San Diego Art Galleries

(San Diego, California - CA, USA)

San Diego is home to a burgeoning arts scene and as such, the city contains many famous art galleries and similar museums. Respected the world over for their comprehensive permanent collections, galleries in San Diego are also known for the diversity of their temporary exhibits. All forms of art work can be found on display, virtually guaranteeing that there's something to suit all tastes.

Balboa Park is without question the place to head for serious art appreciation, being home to a cluster of galleries, such as the Timken Museum of Art, the Mingei International Museum and the Museum of Photographic Arts, as well as the acclaimed San Diego Museum of Art, which was founded in 1926 and contains many Italian old masters. Notable artists on exhibit here include the likes of Canaletto, Giorgione, Hals, Rubens and Veronese, amongst many others.

San Diego Museum of Art

Address: 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California CA, 92101, USA
Tel: +1 619 232 7931
Housing around 12,000 pieces of art, of which only a selection are on display at any one time, this comprehensive museum / art gallery also hosts regular temporary exhibitions. The San Diego Museum of Art is particularly noted for its collections of Spanish Baroque and Indian paintings, as well as its spectacular entrance. Nearby attractions include both the city's Art Institute and the Old Globe Theater.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00 (21:00 on Thursdays)
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and children, children under five free

Timken Museum of Art

Address: 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California CA, 92101, USA
Tel: +1 619 239 5548
Standing close to the Balboa Park Visitors Center, the Lily Pond and the Botanical Gardens, the Timken Museum of Art is just a short distance from the Japanese Friendship Garden and the city's Natural History Museum. Founded in 1965, the Timken contains a plethora of old masters from around Europe, together with a selection of tapestries and sculptures. Notable artists exhibited here include the likes of Rembrandt van Rijn and Peter Paul Rubens, amongst others.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 13:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and children, children under five free

Mingei International Museum

Address: 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California CA, 92101, USA
Tel: +1 619 239 0003
This fascinating museum was established in 1978 and holds temporary exhibitions of folk art and crafts from around the world. Highlights at the Mingei International Museum include exhibitions of textiles, costumes, jewelry, toys, pottery, painting and sculpture. In the summer of 1996, the Mingei moved to its current residence at the House of Charm, standing on the Plaza de Panama, within Balboa Park.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students and children, children under six and the 3rd Tuesday of every month free

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD)

Address: 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California CA, 92037, USA
Tel: +1 858 454 3541
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is well-known for its extensive and controversial collection of contemporary and modern art, and includes sculptures, paintings, photography, prints, drawings and videos. Located within the nearby seaside resort of La Jolla and largely featuring local artists, this gallery contains definitive works representing a range of schools and movements. The breathtaking views are an added bonus, while a second branch is sited within downtown San Diego.
Open hours: Friday to Tuesday - 11:00 to 17:00, Thursday - 11:00 to 19:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors, students and military, children under 12 free

Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA)

Address: 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California CA, 92101, USA
Tel: +1 619 238 7559
One of only a few museums and galleries devoted to photography in San Diego, this venue is home to famous names such as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Paul Strand and Margaret Bourke-White. The Museum of Photographic Arts opened its doors for the first time in 1983 and is also host to many regular temporary exhibitions. Further highlights include a library with in excess of 20,000 volumes, a theater and a classroom.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00 (21:00 on Thursdays)
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and military, children under 12 and members free

Stuart Collection

Address: University of California - San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California CA, 92093, USA
Tel: +1 858 534 2117
The Stuart Collection is located just a short distance to the north of the city center, within the campus of the University of California, next to the Conrad Prebys Music Center and the Roosevelt College. Containing an eclectic and ever-growing number of sculptures by prominent contemporary artists, the Stuart Collection is just a short drive from both the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and La Jolla Underwater Park. Sculptures such as the 'Sun God' and 'Trees' are sure to fire your imagination.
Open hours: 24 hours
Admission: free