The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, or SFMOMA, is a modern and contemporary art museum at 151 Third Street in the SoMa district. Seven gallery floors bring together painting, sculpture, photography, design and media art, with works by artists including Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse and Jackson Pollock. Look beyond the galleries, too: the building has a large living wall and outdoor terraces. With rotating exhibitions and places to sit between floors, you can shape the visit around the artists and mediums that interest you.
A museum devoted to modern art
SFMOMA opened in 1935 as the first museum on the West Coast devoted to 20th-century art. Its collection has since grown to include modern and contemporary work across painting, sculpture, photography, architecture and design, and media arts. The museum holds more than 30,000 works, though only part of the collection is on view at any one time.
The museum is at 151 Third Street in SoMa, near Yerba Buena Gardens. It moved to its present site in 1995, and a major expansion designed by Snøhetta opened in 2016. The expansion added gallery and public space to the existing building, which was designed by Mario Botta.
What to look for inside
The galleries span seven floors, with works by artists such as Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder. The collection includes photographs, paintings, sculptures and design, so you can move between mediums as you explore. SFMOMA has a notable photography collection and was among the early American museums to treat photography as an art form.
Temporary exhibitions change over time, so check what is on view before choosing where to spend most of your visit. The museum also holds events and screenings. Docents can offer context on works in the galleries, and benches provide places to pause as you make your way between floors.
Architecture, terraces and public spaces
The building combines Botta’s 1995 museum with the later Snøhetta expansion. Glass, a sculptural staircase and an oculus are among the architectural details described in the expanded building. Outdoor terraces and a sculpture garden connect the museum to open-air spaces, while a large wall planted with native species brings greenery onto the building’s exterior.
You do not need to spend the entire visit in the ticketed galleries. SFMOMA has art-filled public spaces on the ground floor that are free to access. The museum also has a cafe, restaurant, theater and shops, giving you options for a break or a look at artist projects and museum merchandise.
Perguntas frequentes
How long should you spend at SFMOMA?
Allow at least two hours to see the galleries. Visitors with a strong interest in art could spend a full day.
What can you see at SFMOMA?
The seven gallery floors include modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, architecture and design, and media art. The collection includes works by artists such as Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock.
Does SFMOMA have free areas?
Yes. The museum has art-filled public spaces on the ground floor that are free to access.
Is SFMOMA accessible?
The museum has wheelchair-accessible entrances, elevators, restrooms and parking.
