This winter, step inside San Diego’s renowned art hubs to discover captivating new exhibitions that explore topics ranging from eco-conscious architecture to the meaning behind blue hues.
A stunning view of the Smithsonian Institution Courtyard at the San Diego Museum of Art, a part of Foster Partners: Architecture of Light Space; PHOTO BY CHUCK CHOI
FOSTER + PARTNERS: ARCHITECTURE OF LIGHT AND SPACE AT SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART
In a stunning showcase of architectural brilliance, Foster + Partners brings its groundbreaking exhibition to the San Diego Museum of Art through April 27. With the prestigious Pritzker Prize winner Lord Norman Foster at the helm, this installation features meticulously crafted models and designs organized into three compelling themes: Working with History, Embracing the Environment, and Community and Culture. The exhibition, which aligns perfectly with San Diego/Tijuana’s designation as the 2024 World Design Capital, offers visitors a rare glimpse into Foster’s transformative vision for sustainable architecture, including plans for the museum’s west wing renovation.
Santiago Parra’s Soaring Nature at Madison Gallery features a selection of his abstract artwork. PHOTO BY NADER ESSA
SOARING NATURE AT MADISON GALLERY
Abstract expressionist Santiago Parra makes his monochromatic mark on Madison Gallery with Soaring Nature, on display through January. The Colombian artist’s latest exhibition features expansive black-and-white canvases that capture raw, instinctual energy through bold brushstrokes. Come see the artist’s large-scale works for yourself, such as “Untitled (7669)” (2024, acrylic on canvas), which showcase his unique ability to translate humanity’s primal nature onto canvas through gestural abstractions. With collections in prestigious institutions worldwide, Parra’s San Diego exhibition is a must-visit for those looking to explore the intersection of consciousness and creativity.
Stop by the kimono wall when visiting Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo at the Mingei International Museum. PHOTO BY RON KERNER FOR MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM
BLUE GOLD: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF INDIGO AT MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM
As part of Getty’s PST ART: Art & Science Collide, explore one of humanity’s most multifaceted hues at the Mingei International Museum’s Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo, co-curated by Emily Hanna, Guusje Sanders and Barbara Hanson Forsyth. On view through March 16, this groundbreaking exhibition features stunning Japanese kimonos, West African textiles, a pair of vintage 1933 Levi Strauss jeans and more that illuminate indigo’s transformation from plant to pigment. Dive deeper with lectures and workshops led by local artists, like master craftsman Porfirio Gutiérrez and Sarah Winston, uncovering indigo’s complex history in art, science and culture.
Photography by: Chuck Choi
