Entering the san francisco museum of modern art reviews is like opening a giant treasure box to the lovers of art. I have just been to this renowned museum to find out what all the hype is. When I first saw the building, I knew the reason why people love the building. It has cold fiberglass on the exterior resembling the San Francisco Bay water. It even has a massive wall of vegetation growing long up the side of the structure.
This Museum was initially established in the 1960s, hence it has been delivering art to people over a very long time . There are seven floors in there with wonderful artwork. It has paintings, photographs, sculptures and even neon light. It might be that you are an expert in the field of art or you are simply curious, but at any rate, SFMOMA has something that can make you say wow!
My SFMOMA Visiting Experience: What You Really Want to Know
First Impressions and Museum Layout
The SFMOMA structure is a piece of art by itself. The building is a product of the architecture team of Snohoett, and it is distinguished in downtown San Francisco. It is not difficult to find it due to its closeness to a BART station and bus lines. On entering, I saw how light and airy all was. The windows are huge and therefore allow a lot of natural light to penetrate, and you would never feel like you are locked away even when the museum is on the move.
The seven floors of the museum may seem overwhelming, however, there is nothing to feel worried about. The design is aimed to assist visitors in having a chance to explore at ease. I also found myself lost in the organization here and there since works of art are not always organized by time and type. My advice? Take a museum map at the entrance or utilize SFMOMA application to assist in locating your way.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Reviews: Overall Visitor Impressions
The majority of the san francisco museum of modern art reviews coincide on one point that this museum is a must-visit attraction in San Francisco. The innovative displays and the hi-tech building are a favorite among the visitors. The diversity of art implies that one will find something that appeals to him. Eyes will not be bored with famous Warhol works, giant sculptures, etc.
Most visitors report that the museum can become very overcrowded, particularly during weekends. These crowds are evidence of the popularity of this museum! Purchasing your ticket online will allow you to avoid long queues before traveling. The visitors are varied- art students drawing pictures of works, school classes on a field trip, elderly people appreciating their favorite pieces- all groups of people appreciate this variety and take their pictures of the image.
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Must-See Exhibits at SFMOMA
Incredible Permanent Collection
The permanent collection of SFMOMA is an impressive one. It is spread across seven floors comprising of photography, sculpture, paintings as well as the short videos. There have been some highlights that have really caught my eye and they include:
- Pop art wonders: A collection of Warhol works that make the bright colors and well known faces alive.
- German master art: Significant German art since 1960.
- Breathtaking sculptures: Beautiful metal can be huge: an incredible work of Richard Serra.
- Colored panels: Colorful painted panels by artist Mehretu that wall the whole walls with vibrations.
The number of items covered is so enormous that it can give you a feeling of museum fatigue in case you attempt to view all the items during a single visit only. It happens, you get brain-wearyied with looking at too much art! I suggest that one should choose three floors and navigate them step by step as opposed to visiting all of them.
Exciting Visiting Exhibitions
Special exhibitions in SFMOMA frequently take significant artworks of the world, and they are exhibited in San Francisco. I have witnessed fantastic exhibitions of Diane Arbus in past visits, as well as Edvard Munch paintings. Even live performance artists can be found sometimes!
These traveling exhibitions usually need a ticket of their own, but they tend to be such good ones that they can bring even local folks to make special visits. The site of the museum contains the details of the current and future exhibitions, and thus, you can organize your visit to the museum in accordance with the shows you are most interested in.
Planning Your SFMOMA Visit
Purchasing Tickets and Best Time to Visit
When it comes to only a single tip everyone visiting san francisco museum of modern art would suggest, it would be the fact that you purchase a ticket online prior to visiting the museum. This is such an easy thing to do that you are spared of getting into long queues particularly during weekends when the museum may be fully filled.
Weekdays are the most appropriate days to visit the museum because there are fewer visitors at these days. When you have time to visit the museum only in a weekend, then you should arrive just at the entrance at the beginning of the day or the end of the day. These periods are associated with smaller audiences.
Making the Most of Your Time
There is so much to see and that is why a game plan helps. The following are my recommendations at SFMOMA when visiting based on the type of visit:
- Short visit (1-2 hours): Use one special exhibition or a floor which is of most interest to you. You will not be able to see it all but you will have a considerable experience with the art that you will see.
- Medium visit (2-3 hours): Discover three levels of your preference and relax in one of the cafes of the museum.
- Full day visit: Use the free guided tours that the museum offers and allocate time to visit all the seven floors taking a break in between.
Tours and Visitor Experiences in SFMOMA.
Incredible Sightseeing Tours
There are a number of free tours offered by SFMOMA that actually make the visit special. The SFMOMA application contains fun and educative audio tours. These are the so-called immersive walks between 15 and 45 minutes. What is so peculiar to them are the guides who direct them:
- Philippe Petit is a high-wire walker.
- Personality types of the 99% Invisible podcast.
- Players of the San Francisco Giants.
- HBO actors of Silicon Valley.
In case you are more comfortable with live tours, the museum has daily architecture tours and tours on particular exhibitions taking about 45 minutes each. To have a fast yet informative experience, it is a good idea to visit the so-called Spotlight tours, which take only 20 minutes and concentrate on one artist or piece of works.
Amazing Museum Amenities
Delicious Dining Options
You will have been hungry after all that art viewing. Here you will find a lot of food at SFMOMA:
- Sightglass Coffee on the third floor is legendary coffee served in a cool place with a low-slung bar where one will see the preparation of his drink.
- Cafe 5 is a light California restaurant on the fifth floor and provides foods such as flatbreads, bagel sandwiches, and salads. When the weather is pleasant, you are free to sit on the roof in the open sculpture garden and have your meal delivered to your table.
- The In Situ is the museums renowned restaurant to which the New York Times has referred to as America's most original. The restaurant considers its menu as a rotating art installation whereby the dishes are developed by world-renowned chefs. It was unfortunately closed at the time of my visit, but the reputation is good enough to make it worth investigating whether it is open again.
Don't-Miss Gift Shop
In the ground floor, the SFMOMA gift store can be found and it is accessible to the general public; you do not need a museum ticket to enter it! It is not just any museum store. It sells exhibits related products such as pens, post cards and posters among other fun products such as jewelry by local designers, toys, kitchen ware and even unique art not related to exhibits.
Majority of products have modernistic designs with large blocks of color and minimalistic design. I considered it to be an obligatory destination, even though it could be rushing past looking at the creative merchandise.
Final SFMOMA Recommendations
Is SFMOMA Worth Visiting?
Having read numerous other reviews about the san francisco museum of modern art reviews and my personal experience, I can definitely conclude that SFMOMA is a museum worth visiting. It can be distinguished among other museums of San Francisco by the innovative exhibits of a building of the latest Standard.
The museum is very good at showcasing beautiful art in a manner that is easy to understand. Be it an expert in art or a total newcomer in the modern art world, you will find something to appreciate. The diversity of tours and the well-designed design makes the art accessible to all audiences of age and expertise.
My Best SFMOMA Visitor Tips
My recommendations to experience SFMOMA to the fullest are:
- Online booking of tickets helps to keep the line short.
- Before visiting SFMOMA, you can download the app, which will provide free audio tours.
- May have some comfortable shoes, you will do a lot of walking and standing.
- You do not want to visit and see everything first. Choose 2-3 floors to tour with.
- Have a rest at the sculpture garden or cafes.
- Go to the gift shop, even without making any purchase, it is an experience on its own.
- Inquire- the museum employees are also knowledgeable and friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions about SFMOMA
So, what do you think I need to plan on the amount of time to visit SFMOMA?
The average time that visitors stay at SFMOMA is 2-3 hours. As a great art enthusiast, you can spend the day in the museum without any trouble touring all the seven floors. In case you lack time, a one-hour visit is not a waste of time as long as you spend it in one exhibition.
Is SFMOMA good for kids?
Yes! The museum is child friendly and school groups frequent the museum. The diverse art work, particularly sculptures and color paintings are likely to attract the attention of children. Family tours and activities are also provided in the museum.
Which are the must-visit works of SFMOMA?
Although each person has a personal favorite, the majority of visitors do not miss the works of the pop art by Warhol, German artworks, created since 1960, and the Richard Serra sculpture. The special exhibitions are also frequently featured.
What is the comparison of SFMOMA with other modern art museums?
SFMOMA is exceptional due to its creative displays in a modernized building. It is a masterpiece by itself, the architecture especially the living wall and the fiberglass-reinforced panels that resemble the waters of the Bay. The collection is also particularly robust in photography and contemporary art.
I would like to believe that this personal experience and well-researched guide will assist you in having a wonderful time at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Be it the famous artworks, the beautiful structure, or simply to experience what the modern art all about is, there is an experience of the special kind. Happy art exploring!
