Asian Art Museum (San Francisco)

Asian Art Museum (San Francisco). The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is a premier institution dedicated to the arts and cultures of Asia, housing one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the world. Founded in 1966, the museum moved to its current home in the former San Francisco Main Library building at Civic Center in 2003 following a transformative renovation. Under the leadership of director Jay Xu, it serves as a dynamic cultural hub, presenting a wide array of exhibitions, scholarly research, and public programs that explore over 6,000 years of artistic achievement.

History

The museum's origins trace back to a transformative 1959 donation by Chicago industrialist Avery Brundage to the city of San Francisco. Brundage, a former president of the International Olympic Committee, pledged his extensive personal collection of Asian art, contingent on the city providing a suitable permanent home. This gift led to the museum's establishment in 1966 as a wing of the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park. Seeking greater visibility and space, the institution embarked on a major relocation project in the 1990s. It selected the historic 1917 San Francisco Main Library building, commissioning Italian architect Gae Aulenti—known for her work on the Musée d'Orsay—to lead the adaptive reuse. The redesigned museum opened at its new Civic Center address in March 2003, significantly expanding its capacity for exhibitions and public engagement.

Collection

The museum's permanent collection, which has grown to approximately 18,000 objects, spans the artistic traditions of nearly every major Asian culture. Strengths include seminal works from China, Japan, Korea, India, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. Notable masterpieces include the oldest known Chinese statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, dating to 338 CE, and an extensive assemblage of Japanese Buddhist art. The collection features exceptional holdings in Chinese jade, Korean ceramics, South Asian sculpture, and Persian miniature painting. The Avery Brundage Collection remains a foundational core, supplemented by subsequent acquisitions and donations from patrons like Chong-Moon Lee. The museum's Osher Sculpture Garden displays contemporary works in dialogue with historical themes.

Building and architecture

The museum occupies the beaux-arts structure originally designed by George Kelham for the San Francisco Main Library. The landmark building's historic facade on Fulton Street was preserved, while the interior was completely reimagined by Gae Aulenti. Her design created a soaring, light-filled atrium and added a dramatic, glass-walled staircase, modernizing the space while respecting its classical shell. A new wing on Hyde Street provides additional gallery space, and the top floor features the Hambrecht Gallery for special exhibitions. The building's layout facilitates a chronological and geographical journey through Asian art, with galleries organized by region and culture across three floors, encompassing over 40,000 square feet of exhibition space.

Exhibitions and programs

The museum organizes a robust schedule of temporary exhibitions, ranging from scholarly deep dives into specific traditions to large-scale contemporary shows. Notable past exhibitions have included "Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms" and "Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia." It actively commissions new works from artists like Takashi Murakami and Xu Bing, fostering dialogue between past and present. Public programs include lectures by scholars such as Jan Stuart, conservation demonstrations, family festivals, and performances of traditional music and dance. The museum also hosts the annual "Bollywood Bash" and offers extensive educational resources for San Francisco Unified School District students.

Governance and funding

The museum is governed by a board of trustees and operates as a non-profit organization in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department. Major operational support comes from the City and County of San Francisco, while exhibitions and programs are funded through private donations, grants, and membership. Key support has come from foundations like the Henry Luce Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, as well as major individual benefactors. Director Jay Xu, the first Chinese-American director of a major U.S. art museum, has overseen significant fundraising campaigns, including the "Project China" initiative to expand the museum's renowned Chinese galleries. The museum's endowment is managed to ensure long-term sustainability and accessibility.