San Diego Museum of Art celebrates 100 years
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The Fine Arts Gallery being constructed in 1925 and the SDMA in 2026. Photos: Courtesy The San Diego Museum of Art
The San Diego Museum of Art turns 100 next month, and it's celebrating its history and legacy with special exhibitions and a birthday party.
The big picture: The city-owned Fine Arts Gallery opened on Feb. 28, 1926, in Balboa Park as San Diego's first art museum, and it's been a cultural landmark since. The institution was renamed the San Diego Museum of Art in 1978.
- The museum's collection has grown to more than 35,000 items from around the world, including art dating back to 3,000 B.C., and works by artists like Monet and O'Keeffe.
- About 500,000 people visit each year, and more see SDMA's collection as pieces travel to museums all over the world.
Driving the news: The centennial exhibition "SDMA 100 Years" opens Saturday, Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 7, 2027. It takes visitors back in time through photographs, memorabilia and film footage of key moments in the museum's history.
- "Local Visions: Reimagining the Façade" features local artists' interpretations of the iconic Spanish Colonial Revival building. It's open now through July 26.
- "Cafes and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec" runs April 4-Sept. 20. It's the largest collection of the painter's work outside of France, deputy director for curatorial affairs Anita Feldman told Axios.
- "Forging a Legacy: 15 Years of Landmark Acquisitions" (May 16-Sept. 7) celebrates major works added to the museum's permanent collection.
What they're saying: "People are going to be surprised by the quality of the art that's been acquired and the range," Feldman said.
🎉 The museum will be free and open late for its birthday fest on Feb. 28 with live music, art-making, a cake tasting and more activities.
Pro tips: Extend your visit with food and drinks at Panama 66, in the family-friendly sculpture garden of the museum.
- Admission is free on the third Tuesday (for locals) and second Thursday of each month.
What's next: The museum is fundraising for the renovation of its west wing, which will double the exhibition space, add two stories below ground for galleries and archives and expand dining, event space and parking.
- Visitors can see models of what the space will look like in an ongoing exhibit.
- The museum expects to break ground on the new wing in 2027.