Alfred Mitchell (1888–1972) created evocative views of the geography of San Diego using stark contrasts of dark and light and capturing subtle nuances of light at different times of day. His canyons, usually devoid of people, are a source of stillness, quiet, and timelessness. Although a representational artist, he was influenced by modern painting techniques he had seen when traveling…

Among the heirs to the French plein-air tradition was the American Impressionist Childe Hassam. Most indelibly associated today with his iconic paintings of flags lining 5th Avenue on the 4th of July, Hassam was one of the leading painters of the period, and an accomplished and influential printmaker. The etchings and lithographs featured in the exhibition, including a view of…

The Max and Muriel Gluck Collection–featuring modern masterpieces by Pierre Bonnard, Amedeo Modigliani, and Edouard Vuillard–forms the nucleus of a group of paintings from the school of Paris. Alongside highlights from this transformational bequest, a gift to the Museum in 1985, are other paintings from the museum’s collection, including works by Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Together, these present…

Adventure. Battles. Romance. Epic Tales from Ancient India features more than 90 works of art from the Museum’s world-renowned Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of Indian paintings. Introducing viewers to paintings of India and its subcontinent, these works are seen through larger-than-life narratives based on classical literature of the region. Indian paintings are usually admired as individual works of art, but…

“[Gjon Mili] could capture on one negative more grace and beauty than Hollywood cameramen get on many feet of motion-picture film.” – Life magazine, Dec 28, 1942   Motion Pictures explores the various ways the innovative photographer Gjon Mili studied, interpreted, and suspended motion in 35 gelatin silver prints, and features a continuous screening of the artist’s Academy Award-nominated film…

A Children’s Exhibition About Frida Kahlo Making its debut in the United States, Frida and Me is an interactive experience. In a playful circuit that can be followed in any order, a series of fun activity stations immerses children and their families in the life and work of the celebrated twentieth-century artist Frida Kahlo. An iconic figure in modern Mexican…

Nancy Lorenz: Moon Gold is the first major solo museum exhibition to showcase the art and alchemy of New York-based Nancy Lorenz. Having trained in the conservation of Japanese decorative arts, Lorenz continues to employ traditional lacquering and gilding techniques as points of departure in her studio practice. This collaboration with the Museum will feature new works by the artist…

The San Diego Museum of Art celebrates the multifaceted history of Latin American modernism with an exhibition drawn from one of the world’s foremost private collections. Modern Masters from Latin America: The Pérez Simón Collection charts a trajectory from the late 1800s to the first decade of this century, showcasing the work of seminal figures from countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia,…

While Monet’s sensational water lilies and landscapes are featured in Reflections on Monet, this display highlights a few of the leading artists who have painted outdoors here in Balboa Park. The availability of oil paint in tubes from 1841 replaced the necessity of pig bladders and glass to transport paint, and enabled artists to leave their studios and paint in…

Located off the northern coast of Australia, Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of New Guinea, the second largest island in the world. It is a country of abounding variety, in both its geography and culture. A wide range of unique flora and fauna populate landscapes that include coastal swamps, dense jungles, and a rugged mountainous interior. As one…