Get this—an art museum that isn’t boring. Actually it’s sensational.
A popular destination within Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum of Art provides a striking array of entrancing artwork. Every floor of each room profoundly characterizes a new culture, mode and experience for the viewer as the works in the museum span from Oceania and Africa to Native American and modern American styles.
Viewers will be surprised not only at the range of artwork, but also at the innovative and ingenious design of many pieces that fill all three floors of the de Young. For example, on the first floor there is a display of colorful, intricately shaped and elaborately painted sculptures. The sculptures are all beautiful on their own, however, once one realizes that these sculptures are actually teapots, one will truly appreciate the artistic insight and spirit needed to envision and create such masterpieces.
The spacious and contemporary design of the museum outlined by Pritzer Prize-winning architects Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog allows visitors to savor the over 25,000 pieces of art without a sense of suffocation. De Young’s truly astounding and creative collections will grip all viewers, whether one is an art newcomer or enthusiast.
The featured exhibition within de Young as of now until Sunday, April 5 is a special display tracing the tremendous fashion contributions renowned designer Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) has made through his career since 1960. The YSL exhibition showcases Saint Laurent’s personality, inspiration and fashion-forward fundamentals mainly by a fantastic array of nearly 130 accessorized, high fashion garments—all which not only demonstrate his expertise but also his originality.
The de Young’s choice to present fashion as its central exhibition exemplifies its diverse and modern interpretation of art. From photographs, sculptures, textiles, artifacts, sketches and paintings of almost every kind, the de Young’s diverse variety will have all guests (despite any pre-conceived notions that art is dull) giving their highest praise and recommendations to this facility.
Also, be sure to check out the Observation Floor on the ninth floor of the de Young’s tower, which bestows a breathtaking 360-degree view of Golden Gate Park, the city itself and the Bay. A destination for sight-seers across San Francisco, the view is truly spectacular.
The cost of student admission is $6 to the de Young, however, there is an additional charge of $10 to see the YSL exhibition. The museum is open every day of the week except Monday. Typically, the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., but on Fridays the museum extends its hours until 8:45 p.m. because of special activities they sometimes hold that day. For upcoming activities, performances, celebrations and art discussions on these Fridays, visit www.deyoungmuseum.org or call (415) 750-7694.