San Francisco, CA

If you want to get a sense of the creative spirit of San Francisco, you really only need to step outside. It’s in the air. But if you’re seeking something a bit more organized or focused, there are a number of places that you can go to see San Francisco’s artwork. Here are nine choices that you might consider checking out:

1. 111 Minna – This SoMA gallery has some sort of event going on nightly. You can see art while checking out DJs, fashion parties and magazine launches.
2. Cartoon Art Museum – Come on, San Francisco has a cartoon museum; why wouldn’t you go check it out?
3. Clarion Alley in The Mission – This is an actual alley located in the Mission neighborhood. It’s got a changing array of murals and you can often see people working on their art. It’s beautiful and interesting and interactive and wonderful.
4. DeYoung Museum – Located inside of he massively beautiful Golden Gate Park, this museum has all sorts of different stuff going on during different times of the year. Friday nights feature special events at a lower price if you want to see some of the gallery without paying for it all.
5. FLOAT – Well, this one is over in the East Bay but it’s worth noting. It’s actually a flotation center where you can go to immerse yourself in relaxation but there’s a gallery there as well.
6. Gallery 444 – For a smaller art gallery that has some beautiful paintings, this is a good choice.
7. SF Camerawork – This is a non-profit gallery that supports the work of local artists.
8. SFMoMA – There’s a reason that people go check out San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. It’s an amazing art space that has changing exhibits and a lot going on. You can see it for free on the first Wednesday of every month. Or simply go check out the bookstore and the building itself since there’s no charge to do that and it’s pretty neat.
9. Space Gallery – It’s as much a bar as it is an art space and there’s always something interesting going on.