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 and architecture throughout the Museum to the San Diego community. The theme for Art Alive 2025 celebrates the groundbreaking architectural designs of Lord Norman Foster and his internationally renowned studio Foster + Partners. For the first time in the 44 years of Art Alive, floral designers will not only be sharing their botanical creations interpreting paintings, drawings, photography, and sculpture, but also creating floral interpretations inspired by architecture. In addition to nearly 80 tabletop floral arrangements throughout the Museum, the theme will be brought to life in the two-story Museum entry rotunda by Art Alive 2025 Rotunda Designer Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz – a wife-and-husband team comprised of a floral designer and an engineer, who previously partnered with Art Alive in 2018.
“The Art Alive floral exhibition has become a beloved tradition for the region attracting more than 13,000 visitors throughout the four days of events,” shares Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO of The San Diego Museum of Art. “This year’s Art Alive is sure to be a showstopper and we’re thrilled to create this captivating dialogue between art, architecture, and nature with the community.”
“In addition to the joy that Art Alive brings each year, I’m especially thrilled to share the tenth edition of Bloom Bash, which is set to be our best yet,” reveals Sarah Grossman, Associate Director of Special Events and Corporate Relations at The San Diego Museum of Art, and the imaginative visionary behind Art Alive. “Since its inception, Bloom Bash has become the essential spring arts event for fashionable revelers and foodies supporting the arts.”
The kick-off party to Art Alive weekend is Bloom Bash, which returns this year for its tenth edition on Friday, April 25, offering immersive art installations; live performances from past event favorites including saxophonist Erisa Nicole; sweet and savory bites from more than 35 top eateries; and signature cocktails, craft beer and upscale wines. The 21+ party also features a Ferris wheel in the Plaza de Panama outside the Museum, live music, unique performances, and dancing. On top of honoring the craft of architecture, this year’s edition of the soiree is metamorphosis themed, with both local and nationally recognized artists contributing butterfly-inspired art installations sure to envelop attendees in an ethereal evening of celebration. Featured artists with installations on view during the event and throughout Art Alive weekend include Christopher Schardt and German Corrales.
To commemorate the tenth edition of Bloom Bash, museum members and supporters can enjoy enhanced thank you gifts and memorabilia, including a collectible blue dahlia enamel pin and custom-designed and hand-signed tote bags from Bloom Bash artist German Corrales.
In addition to the four-day Art Alive floral exhibition, further celebratory weekend festivities include the Museum’s creative black-tie gala, the Premiere Dinner, on Thursday, April 24; the tenth edition of Bloom Bash, the Museum’s kick-off party to Art Alive weekend for foodies and culture makers aged 21+ on Friday, April 25; and the Garden of Activities, bringing hands-on art-making for artists of all ages to the Museum’s sculpture garden on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27. The 2025 Art Alive floral exhibition will be on display to the public Friday, April 25, from noon to 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27.General admission is complimentary for members, but time tickets must be reserved. Timed tickets are now available online at www.SDMArt.org/ArtAlive and by phone at 619.696.1999. Timed tickets are required, and entry is anytime within the designated hours. Guests can enjoy Art Alive at their own pace; exit is not timed. Bloom Bash and Premiere Dinner tickets are sold separately and also now on sale.
Summary of Activities:
Art Alive 2025 Premiere Dinner
Thursday, April 24: 6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
The beloved annual Art Alive Premiere Dinner is an elegant black-tie affair, celebrating art with a spectacular dinner in the Museum galleries. This year’s event is inspired by the groundbreaking architectural designs of Lord Norman Foster and his internationally renowned studio Foster + Partners. This event offers a first look at the incredible floral designs of Art Alive and a delicious multi-course menu of delectable delicacies and extraordinary entrees, a full bar, and decadent desserts for Premiere Patrons to enjoy this glamorous evening of enchantment. Buy tickets HERE.
Members’ Preview
Friday, April 25: 8:00 a.m. – noon
Museum members have early access to view the nearly 80 spectacular floral arrangements interpreting works of art throughout the Museum, appreciate a festive large-scale floral installation by 2025 Rotunda Designers Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz, enjoy special art installations only on view during Art Alive, and vote for their favorite floral interpretations in the Art Alive floral exhibition to select the three Members’ Choice winners.
Art Alive Floral Exhibition
Friday, April 25: noon–4:00 p.m.
Free for members and youth, ages 0-6; $5 for youth, ages 7-17; $40 for nonmembers
The heart of Art Alive weekend, the Art Alive floral exhibition brings nearly 80 masterful floral arrangements by regional floral designers to the Museum. These arrangements are on view throughout the Museum alongside the work of art each is interpreting through florals. Also on view during the Art Alive floral exhibition is the two-story rotunda design, which greets guests as they enter the Museum. Visitors are invited to experience fragrant flowers throughout the Museum and enjoy art in an all-new way.
Bloom Bash
Friday, April 25: 7:00 p.m. – midnight
$250 for members, $350 for nonmembers
Bloom Bash is a 21+ event kicking off Art Alive weekend with delicious food and cocktails, a Ferris wheel and other festivities in the plaza outside the Museum, after-hours viewing of the Art Alive floral exhibition.
This year’s metamorphosis themed affair features special art installations, including contemporary works by:
- Christopher Schardt, heralded for his “Mariposa” butterfly installation, who will also be creating a new piece, “Bloom,” specifically for Bloom Bash.
- German Corrales, a local Chicano Park artist from Barrio Logan known as “the butterfly man” by locals, who is creating new works for Bloom Bash as well as a commissioned butterfly mural to be displayed outside SDMA in the month leading up to Art Alive.
Bloom Bash will also feature sweet and savory delicacies from more than 35 top eateries, including signature cocktails, craft beer, and upscale wine, plus live music, unique performances, and all-night dancing. Buy tickets HERE.
Art Alive Floral Exhibition
Saturday, April 26: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 27: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
The heart of Art Alive weekend, the Art Alive floral exhibition brings nearly 80 masterful floral arrangements by regional floral designers to the Museum. These arrangements are on view throughout the Museum alongside the work of art each is interpreting through florals. Also on view during the Art Alive floral exhibition is the two-story rotunda design, which greets guests as they enter the Museum. Visitors are invited to experience fragrant flowers throughout the Museum and enjoy art in an all-new way.
Garden of Activities
Saturday, April 26: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 27: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Free with Art Alive Admission
Great for art enthusiasts of all ages, the Art Alive Garden of Activities brings hands-on fun to the daytime floral extravaganza of Art Alive weekend. Join Museum educators in the floral-themed art-making space in The San Diego Museum of Art sculpture garden to craft and create through a variety of hands-on art projects. This year SDMA is offering expanded opportunities for families and households to support, attend, and enjoy the Garden of Activities. Learn more HERE.
Art Alive Petal Pop-Ups
March 21–23, March 28–30, April 4–6, and April 11–13
Back by popular social media demand, the Museum is again bringing large-scale pop-up floral installations to four surprise partner locations around San Diego in the weekends leading up to Art Alive to give San Diegans a preview of the Art Alive Festivities. The Art Alive Petal Pop-Ups are created by local florist Native Poppy and announced across the Museum’s social media channels the Friday of installation. Each floral display will be on view for one weekend only leading up to Art Alive. Follow @sandiegomuseumofart on Instagram for more information.
About Art Alive
As the Museum’s signature annual fundraiser, Art Alive highlights the Museum’s collection to provide critical support for education, outreach programs and special exhibitions year-round. For more information or to donate to this San Diego tradition, call the Art Alive hotline at (619) 696-1999, or contact the Museum at artalive@sdmart.org. Tickets are also available online at sdmart.org/art-alive-tickets/.
Support for Art Alive is provided by thousands of generous individuals, foundations and corporations, including lead sponsors Harrah’s Resort Southern California, Laurie C. McGrath, Bank of America, Taffin Ann Ray, Toni Bloomberg, Tatiana and Robert Dotson, Rachel and David Inmon, Jaimi Lomas and Tom Haney, Micki Olin and Reid Abrams, Demi and Frank Rogozienski, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. The Art Alive 2025 Premiere Dinner Chairs are Toni Bloomberg, Valerie Cooper, Tatiana Dotson, Arlene Esgate, Micki Olin, and Demi Rogozienski. Bloom Bash Chairs are Robin Wilson Carrier, Jaimi Lomas, Mitch Mitchell, Micki Olin, and Rhianna White.
For more information on The San Diego Museum of Art or to purchase tickets or membership, visit SDMArt.org.
About The San Diego Museum of Art
Providing a rich and diverse cultural experience, The San Diego Museum of Art houses some of the world’s finest art. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Museum’s internationally renowned collection of more than 32,000 works—dating from 3000 BC to present day—includes Spanish and Italian old masters, the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of South Asian paintings, East Asian art, art from the Americas, Modern and Contemporary art, and the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA). The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as extensive cultural and community engagement programs for all ages. The San Diego Museum of Art hosts experiences that invite visitors to explore art through music, dance, film, food, and so much more. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.
The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) is located at 1649 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101.
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