covid.
The sculpture garden is cool, recommend a break at Panama 66 for beer and views of the sculptures.
I really like SD museum of art! Not only the beautiful building exterior, but also many modern art and paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries. It s worth to visit!
thesandiegomuseumofart.org