Museum to Debut Major Exhibitions, Launch Immersive Programs, and Host Public Birthday Bash in 2026 SAN DIEGO, CA (October 28, 2025) – The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) today announced plans for its momentous 2026 Centennial, celebrating 100 years since the institution first opened its doors as the Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego on February 28, 1926. The year-long celebration will feature can’t-miss exhibitions, an all-day public birthday party, and the expansion of community-focused programming. “For a century, The San Diego Museum of Art has served as a cultural anchor, inspiring generations through the power of art,” said Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO of The San Diego Museum of Art. “Our Centennial is not just a reflection on our remarkable history, but a bold declaration…

In the wake of a prestigious award, the Museum forges a path toward its landmark renovation alongside new partnership with local firm SAN DIEGO, CA (September 19, 2025) – The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) announced today it has been chosen for the Signature Project Design Award for Museum Renovation, an accolade that recognizes the Museum’s forward-looking approach to evolving cultural institutions. Alongside this news, the Museum has announced its selection of acclaimed San Diego firm Safdie Rabines Architects to partner with the internationally renowned Foster + Partners on the planned renovation of its Balboa Park home. The Signature Project Design Awards, presented by the Design Forward Alliance as part of San Diego Design Week, spotlight San Diego’s leading design projects and their designers’ visionary contributions to the local…

Highlights include a major retrospective of sculptor Eduardo Chillida, a first solo US exhibition of Mexican Surrealist painter Alfredo Castañeda, and a diverse celebration of photography SAN DIEGO, CA (September 2025) – This fall and winter, The San Diego Museum of Art is launching eight new exhibitions across its two Balboa Park locations, The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) and The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA). The compelling exhibition lineup covers a broad spectrum of artistic movements and global perspectives, from monumental Spanish sculptures and powerful photography to intricate contemporary installations and a retrospective of one of Mexico’s most prominent post-Surrealist artists. New exhibition elements including virtual reality, sound art, and interactive community spaces bring immersive art experience to the fore. Together,…

The San Diego Museum has a lot to see. There are 20 galleries at our main facility in the heart of Balboa Park, a sculpture garden, and the galleries at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) a short walk away. Short on time or not sure where to begin? Make the most of your visit by exploring Museum highlights that deliver a variety of experiences at the Museum! Stroll through the serene May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden, uncover hidden gems in the Visible Vaults, or capture stunning photos in the elegant rotunda. Get inspired by our free galleries in Galleries 14 & 15, engage with interactive digital displays, and enjoy rotating exhibitions across our galleries, including at MOPA@SDMA. Plus, no visit is complete…

Go Behind the Scenes of The San Diego Museum of Art’s Top Foodie Event of the Year Sizzling scallops, artisanal pizza, plant-based bowls, beautiful bao burgers, crisp crudo, and delicious desserts are just some of the decadent delights that will greet foodies and revelers at Bloom Bash, the vibrant, late-night celebration on Friday, April 25, 2025, that kicks off Art Alive weekend at The San Diego Museum of Art. This year marks the 10th edition of Bloom Bash, San Diego’s most anticipated springtime celebration, where art, florals, and flavor come together in one spectacular evening! As we honor a decade of vibrant creativity, this milestone event promises an unforgettable experience filled with stunning art installations, festive flowers, live entertainment, and, of course, an incredible culinary lineup of 35+ top regional…

SAN DIEGO, CA (April 2025) – The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) proudly announces its upcoming major exhibition, Eduardo Chillida: Convergence, a comprehensive celebration of one of the foremost sculptors of postwar Europe. Opening on August 2, 2025, and running through February 8, 2026, this extraordinary exhibition marks the centenary of Eduardo Chillida (1924 – 2002) and highlights his enduring legacy. As the only US venue participating in the global centenary celebration, SDMA is honored to present the most expansive survey of Chillida’s works shown in the US in nearly 50 years. Eduardo Chillida: Convergence spans the artist’s prolific career and features an exceptional range of materials, including forged iron, oak, alabaster, and clay. The exhibition includes iconic large-scale sculptures, delicate works on paper, and a virtual reality experience…

Highlights include groundbreaking photography, Modernist art, Mexican printmaking, and Dutch masterpieces from the Golden Age SAN DIEGO, CA (February 2025) – The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) opens eight new exhibitions this 2025 winter–spring season, featuring a wide-ranging lineup at both SDMA and The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA). With a celebration of women photographers; a tribute to the American Minimalism art movement; intricate, large-scale digital creations by Ruud van Empel; and an exploration of modernist printmaking from Mexico, these exhibitions promise to inspire, challenge, and delight both local and national audiences. “We are proud to present this diverse and exciting season of exhibitions across our two Balboa Park locations, highlighting a range of artistic movements, historical periods, and global perspectives,” states…

Celebrate more than 40 years of Art Alive and the tenth edition of Bloom Bash with art, architecture, and floral creativity inspired by the groundbreaking designs of Lord Norman Foster San Diego, CA. (February 2025) – The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is in full bloom this spring, with floral designers interpreting works of art and architecture into vibrant floral displays from April 24 to April 27, 2025. Art Alive is the Museum’s signature annual fundraiser, providing critical year-round support for exhibitions, education, and outreach programs in the community. This year, the tenth edition of the Art Alive kick-off party Bloom Bash promises to make a splash with its most colorful and large-scale festivities yet. Art Alive brings a dazzling array of nearly 80 colorful floral arrangements interpreting art…

Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space displays historic architectural design achievements and introduces early concept design of San Diego Museum of Art west wing renovation Exhibition on view October 19, 2024–April 27, 2025 San Diego, CA. (October 2024)– Showcasing groundbreaking architectural designs by Lord Norman Foster and his internationally renowned studio Foster + Partners, a new exhibition titled Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space opens at The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) this fall. On view October 19, 2024, through April 27, 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the innovative architectural vision of Foster + Partners, one of the world’s leading architectural firms, renowned for their pioneering approach to design and sustainability, through models, drawings, and an early concept design of the Museum’s west…