Museums and Galleries

John Roddam Spencer Stanhope’s 1877 “Love and the Maiden” is a highlight of “Truth and The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Pre-Raphaelites take inspiration from Old Masters in Legion exhibition

Radicals in their day, the pre-Raphaelites in mid-19th-century England adopted the styles…

John Roddam Spencer Stanhope’s 1877 “Love and the Maiden” is a highlight of “Truth and The Pre-Raphaelites and the Old Masters” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
“Les valeurs personnelles” (“Personal Values”), from 1952, is a classic example of the René Magritte’s famed whimsy. (Courtesy SFMOMA, Charly Herscovici, Brussels/Artists Rights Society)

The many phases of René Magritte

Perennially popular for his surrealist works featuring apples, bowler hats and bizarre…

“Les valeurs personnelles” (“Personal Values”), from 1952, is a classic example of the René Magritte’s famed whimsy. (Courtesy SFMOMA, Charly Herscovici, Brussels/Artists Rights Society)
Fernando Reyes' 1995 “Self Portrait”on view at the Mexican Museum is a charcoal drawing on gray paper. (Courtesy Fernando Reyes)

‘Artist’s Evolution’ showcases Fernando Reyes’ breadth

Local artist Fernando Reyes -- a banker turned painter and printmaker --…

Fernando Reyes' 1995 “Self Portrait”on view at the Mexican Museum is a charcoal drawing on gray paper. (Courtesy Fernando Reyes)
The Miles Brothers’ “A Trip Down Market Street” was filmed in 1906. (Courtesy Rick Prelinger)

Wild, wonderful ‘Way Bay’ at BAMPFA puts local art in spotlight

“Way Bay,” an expansive new exhibition at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific…

The Miles Brothers’ “A Trip Down Market Street” was filmed in 1906. (Courtesy Rick Prelinger)
Casanova: The Seduction of Europe, opening Feb. 10 at the Legion of Honor , showcases the life and times of the Italian author and chameleonic libertine Giacomo Casanova. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Winter 2018 Arts Preview: Museums and Galleries

Museum and gallery exhibitions offer insight into past, present and future. Casanova:…

Casanova: The Seduction of Europe, opening Feb. 10 at the Legion of Honor , showcases the life and times of the Italian author and chameleonic libertine Giacomo Casanova. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Robert Rauschenberg’s “Monogram,” an assemblage showcasing a taxidermied Angora goat, is on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)

SFMOMA Rauschenberg retrospective reveals wry radical

One of the most significant artists of the 20th century’s second half,…

Robert Rauschenberg’s “Monogram,” an assemblage showcasing a taxidermied Angora goat, is on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)
Designer Jin Teok, pictured with one of her pieces, attended the opening of “Couture Korea” at the Asian Art Museum. (Courtesy Janos Gereben)

K fashion, then and now

Asian Art Museum Director Jay Xu, enthusiastic about the “vibrant colors” in…

Designer Jin Teok, pictured with one of her pieces, attended the opening of “Couture Korea” at the Asian Art Museum. (Courtesy Janos Gereben)
A reproduction of the large 1902 “Beethoven Frieze” (detail: “The Arts, Paradise Choir, and The Embrace” is pictured) is on view in “Klimt and Rodin: An Artistic Encounter” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Meeting of 20th century masters: Klimt paintings, Rodin sculptures

An exhibition of major works by early-modern-age Austrian painter Gustav Klimt --…

A reproduction of the large 1902 “Beethoven Frieze” (detail: “The Arts, Paradise Choir, and The Embrace” is pictured) is on view in “Klimt and Rodin: An Artistic Encounter” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Dozens of ancient artifacts, functional and decorative, are on view in “Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire” through Feb. 11. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Archaeological wonders in ‘Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire’

Art and artifacts excavated from Teotihuacan -- Mexico’s most significant archaeological site…

Dozens of ancient artifacts, functional and decorative, are on view in “Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire” through Feb. 11. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Walker Evans’ moving depression era images -- including “Floyd and Lucille Burroughs, Hale County, Alabama, 1936” -- are among the works on view in the huge San Francisco Museum of Modern Art retrospective. (Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum/Walker Evans Archive)

‘Walker Evans’ at SFMOMA focuses on photographer’s love of the vernacular

Known for iconic images of the Great Depression and for finding poetry…

Walker Evans’ moving depression era images -- including “Floyd and Lucille Burroughs, Hale County, Alabama, 1936” -- are among the works on view in the huge San Francisco Museum of Modern Art retrospective. (Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum/Walker Evans Archive)
The Asian Art Museum’s expansion project includes a new pavilion and terrace. (Rendering courtesy wHY/ Asian Art Museum)

Asian Art Museum announces $38 million renovation

The Asian Art Museum has big plans for the 21st century, including…

The Asian Art Museum’s expansion project includes a new pavilion and terrace. (Rendering courtesy wHY/ Asian Art Museum)
Evocative murals by Julie Mehretu have been recently installed in SFMOMA’s atrium. (Courtesy Julie Mehretu/

Julie Mehretu murals enliven SFMOMA atrium

New York-based artist Julie Mehretu has a massive new art work gracing…

Evocative murals by Julie Mehretu have been recently installed in SFMOMA’s atrium. (Courtesy Julie Mehretu/
The word jumble magnetic wall is among the fun attractions at the new Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

Sprinkles, rock candy and a cherry on top at MOIC

Cowboy Cookie Dough Chris welcomed visitors Thursday at the press preview of…

The word jumble magnetic wall is among the fun attractions at the new Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
“The Maori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer’s New Zealand” recently opened at the de Young with special guests including visitors from New Zealand and Bay Area residents of Maori ancestry. (Courtesy Janos Gereben)

‘Maori Portraits’ grace de Young

Museum exhibit previews are rarely emotional, but a recent one for the…

“The Maori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer’s New Zealand” recently opened at the de Young with special guests including visitors from New Zealand and Bay Area residents of Maori ancestry. (Courtesy Janos Gereben)
“Requiem,” a commissioned installation by Summer Mei Ling Lee honoring a charity serving Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, opens in October at the Chinese Culture Center. (Courtesy photo)

Fall 2017 Arts Preview: Museums and Galleries

Museums showcase brilliant works of art spanning cultures and centuries. OPENING Jewish…

“Requiem,” a commissioned installation by Summer Mei Ling Lee honoring a charity serving Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, opens in October at the Chinese Culture Center. (Courtesy photo)
The wife of a defendant is featured in Dorothea Lange’s Oakland-set 1957 series about the life of the Alameda County public defender. (Courtesy Oakland Museum of California/Gift of Paul S. Taylor)

There’s more to Dorothea Lange than ‘Migrant Mother’

Photographer Dorothea Lange is famous for her vivid, evocative portraits of Dust…

The wife of a defendant is featured in Dorothea Lange’s Oakland-set 1957 series about the life of the Alameda County public defender. (Courtesy Oakland Museum of California/Gift of Paul S. Taylor)
Edgar Degas’ “The Milliners” is a highlight of “Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco]

‘Degas’ at Legion of Honor reveals dynamic impressionist millinery scene

“Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade” at the Legion of Honor…

Edgar Degas’ “The Milliners” is a highlight of “Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco]
A 19th century Thai watercolor of Buddha overcoming a demon -- and weapons transforming into lotus blossoms -- is on view at the Asian Art Museum in “Flower Power.” (Courtesy Asian Art Museum)

Asian Art Museum grooves with ‘Flower Power’

Embracing the flower as a hippie-era symbol of love and peace, “Flower…

A 19th century Thai watercolor of Buddha overcoming a demon -- and weapons transforming into lotus blossoms -- is on view at the Asian Art Museum in “Flower Power.” (Courtesy Asian Art Museum)
Edvard Munch painted scenes from his life, including the colorful yet tense “The Artist and His Model.” (Courtesy San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)

Seeing Munch beyond ‘The Scream’

Edvard Munch receives fresh consideration in a world-premiere exhibition that covers the…

Edvard Munch painted scenes from his life, including the colorful yet tense “The Artist and His Model.” (Courtesy San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)
“Revelations 2,” a 1965 photo by Kelly Hart, pictures nude dancers at Berkeley’s Open Theater, clothed only by light. (Courtesy Kelly Hart/California Historical Society)

‘On the Road’ captures Summer of Love spirit

While’s there no shortage of 50th anniversary Summer of Love celebrations in…

“Revelations 2,” a 1965 photo by Kelly Hart, pictures nude dancers at Berkeley’s Open Theater, clothed only by light. (Courtesy Kelly Hart/California Historical Society)