Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in the United States, with a collection of over 18,000 artworks from Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas. The museum was founded by Avery Brundage, a Chicago businessman and art collector, who donated his extensive collection of Asian art to the City of San Francisco in 1959, with the support of Nelson Rockefeller and John D. Rockefeller III. The museum's collection includes works by famous artists such as Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, and Wu Guanzhong, as well as ceramics from the Qing dynasty and sculptures from the Gandhara region. The museum is also affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley and the California College of the Arts.

● History

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco was established in 1966, with Avery Brundage as its first president, and has since become a leading institution in the field of Asian art, with a collection that spans over 6,000 years of history, from the Neolithic period to the present day, including works from the Ming dynasty, the Qing dynasty, and the Meiji period. The museum's early years were marked by the support of prominent philanthropists such as Henry R. Luce and John D. Rockefeller III, who helped to establish the museum as a major center for the study and appreciation of Asian art, with collaborations with institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum. The museum has also been recognized for its innovative exhibitions and programs, which have included collaborations with artists such as Ai Weiwei, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Shen Wei, as well as curators from the National Palace Museum and the Tokyo National Museum. The museum's collection has also been enhanced by donations from prominent collectors such as Robert Hatfield Ellsworth and Richard Gray.

● Collections

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has a diverse collection of over 18,000 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and jade carvings, with a focus on the arts of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, including works from the Tang dynasty, the Song dynasty, and the Ming dynasty. The museum's collection of Chinese art includes works by famous artists such as Wu Guanzhong and Qi Baishi, as well as ceramics from the Qing dynasty and sculptures from the Gandhara region, with examples from the Dunhuang Caves and the Longmen Grottoes. The museum's collection of Japanese art includes works by famous artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, as well as woodblock prints from the Edo period and samurai armor from the Tokugawa shogunate, with examples from the Tokyo National Museum and the Kyoto National Museum. The museum's collection of Korean art includes works by famous artists such as Kim Hong-do and Shin Saimdang, as well as ceramics from the Joseon dynasty and sculptures from the Goryeo dynasty, with examples from the National Museum of Korea and the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art.

● Architecture

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is located in the Civic Center of San Francisco, in a building designed by Gae Aulenti and HOK, with a garden designed by Landscape architect Katherine Field, and a theater designed by Theater designer Dakin Hart, with inspiration from the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. The museum's building is a landmark in the Civic Center and has been recognized for its innovative design, which incorporates elements of Asian architecture and gardens, with examples from the Summer Palace and the Imperial Palace. The museum's garden is a popular destination for visitors and features a variety of plants and trees from Asia, including bamboo and cherry blossoms, with examples from the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the Koishikawa Korakuen Garden.

● Exhibitions

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has a diverse range of exhibitions throughout the year, featuring works from its permanent collection as well as loan exhibitions from other museums and collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the National Palace Museum. The museum's exhibitions have included works by famous artists such as Ai Weiwei, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Shen Wei, as well as thematic exhibitions on topics such as Buddhist art, Chinese ceramics, and Japanese woodblock prints, with examples from the Dunhuang Caves and the Longmen Grottoes. The museum has also hosted exhibitions on contemporary art from Asia, featuring works by artists such as Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama, with examples from the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea.

● Education and Programs

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco offers a range of education and programs for visitors of all ages, including guided tours, workshops, and lectures, with collaborations with institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley and the California College of the Arts. The museum's education programs are designed to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of Asian art and culture, with a focus on the arts of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, including works from the Tang dynasty, the Song dynasty, and the Ming dynasty. The museum also offers programs for schools and community groups, including outreach programs and partnerships with local organizations, such as the San Francisco Unified School District and the Asian Art Museum's Docent Council.

● Governance and Funding

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is a non-profit organization governed by a board of trustees, which includes prominent business leaders, philanthropists, and art collectors, such as Ronald Conway and Sandra R. Hernandez, with support from institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum is funded by a combination of public and private sources, including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as well as donations from individuals and foundations, such as the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Fleishhacker Foundation. The museum also receives support from corporate sponsors, such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo, with partnerships with institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the de Young Museum. Category:Art museums in the United States