BEST ART MUSEUMS TO VISIT IN CALIFORNIA

As a gallery based in Palo Alto, Laasya Art is lucky to be part of the vibrant and diverse arts scene of the San Francisco Bay Area. No matter where you find yourself in California, there are abundant opportunities to see iconic artworks, discover emerging contemporary artists or immerse yourself in the traditional crafts of another culture.

Below are just a few of the best art museums in California to visit across three major cities — San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

ART MUSEUMS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Legion of Honor (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco) – Lincoln Park, 100 34th Avenue, San Francisco: https://www.famsf.org

Located in the scenic Lincoln Park overlooking the bay, the Legion of Honor is a stunning San Francisco art museum that offers an impressive selection of ancient artifacts and historic European paintings. Some of the famous artworks on view include Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker bronze statue, which greets visitors at the entrance, and Claude Monet’s Water Lilies paintings. Today, Legion of Honor and the nearby de Young Museum have merged to become the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the city’s largest public arts institution.

Asian Art Museum – 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco: https://asianart.org

The Asian Art Museum boasts one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections not only in California but in the world. The exhibition program balances historic presentations on traditional art forms with contemporary Asian art, and the museum also offers an exciting calendar of events, from educational talks to cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) – 151 Third Street, San Francisco: https://www.sfmoma.org

Spread out over seven floors, SFMOMA is a must-see for those interested in innovative modern and contemporary art, including photography, sculpture, paintings, neon installations and short videos. In addition to rotating exhibitions, many important works from the collection, including paintings by Andy Warhol and a monumental metal sculpture by Richard Serra, are permanently on view.

ART MUSEUMS IN LOS ANGELES

LACMA | Los Angeles County Museum of Art – 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles: https://www.lacma.org

LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a massive collection of works spanning from ancient times to the current moment. In fact, its collection of South Asian art is one of the most comprehensive on the West Coast. From permanent collections to special exhibitions, there is always top-notch art on view. LACMA is also home to one of Los Angeles’s popular landmarks, the outdoor installation of street lamps titled Urban Light by artist Chris Burden, which is open to visitors 24 hours a day.

Hammer Museum at UCLA – 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles: https://hammer.ucla.edu

The Hammer is a free, cutting-edge arts institution that offers rotating exhibitions and site-specific installations of contemporary art. There is also a robust program of film screenings, artist talks, curator-led tours and art-making workshops. And every two years, the museum organizes the acclaimed Made in L.A.Biennial, which promotes artists based in Los Angeles and captures the unique artistic spirit of the city.

Norton Simon Museum – 411 West Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena: https://www.nortonsimon.org

Built upon the private art collection of philanthropist Norton Simon, this gem of a museum contains vast holdings of modern art, European painting and sculpture, Asian art and more. The collection is especially rich in South Asian art, including monumental stone sculptures from the Kushana and Gupta periods, Chola bronzes from southern India and Rajput paintings, some of which are on permanent view in the South and Southeast Asian wing. The museum is also surrounded by a meditative sculpture garden.

ART MUSEUMS IN SAN DIEGO

San Diego Museum of Art – Balboa Park, 1450 El Prado, San Diego: https://www.sdmart.org

The San Diego Museum of Art has an all-encompassing collection of international art and artifacts, ranging in date from 3,000 B.C. to the present. This museum also holds the Edwin Binney the 3rd collection of Asian and South Asian art, which ranges from Mughal miniatures to Jamini Roy paintings, and some of these works can always be seen in the Arts of South and Southeast Asia wing. On the grounds of the museum and in the picturesque sculpture garden, large-scale works by notable artists such as Isamu Noguchi and Alexander Calder are installed among succulents and palm trees.

Mingei International Museum – Balboa Park, 1439 El Prado, San Diego: https://mingei.org

“Mingei” is a Japanese word that translates to “folk art” or “popular art.” True to its name, the Mingei International Museum focuses on folk art, craft and design from cultures around the world. From Kenyan beading to Persian weaving, Indian terracottas to contemporary art incorporating time-honored techniques, the rotating exhibitions offer fascinating insights into global traditions.

Whether you live in California or have an upcoming trip planned, there are numerous excellent museums for art enthusiasts to visit across the state. Of course, if you are in the Bay Area and would like to make an appointment to visit our Indian art gallery in Palo Alto, please reach out at info@laasyaart.com or +1 650-770-9088.

— Sonia Patwardhan