RESOURCES: INDIAN AND CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUMS AND FAIRS IN SAN FRANCISCO

Set against the historic backdrop of art in the Bay Area, San Francisco is home to world-class museums, art institutions, galleries and other cultural centers. Several museums hold outstanding collections of Asian art, from ancient works to contemporary, and South Asian and Indian artists are frequently spotlighted. There are also a few yearly fairs that gather innovative galleries from around the world, keeping both new and seasoned collectors on the pulse of contemporary art.

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

Across seven floors, SFMOMA hosts year-round modern and contemporary art installations, in addition to a rotating roster of artist retrospectives, group exhibitions and site-specific installations. This world-renowned San Francisco art museum showcases both established Asian artists like Yayoi Kusama and Nam June Paik as well as emerging and mid-career artists. Recent presentations of Indian artists include a new sculpture by Anish Kapoor, a photo-based installation by Dayanita Singh and a solo exhibition of Ranjani Shettar.

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, with accompanying events and educational tours offered throughout the year. The exhibition program ranges from historic and traditional artworks to the best contemporary Asian artists and their paintings. Recent exhibitions have focused on the traditional Indian art form of Mithila painting and on depictions of dance in Indian art.

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco – 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco (de Young) & 100 34th Avenue, San Francisco (Legion of Honor): https://www.famsf.org

Together, the de Young and Legion of Honor form San Francisco’s largest public arts institution, pooling their expansive collections of ancient, traditional, modern and contemporary art around the world. Past exhibitions include Asian/American/Modern Art: Shifting Currents, the first comprehensive survey of Asian American modernism, and East Meets West, a collection of jewelry and decorated objects associated with Mughal courts.

San Francisco Art Fair – Fort Mason Center – Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco: https://sanfranciscoartfair.com

Hosted each April on the piers of the San Francisco Bay, the San Francisco Art Fair (formerly known as Art Market San Francisco) features paintings, prints, sculptures and more presented by over 80 leading galleries. The city’s longest running art fair is an exciting platform for discovery for both first-time buyers and avid collectors.

FOG Design+Art Fair – Fort Mason Center – Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco: https://www.fogfair.com

A unique fair that unites the design and arts communities, FOG presents international galleries alongside prominent 20th-century and contemporary design dealers. This fair is typically held in January and provides a fantastic opportunity for San Francisco art collectors to explore the intersection of visual art and design objects.