With acclaimed institutions, up-and-coming galleries and vibrant public art across San Diego, inspiration awaits at every turn. Let these nine creative hubs inspire you through surprising perspectives and experiences.
Kim Chonghak, "Metamorphosed Peony" (2006, acrylic on canvas, ten-panel folding screen) is featured in The San Diego Museum of Art's Korea in Color: A Legacy of Auspicious Images. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST/ILCHI FOUNDATION
Based in Balboa Park, the San Diego Museum of Art’s mission is to inspire, cultivate and educate creativity through great works of art. The permanent 20,000-piece art collection showcases everything from dynamic sculpture to textiles to decorative arts. On display from Oct. 28, 2023, to March 23, 2024, the museum’s latest exhibition Korea in Color: A Legacy of Auspicious Images examines large-scale contemporary works connected to Korean symbolism and everyday life.
See James Balog's "Fallen House after Hurricane Irma" (Sept. 12, 2017, South Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) at the Museum of Photographic Arts. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
Dive into photography’s endless possibilities at the Museum of Photographic Arts. As one of the nation’s preeminent photography museums, rare vintage images and innovative new methods ignite dialogue around this influential art medium. Thought-provoking special exhibition James Balog: Photographs from the Anthropocene chronicles the cyclical nature of ancient life forms and the impact of human activity—now open through March 10, 2024.
Visit the acclaimed Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, with locations in both La Jolla and Downtown San Diego. For over 50 years, the institution has elevated San Diego as an international arts destination offering cutting-edge temporary shows and site-specific commissions from both rising talents and established visionaries. On view until Feb. 18, 2024, is Kelly Akashi: Formations, which explores the inherited impact of Japanese-American incarceration camps during World War II through fluid art forms such as glass-blowing and candle-making.
Don’t miss the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego, an experimental project space cultivating emerging artists and new ideas. With a mission to question everything, the possibilities are endless, with exhibits stretching beyond the ordinary. The museum’s newest exhibition, Taylor Chapin: Tell Me About Yourself, reflects a consumerist society in a whirlwind of swirling patterns, bold colors and cunning camouflage, now on display until Dec. 30, 2023.
Yoshio Ikezaki's "Timeless Auras 615" (2006, Sumi ink on washi paper) is featured in Washi Transformed at Mingei International Museum. IMAGE COURTESY OF KYLIN GALLERY, © YOSHIO IKEZAKI
In Balboa Park, discover the Mingei International Museum, a space dedicated to the art of the people. With 20,00 objects from over 141 countries, the museum’s folk art includes American quilting, Mexican tin work, Japanese kites and African rocks. Check out the recently opened exhibit Washi Transformed, which focuses on the delicate art of Japanese Washi paper throughout the works of nine contemporary artists, now open until Jan. 7, 2024.
Interoptics is a new exhibit by WNDR Studios at San Diego's WNDR Museum. PHOTO BY JAMES TRAN
In the Gaslamp Quarter, the WNDR Museum offers an adventure for the senses utilizing immersive technology to transform the gallery into alternate worlds. From vivid underwater seascapes to futuristic cities to outer space, the various vignettes combine art and science with pure wonder. Catch Boys Break Too by artist and author Jason Mayden until the end of October 2023, a seven-pieced exhibition and digital collectible bringing awareness to mental health resources and the strength of liberation.
Fun for the whole family awaits at The New Children's Museum. PHOTO BY DANI TOSCANO
The New Children’s Museum in Downtown San Diego’s East Village offers a wonderland just for kids, filled with interactive art installations that turn the whole visit into a thrilling hands-on experience. Among the museum’s offerings are various family programs, camps and community events that inspire budding young artists. Current art installations keep the essence of playfulness with works such as Brian and The Bugs, a storybook-inspired mural, and Whammock!, a three-dimensional, interactive crocheted hammock.
Head over to the tranquil Timken Museum of Art, a small gem in Balboa Park that spotlights European masters, Russian icons and exquisite exhibitions in a striking setting. The brainchild of the Ohio-based Timken Family and the Putnam Family, the Timken Museum of Art opened in 1965, preserving San Diego’s generational history for years to come. On view now is the Equestrian Portrait of Prince Tommaso of Savoy-Carignan (2015), which revisits the work of artist Kehinde Wiley and his fascination for “street-casting” youthful, contemporary models.
Make the scenic drive up the coast to the Oceanside Museum of Art, where rotating exhibits celebrate regional artists and broader contemporary art movements. The museum offers stunning Pacific views, a sculpture garden and programs that integrate art across music, film, theater and literature. The newest exhibition running until Feb. 4, 2024, is Deena Altman: Female Rising, an eight-part series depicting women from toddler to adulthood intertwined with both the challenges that hinder and propel their future.
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