Guide to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

SFMOMA includes five curatorial departments, each showcasing different art forms and exhibits. Whether it be well preserved photography from 1839 or a newly commissioned piece from an emerging artist, there’s something for every art lover to appreciate.

Permanent Collections

The SFMOMA's impressive permanent collection is sorted into four groups which are on different floors of the museum.

• German Art after 1960, sixth floor

• Echoes of the 1960s from the Fisher and SFMOMA Collections, fifth floor

• Approaching American Abstraction, fourth floor

• Alexander Calder: Dissonant Harmony, third floor

• Painting and Sculpture, 1900 to Now, second floor

Doris and Donald Fisher Collection

SFMOMA partners with the Fisher Art Foundation, one of the world's largest collections of postwar and contemporary art. The founders of San Francisco-born Gap Inc., Doris and Donald Fisher, began collecting art in the 1970s. Since then, their collection has grown massively and is on constant rotation in SFMOMA. The collection includes works by artists like Andy Warhol, Agnes Martin, Gerhard Richter, and Jenny Holzer and is a must-see when you visit SFMOMA.

The Pritzker Center for Photography

The Pritzker Center for Photography occupies most of SFMOMA's third floor. It is the largest space permanently dedicated to the presentation, study, and interpretation of photography at any art museum in the United States. With pieces from artists like Joe Deal, Simon Norfolk, and Mitch Epstein, there is no better place to experience and learn about photography.

Temporary Exhibitions

Along with their permanent collection, SFMOMA hosts ever-changing temporary exhibits from various artists and collections, and you can see what is on and upcoming here. Current must-sees include Art of Noise on the seventh floor.

Bay Area Walls

SFMOMA hosts a series of topical wall projects by local artists on various floors of the museum. This project is ongoing and is designed to support local artists who are in tune with the community and current moment. These art walls can be viewed on the third and fifth floors of the museum.

Living Wall

SFMOMA’s living wall is one of the largest public living walls in the United States, measuring 4,399 square feet and located on the third floor Pat and Bill Wilson Sculpture Terrace. The wall was designed by David Brenner, Principal and Co-Founder of Habitat Horticulture, and is home to 37 different plant species. Around half of them are native to the Bay Area, ranging all the way from Muir Woods to the East Bay Regional Parks.

Free to See

In addition to their free days and free admission every day for guests 18 and younger, SFMOMA offers 45,000 square feet of art-filled spaces, no ticket required. There are free artworks on the first and second floors (and some surprises just outside).

The museum store, which is located on the first floor of the building, features an array of items related to the museum and its exhibitions. While we know gift shops are near impossible to avoid, this retail therapy can be justified by knowing that every purchase at the shop supports the education programs and exhibitions in the SFMOMA. Shop away!

Museum Hours

Monday - Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday: closed

Thursday: Noon - 8 p.m.

Friday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Visitor entrance is located on both Third Street and Howard Street. 

Admission

Residents with valid Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SNAP or EBT cards can enter SFMOMA at no cost. All visitors need to do is present a benefits card as well as proof of residency on the day of the visit. 

Buy Tickets

Public Transportation

SFMOMA is located nearest the Powell Street and Montgomery Street BART and SF Muni Light Rail stations. Many bus lines have stops within a block of the museum near the intersection of Third and Mission streets, including the 8, 8AX, 8BX, 14, 14R, 15, 30, 45, 91, 101, 130, and 150. The Salesforce Transit Center is only two blocks away.

Parking

SFMOMA’s garage at 147 Minna Street is a short walk from the museum’s entrance on Third Street and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. SFMOMA members receive 25% discount and non-members are offered a 10% discount. Visit the Haas Jr. Atrium on the first floor for parking validation.

SFMOMA is dedicated to creating an accessible environment for all patrons of the museum.

For visitors who are blind or partially-sighted, braille and large-print versions of their visitor guide map are available at the ticketing desk, along with audio guides. Full text transcripts of most audio guides are available for the deaf and hard of hearing. All museum entrances and floors are accessible to visitors using wheeled devices or who have mobility difficulties. SFMOMA has also created a sensory guide for those looking for quiet, less crowded spaces in the museum.

If you would like to learn more about accessibility at SFMOMA, click here.

Please Note: From January 22, 2024–Summer 2024, access to the museum will only be through the entrance at 151 Third Street. No access will be available from the Howard Street side of the building.