Museums and Galleries

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)
Lisa Hanawalt’s amusing “Birds Hungry for Worms” is on view in “Tiny Bubbles” in the Veterans Building. (Courtesy San Francisco Arts Commission)

SF galleries’ show boasts whimsy, dark comedy

Fantasy creatures, candy-colored dreamscapes and darkly comic depictions of life’s grimmer realities…

Lisa Hanawalt’s amusing “Birds Hungry for Worms” is on view in “Tiny Bubbles” in the Veterans Building. (Courtesy San Francisco Arts Commission)
From left, Mark Nassar, Drew Todd, Lavale-William Davis, Shane Zaldivar, Christopher Alvaro, AeJay Mitchell and Tim Huls appeared in the first reading of”The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot” at the Tenderloin Museum. (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)

Tenderloin Museum turns 2 with history-themed shows

The Tenderloin Museum celebrated its second anniversary Saturday with a community day…

From left, Mark Nassar, Drew Todd, Lavale-William Davis, Shane Zaldivar, Christopher Alvaro, AeJay Mitchell and Tim Huls appeared in the first reading of”The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot” at the Tenderloin Museum. (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)
A room of colorful posters from the era is a highlight of "The Summer of Love Experience" at the de Young Museum. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

de Young Museum show recalls seminal 1967 summer

The phrase “summer of love” seems to be everywhere in the Bay…

A room of colorful posters from the era is a highlight of "The Summer of Love Experience" at the de Young Museum. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
The composition of Richard Diebenkorn's 1964 graphite and ink "Untitled" is reminiscent of works by Henri Matisse in a show on view at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Richard Diebenkorn Foundation.)

Matisse and Diebenkorn — meeting of creative minds

Henri Matisse and Richard Diebenkorn never met, but Diebenkorn, the California postwar…

The composition of Richard Diebenkorn's 1964 graphite and ink "Untitled" is reminiscent of works by Henri Matisse in a show on view at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Richard Diebenkorn Foundation.)
“Houses by the Zaan at Zaandam” (1871) is among the dramatic and appealing works on view through May 29 in "Monet: The Early Years" at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

‘Monet: Early Years’ reveals a master in the making

Before he created his water-lily scenes and other Impressionist masterworks, Claude Monet…

“Houses by the Zaan at Zaandam” (1871) is among the dramatic and appealing works on view through May 29 in "Monet: The Early Years" at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
A life-sized jade burial suit for a king is among the impressive items in “Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty.” (Courtesy Asian Art Museum)

Sexy pleasures among Han Dynasty ‘Tomb Treasures’

It’s a stretch, but the Asian Art Museum is flogging its fascinating…

A life-sized jade burial suit for a king is among the impressive items in “Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty.” (Courtesy Asian Art Museum)
“Community Memory,” a computer system used in Berkeley in 1973 is on view in “Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia.” (Courtesy BAMPFA)

Haight Ashbury meets Silicon Valley in ‘Hippie Modernism’

There’s no kitschy flower power in “Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia”…

“Community Memory,” a computer system used in Berkeley in 1973 is on view in “Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia.” (Courtesy BAMPFA)
Comedy is a big part of Cary Leibowitz’s art. (Courtesy Cary Leibowitz /Invisible-Exports)

Cary Leibowitz’s pink insecurities in full view at CJM

In a window front on San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Lane, next to…

Comedy is a big part of Cary Leibowitz’s art. (Courtesy Cary Leibowitz /Invisible-Exports)
“Girl With a Pointy Hood and White Schoolbag at the Curb, N.Y.C. (1957)” is among the early pictures by Diane Arbus on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Estate of Diane Arbus)

Welcome to Diane Arbus’ world

An exhibition of early works by influential and controversial 20th-century photographer Diane…

“Girl With a Pointy Hood and White Schoolbag at the Curb, N.Y.C. (1957)” is among the early pictures by Diane Arbus on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Estate of Diane Arbus)
Amy Chin’s large graphic novel illustrating her Chinese-American heritage is among the enlightening works on view in “Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion” at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)

In-depth exhibit details Chinese-American experience

The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco is the…

Amy Chin’s large graphic novel illustrating her Chinese-American heritage is among the enlightening works on view in “Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion” at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)