San Jose Museum of Art

On my first visit to SJ, the exhibitions were excellent. Unfortunately, there was no bike rack outside, but you can leave your bike inside. I wish I had known in advance that it was the first Thursday of the month. I arrived half an hour early and it would have been nice if the staff had informed me. There's no discount for Bay Area residents.

My husband and I love this place. Large enough to have a good amount of stimulation but small enough to get it done in an hour. The whole thing! They also have a great gift store and cafe on-site. We always look forward to seeing the newest installations!

Incredible works of art throughout the museum and outdoor area. Fun fact it was the original airport in San Jose Highly recommend the mural on the 2nd floor which displays Costa Rican History

For major museums this is quite small. Also I enjoyed the first exhibit that we walked into which had a lot of bright and vibrant art but after that I found much of it pretty forgettable. Also fairly challenging to park there as it's downtown San Jose and there are a variety of parking places however some of them are kind of pricey. Ended up parking on a meter and stayed for less than 3 hours. Shout out to the staff as my wife left a phone there and was able to retrieve it from the nice people there. Overall an enjoyable experience.

Appropriate size and accessible 90 min free parking. The exhibition is great and amiable, close to modern art. The gift shop is a must to go!

San Jose Museum of Art Visited on June 7th, 2024 As a creative individual and an ardent admirer of art, sculpture, and nature, visiting the San Jose Museum of Art was nothing short of a blessing and a delightful experience. From the moment I stepped inside, I was immersed in an inspiring blend of contemporary art, thoughtfully curated exhibits, and breathtaking sculptures. Each piece reflects a unique story, and the museum’s atmosphere ignites creativity and wonder. The museum is beautifully organized, making it easy to explore and appreciate every artwork at your own pace. I found myself particularly drawn to the intricate details of the exhibits, which showcase both established and emerging artists. One of the highlights for me was the gift shop gallery—a haven for art enthusiasts. It offers a wonderful selection of art-inspired stationery, unique books, and artistic keepsakes. As an astrologer, I was thrilled to discover tarot cards and astrology-related books here—a surprising yet delightful addition that felt like a personal touch! Overall, the San Jose Museum of Art is an experience I will cherish. Whether you’re an art lover, a creative soul, or simply looking for inspiration, this place is a must-visit. I left feeling happy, inspired, and already planning my next visit. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates art, culture, and creativity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Level 7 Google Local Guide

Very well curated museum with excellent guided tours.

We had a great time here. It was Chinese New Year's weekend and was too much crowded. Also, there was a dragon dance show, which had a huge line. There is a small cafe inside. Prices are reasonable for all food items (not a lot of options available). It's a good place to bring young children and can spend approximately 2-3 hours here. Weekend entry is free to this museum. Lots of art collections here, attached pics. I will recommend visiting if you are nearby.

Super fun spot to walk around and appreciate art! The exhibits are intentional and the staff were well informed They offered us a free tour of the exhibits Gift shop has a lot of cute items Keep in mind this isn't the BIGGEST museum. It took us less than an hour to walk through the whole thing

stopped by the **San Jose Museum of Art** on a day when admission was **free** (always a nice bonus!), so I figured it was a great time to check it out. While it wasn't exactly my favorite museum experience, there were definitely some **interesting and unique pieces** throughout. The collection leans more toward contemporary, and some of the installations really made me pause and think--which I always appreciate. That said, the space felt a bit **sparse**. The artwork is pretty **spread out**, and at times it felt like there just wasn't that much to see. If you're expecting room after room of dense exhibits, this might feel a little underwhelming. Overall, I'm glad I went--especially for free--but not sure I'd rush back unless there was a specific exhibit that really caught my eye.

I love going to new museums and the first thing I did in San Jose was attend this Museum of Art. It was located right next to the hotel I was staying at so I just walked on over which was just a couple of minutes. The museum is small but it was filled with attentive caring employees. I feel like the setup of the exhibit was nice and interactive. Yes, most displays aren't able to touch them but it feels quite close and very unique. I am sure they do change from time to time so your experience might not be the same as mine. But I believe it is still worth it to check it out and just see what's in here.

Although it is a small museum, they have very interesting exhibits. We were greeted by two docents who took us on a very informative tour of their latest exhibition.

I love the San Jose museum of art!!! I came once last year and then came again yesterday for their free first Friday! I love going to events like these of course for the low cost but they also incorporate fun things, like the live jazz music. The museum may seem small, but there is a lot of cover and all of the pieces are so cool and really intellectually stimulating. I love how unique they are and combine so many different themes to really make you think about things. Staff are also very friendly! The gift shop is also really cute and fun to look around at the trinkets. Definitely check out the music, and they have new installations coming next month which I will totally be back for!

I have walked by the San Jose Museum of Art many times. Since I had some time, I thought I should check it out. I agree with the others that it's not as big as it should be, and on my visit, they were changing the first floor exhibit, so only the second floor was open. There were some elementary school students taking a tour and they were very curious. I'm glad they are getting this kind of experience. She: Are you a student or teacher? Me: Yes, I am a teacher. Scored free entry which was really nice. The work of Kambui Olujimi was very interesting! There was even a video he created about his fascination with gravity. There was also an exhibit called Still in Motion, with various artists. I was there for about 45 minutes. There were some pieces that I gravitated to, and the work was interesting. I walked around the gift shop but didn't buy anything. There's also a cafe which I didn't partake in. Again, it's a great space!

Loved this museum. There is not a lot but the exhibits were very impactful. Coffee shop was closed when we went on a sunday, museum shop was filled with cool stuff for any age and budget. There was an exhibit that showed art more suited for adults, i wish there was a disclaimer somewhere since we brought our 8 and 9 year old. I also wish the descriptions of art came with the artists explanation of what it means. Otherwise it was great, we got through the whole museum in about an hour.

Today I didn't know I was going to do some exercising around the block, and spend as much time as I did in Downtown SJ today. I'm familiar with this neighborhood. I used to actually spend some nights at The GlassHouse SJ Nightclub right next to SJ Museum of Art a decade ago. Today, is going to be about more Fine Art. But to be honest, I think I somewhat like the color theme at Oakland Museum of California more. They had a few peices on display that were slightly odd, bizarre, strange, and looked out of place here. But everything else, was cool. It was nice to meet some people out there that happen to be in the building as well. This is the best of Silicon Valley.

All around fantastic museum experience. To start with, the ticket booth offered every opportunity for a free ticket. The museum is well laid out, and perfect spot for a 2-hour visit. Not overwhelming but not underwhelming either. Bright, open corridors with fantastic artistic exhibits.

I love coming back to the San Jose Museum of Art every now and then to see what's new. All students get free entry, which I used to often take advantage of back in the day! This is comparatively a smaller museum with two floors. You can probably see everything in about 2 hours but they have some pretty fun exhibits once in a while! Would recommend dropping by for a relaxing time!

San Jose Museum was a wonderful experience. I attended their Dia De Los Muertos, it was amazing to see all the culture and art. I really enjoyed the different pieces and how they had activities and craft pop up to celebrate the day. The different art installations that were unique and thought provoking. I enjoyed all the enriching history and immersing myself in the Mexican culture.

The staff here were all universally engaging and courteous. Our docent who led our tour was awesome, she made it super interesting and engaging. I am an avid museumgoer and it was a good trip overall. Why 3 stars you might ask? I am a bleeding liberal but even I found the messaging around borders and immigration over the top.

Cool little spot for art, but a bit small? Not sure, but was expecting something larger for a museum. We had free tickets so I shouldn't complain too much, but when you're done with a museum in less than 30 minutes, then the experience is a bit more on the minimal side. Still, nice layout and art, and very nice gift shop.

The San Jose Museum of Art, is a must see, especially when touring the area. I really enjoyed their "First Friday's" Event, which is FREE!!! That's always a PLUS! This event would be perfect for Date-Night(s), or even something to explore when traveling Solo as well. The ambiance was a "vibe"; quite romantic and serene

It is a small but nice museum in the San Jose Downtown. The good thing is that students get in for free, but even if you pay the adult ticket price, it is still quite low. I have visited it 3 times so far and the exhibitions are always interesting. There is also a stunning chandelier in the hall. The thing I like about this museum is the amazing gift shop! It is full of unique things that can be great gifts. There is also a sale corner where you can get things for up to 70% off.

There was really no art. Went through the galleries in less than a half hour. A whole 1st floor section was closed off and the second floor was sparse. Can see more art in SOFA district. Was rather disappointing.

The San Jose Museum of Art is a lovely exhibit that changes their displays over time. They keep their website updated and include how long an exhibit will be up for. This is very useful and they also include community days where the museum is open to the public for free. I went to their community day for the Chinese New Year two times now and would recommend others to do the same. By visiting during a community day, you can also view the art for free and experience any events or shows they're hosting. However, this year's community day for the Chinese New Year was a mess. Last time I went, the lion dance was held outside but it appears there was construction this year. There also appeared to be more guests than usual. Lately with events there's been a big influx in participants as people are wanting something to do after all the years spent indoors from the start of the pandemic. As a result, I believe the museum was not expecting so many people to attend the shows and could not fit everyone. The max is only 100 people and the lines had already begun before one show came to an end. The lines were also confusing as people created their own so there was no way to know for sure if your line was the one to enter first. There were over five different lines created and security had to handle it and tell people they most likely won't make it inside to see the show. Hopefully next year performances won't be hosted in such a cramped setting. A parking garage is also located right by the museum. I went here with my partner on a Saturday and the parking rates included $12 for the whole day. This isn't bad as some places I've been to charge $20 for a whole day of parking. Overall, the San Jose Museum of Art is the place to be if you enjoy the arts and crafts. There are three levels to the place and they also have a gift shop and a cafe. Some parts of the exhibit feel cramped, but nonetheless it's a great experience by yourself or with someone.

Visited the SJMA for their First Friday event of the new year, free admission after 6pm, open galleries and live music w/ Brian Fitzgerald jazz trio, the cafe and museum store open late too. What's not to love! Sure, it's a small museum with limited parking options downtown. But the fact that they put on events like this is something to appreciate. A couple of the current art exhibits that particularly stood out to me were A Point Stretched: Views on Time (various artists' reflection on time through sculptures, paintings, and digital artwork) and Sky Hopinka: Seeing and Seen. I especially enjoyed the recurring film being played in the dark room, Sunflower Siege Engine, reflecting on the concept of freedom, and portraying images of nature and more in a unique documentary style. I loved the bouncing ball emphasizing the words on screen, as used in sing alongs... nostalgic! The museum also has an interactive Art Learning Lab downstairs, as well as on the main level with the Views on Time exhibit... simple learning lab activities great for kids. The concessions had minimal offerings and accepting cash payments, but better than nothing. And the music was remarkable, the musicians playing a range of tunes for a small audience, on bass, cello, and guitar. Seating didn't seem problematic as guests had the freedom to roam around the galleries as well. Even more impressive, the museum store was one of those quirky gift shops, similar to Therapy or Typo, selling art-related items, but also random books, games, kitchenware, jewelry, and all kinds of knickknacks, perfect for gift-giving or souvenirs. This store would be cool on its own, even without the museum! Needless to say, SJMA is worth checking out, especially on free event days.

Kids are free and I got in free too since I showed them my membership to the Tech museum. First time here. The staff was very friendly up front and we slowly walked through the exhibits. The kids liked looking at the sculptures and paintings. I got educated by reading things and seeing the main artist attraction. The place was clean. The museum store had cool Knick knacks. I was interested in the cafeteria. The prices of the coffee was reasonable as well as the food. This could be a potential for me in the future for coffee and lunch!!!

I was fortunate enough to be able to work from home during the pandemic. What did I do in my spare time after work and community service work? I enrolled back to school. Little did we know the supply chain produced so much stress and longer working hours yet still I continued on because I knew my end goal is not this. I took art appreciation before but dropped the class. I was terrified because I knew this subject is something I was never intrigued by. That all changed this semester. The class is not just about textbook work, the class incorporated virtual museum visits, actual museum visits, textbook reading, videos, our own drawing/sketches, and many more. I have formed a deeper appreciation toward art and the community. Students get to enter for free. All you will need is a school identification card or anything that staff can use to verify that you are a student. I had my Canvas app and showed her my current classes. Gavin was able to get in for free, too. The first floor was closed because they were building a new exhibit during our visit. We were able to explore the second floor and basement though. You will need at least 2hrs if you are viewing every piece and reading its placard. I learned that the curators are the ones responsible for selecting the pieces for display. There is no theme per se but the first turn we went screamed, "San Jose." It was art pieces from all walks of life, made from all sorts of medium. That's us! We are a melting pot, full of diversity and different/unique ideas and interpretations. It's amazing how much history is here yet I never visited. Well, the last time I came here was when I was in elementary school, almost 30 years ago. There is a gift shop and no food or drinks. We had a hydro flask and had to check it. What a wonderful experience. I earned a 105/100 on that essay.

I came with my students and was unaware of the group policy of letting them know in advance. I do not have any issues with following the rules and gladly followed them. I do have an issue with how the lady, who I believe is probably a manager, talked to me, especially in front of my staff and students. She was extremely rude and disrespectful. She was very unprofessional. I have brought students here before and brought more again cause of how good other experiences were. I do not intend to bring students again after being publicly disrespected.

Attended the Museum Gala Fundraiser and Auction Event last Saturday as the guest of Board President and Event co- chair. The museum was open to explore throughout the evening and exploring the space and exhibits was a highlight.The whimsical and adorably irreverent Nuts and WHO's exhibit on the ground floor was my favorite and I was very drawn to the frog pieces in particular. Staff was friendly knowledgeable. The event itself was spectacular , especially hearing the inspirational personal stories from artist event honorees and award winners. The space is built upon part of downtown San Jose that is built on Mewekma Ohlone tribal historical ancestry which was acknowledged. A very special evening. The after party with DJ Chuy was fabulous. This is clearly a very connected community who appreciate and take care of the space. I was so impressed that after leaving my cell phone in the museum at the after party ( having had one too many drinks and mistaking my light up disco ring as my cell phone - and thinking it was in my tiny purse, when it was, unfortunately staying overnight at the museum. I left a message and was able to retrieve it as soon as the museum opened ( 11 am on Sunday morning). The space, the staff - such a great venue for a party. I will be back soon!

Deceptively large museum with some gorgeous permanent collections and truly unique rotating ones. Definitely worth checking it out, as a tourist or appreciator of art. There's a small cafe with great coffee and the gift shop is chock full of tons of great gifts and cool and beautiful things. Decent selection of books available and you can catch some truly epic sales on occasion too. I was there when one of the major exhibits was being turned over so a large portion of the museum was closed and there was still more than enough to look at. The building itself is also a must-see for restoration architects; it's the original San Jose post office, restored and added on to, to be used as the city's modern art museum.

wonderful place to experience contemporary and modern art. The exhibits are well-curated, featuring both local and international artists. The museum isn't too large, so it's easy to explore in a couple of hours. The staff is friendly, and the gift shop has unique items. It's a cultural gem in the heart of the city.

Wow is that Vietnamese?!?! Am I not the minority in this city?!?! I might be biased but I love the San Jose Museum of the Art. All of the signs and descriptions came in English, Spanish AND VIETNAMESE! I'm so amazed. This cute museum is in the Downtown San Jose area along with other fun places to check out. Admission was only $10/general admission. They have plenty of discounts and promotions, but I thought this was an awesome rate as is. They are currently redoing their 2nd level and even kindly offered me a complimentary ticket to come back another day when their 2nd level is available to visit. So nice! This museum is quaint, but of the items displayed, I really appreciated the art and had a great time visiting during my trip to the area. I know their exhibits change, so I would love to come back if opportunity presents itself in the future. Highly recommended if you are in the area and would like to enrich yourself in some art and culture.

Absolute waste of time and money. Empty museum, low-quality art. Avoid. Best to drive to SF.

Small but contented museum in the center of silicon valley! I visited here by accident but it was absolutely worth of time.

This is a great place to spend the afternoon exploring. I love that the admission price is reasonable. They carry different artists with unique styles. Many different mediums are used and displayed as well!

"Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."―Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park Art museum located in the heart of DTSJ in a historic building that once housed the post office and a library. They just celebrated their 50th anniversary last year (2019) and is a must-visit for art lovers. This isn't a huge art museum but what it lacks in size it makes-up for in quality. The displays are constantly rotating thru so its not really fair to judge them on any given day--as it is art and art is relative and personal. What may excite you one day, may bore you the next. The admission price ($10 adults/$8 seniors) is very reasonable and they offer lots of free admission for teachers, students, children and BofA card holders. I would estimate to give yourself a good two hours to check out all the exhibits and that's well-worth $5/hr.

Dive into a different way of seeing the world. The historic building which houses a portion of the museum was originally a post office in the late 1800s then transformed into a library before it metamorphosed into an art gallery. Its current manifestation as a museum serves as center for the unexpected where local and international artists show their work. The space has grown considerably after a new wing was added in 1991. There is much more space now to show some fantastic funky art. Yes, the fun of a modern art museum is never knowing how you will be challenged in your view of the world. The museum board and powers that be have done a great job showcasing unusual exhibitions. I've always enjoyed my visits to the museum. Every experience is a vicarious romp through the eyes of the artists.

Small, but size doesn't matter. I hope. San Jose Museum of Art is a gem. It isn't huge, ok, it's small for such a large city, but the hit to miss ratio of art was high, and it never feels crowded. I especially loved the exhibit on Vietnam- in fact, Dinh Q. Le: True Journey is Return (the largest solo exhibition in the United States) was one of the best installations I have experienced: a mind-boggling collection of intimate, priceless black and white photos left behind by Vietnamese people, many with written commentary of the time or from later interviews, pieced together into mammoth, see-through cubes, alternating between text and photo like a checkerboard so that you would have to contort from other angles to get both story and photo- otherwise, each photo was a mystery to solve. There were also some great watercolors, some cool installations (see pictures) including Ice Queen (a woman standing at night in slowly melting high heels made of ice), images of Lady Liberty from a TV in a puddle of metaphoric blood, and strange and unwearable, modernly medieval dresses. Great location (downtown), worthy gift shop, and plenty of docents. Best of all, starting March 2019, teachers get in free, and Facebook First Fridays (also free) is the most fun way to experience the museum: with a live DJ at night.

I absolutely love coming here. Free for students and only a short walk from San Jose State University- right downtown in SJ. Fun weekend activity for anyone looking to look at some dope art. Free jazz every first Friday of the month as well- super worth checking out. Their rotating exhibits make the museum a brand new experience every time you visit.

I vIsited San Jose Museum of Art for First Friday, so entrance was free. Long story short, I enjoyed my visit, but felt some things could've been done better even at the price of free. The museum is kind of small. There's only 2 floors. Downstairs had this whole Break + Bleed exhibition going on when I visited and a pretty interesting 23 min long movie called Factory of the Sun. Upstairs, there was a 3 room exhibition of Our Whole, Unruly Selves. They had a pretty neat collection of art with artists I'd seen at other museums such as BAMPFA. Sometimes, the tags for art were kind of confusing as to which piece of art they were referring to. The free jazz music was FANTASTIC. 5 stars. The band was very good. Parking was fine. I found street parking about a 10 minute walk away. This museum would be good for an afternoon activity if you live in San Jose. Otherwise, I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to just visit.

Unique exhibits, including mixed media, from local and statewide artists. Friendly staff, clean, offers a cafe, and allows non-flash photos. Very affordable. If an area is closed off to install a new exhibit, they provide non-expiring free passes to return in the future. Only downside is it's small so not as much to see as the LACMA for example.

Came here first-time as a SJ local. 3 stars if it was free admission. But 1 star for the quality with a paid ticket. - The interior in the gallery is not particularly aesthetic or creative. The lighting is of a warm tone, but doesn't add any aesthetic value to the showroom. As an art museum, I definitely have higher standards for the interior design to be interesting or thoughtful. Aesthetic & design wise, it's a meh. -The only decor I find photo-worthy is the glass chandelier-shaped artwork hanging on the ceilings. They come in red, yellow, and blue & are quite beautiful - The artworks in the gallery are just okay. Nothing impressive, nothing striking or visually stimulating. Quality & quantity of the exhibit is average. I definitely think as a cultured & well-developed city San Jose is, this place can be better used & maintained. - Museum store sells random & irrelevant decors, toys, even inspirational quotes on paintings--those you find at Target or Marshalls. The store almost feels commercialized, with products completely irrelevant to the museum. Also the store is very unorganized, with racks of cheap looking jewelery and photo stands scattering around. This is so disappointing!! My one star is for the museum store. - 2 story with a basement. 2nd floor was under construction. There's basically very few things to see on the 2nd floor. They can make use of the space better. For the price that they charge, I finished the museum within 8 minutes. - After visiting SFMOMA, De Young, etc., this place just does not compare.

Considering that San Jose is the tenth most populous city in the nation, I guess I would have expected more from this museum starting with the size. Its gallery space takes up 17,000 square feet, which sounds like a lot until you notice the Phoenix Art Museum is 285,000 square feet (review: http://bit.ly/2HwkJWo) and even SF MoMA is 170,000 square feet (review: http://bit.ly/2J3UKac). Not that I'm a size fanatic, but for a $10 admission, I frankly would have expected to see more. The focus appeared mainly to be contemporary California art which is understandable since they don't have room for much else. Gee, did I mention it felt small? When I visited, the upstairs had an exhibition that just closed from The Propeller Group, which showcased art and media presentations inspired by Vietnam (photo: http://bit.ly/2GEjozW) as well as a large public mural by graffiti artist El Mac. The major exhibit that continues to run until next month consisted of paintings by Raimonds Staprans whose still lifes and landscapes were a dead ringer for Wayne Thiebaud's more famous work (photo: http://bit.ly/2uvSnKb). There was a small gallery devoted to early 20th-century etchings from artists like Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood, and that was basically it beside the cafe and gift shop. I was in and out of there in a half-hour.

Attend the First Friday events hosted by Facebook where the museum is open late for attendees to visit the art installations and exhibits. In order to secure some free tickets you have to watch out for Facebook events and these should come up if you search for museum visits. There is a DJ and a open cash bar in the event. We saw several exhibits that night ranging from textil e designs. Recycled materials breaths second life into art sculptures and insTaLlation. Digital art with the message of almost human. Immersive art that brings u back to American histories shameful past with segregation, war and concentration camps. Overall the entire exhibit intersections or historical connections from past and fUture for humanity. It was eye opening and message driven.... summing an incredible museum visit.

The Parking lot is right across the front of the mUseum . They also have a gift shop and little coffee shop on the 1st floor . There were 3 floors with exhibits that had lots to discover and admire . I enjoyed the freE flowing structure of each exhibit . Can't wait to come back to see what other exhibits they add .

I've been to this location and it's various incarnations before. I remember when it was a library back in the 60s. Since the 70s, it's been a modest museum. I was born in San José and lived there for more than 50 years. Today, I live in Fort Worth. Though San José has better weather, beautiful mountains and is an hour away from great beaches (and San Francisco). One thing I must admit that Fort Worth has that San José lacks, are great art museums. Within a five minute walk of each other in Fort Worth's Art District are the Kimbell, Modern and Amon Carter Art Museums (plus a few more museums). All are fantastic and offer free admission. Amazing. Should San José be so endowed.

I like this museum of art because I'm a casual art appreciator. I'm not into things I don't understand or are too abstract for my non artsy mind. While there are definitely things at this museum that I don't understand or appreciate, it's still very consumable for the everyday person. With that being said, I've seen some exhibits here that blew me away. There are some things that are just plain beautiful and things that also made me think or taught me something. There are three floors so you aren't overwhelmed with exhibits. But there is plenty to keep you occupied for an evening of fun. Facebook sponsors the first Friday of each month. There is a DJ and bartenders and admission is complementary. They have a phenomenal gift shop. If you're looking for a different type of gift or someone who is hard to buy for, hit up the gift shop and you're sure to find something great. There is a small cafe too so if you happen to need a bite to eat before/after, you're set.

Everyone so far has mentioned the size of this museum being on the smaller side, so I'll skip over that point altogether to say don't judge a book by its cover (or size). You can tell everyone that works there is very knowledgeable and very passionate about art. Two workers came up to me as I was looking around to have a conversation about the pieces, how I felt about it etc. It made for some really good conversations and an overall more meaningful experience of the artworks. I went on a Wednesday afternoon however, so perhaps it not being too busy made for a better experience too. Artwork itself was also very interesting. I'd only seriously looked at two exhibits but again, one can clearly see the effort made in organizing and curating the works. Overall I'd recommend visiting!

I have been a member of and visited the San Jose Museum of Art over the past 25 years. At one point, I was invited to be a docent there. And, I've served on art museum boards and volunteered on a number of museums' committees. All of this is to say I have had a lot of experience with this museum and with art museums in general (which goes back much farther than 25 years on the East as well as West coasts and internationally) and I'm a practicing artist; so I get art. Historically, in the past, the SJMA was a very nice place to visit. Staff were always pleasant, helpful and - not infrequently - knowledgeable about and interested in the art they were "guarding" in the galleries. Often eager to chat about what they liked and what we as visitors liked too. Today was very very different. Based on today's experience I'd assume the tenor of the museum has radically changed and I'd suggest that you'd do better to find your cultural experiences elsewhere. Don't bother going to the SJMA. On the 1st floor - in the Jean Conner Collages exhibition - not a single 'guard/staff person' found it reasonable to ask a long line of people winding their way through the gallery in a queue to somewhere to step away from the wall where all the collages were hung. People were literally inches from the collages wall and blocking those of us who wanted to see the art & had to repeatedly ask the line standers in front of each work of art if we could pls squeeze in to look at it. On the 2nd floor - in the odd Formations exhibition - it was the exact opposite experience. Strange artworks were laid out on largish round pods in the center of the floor in the central gallery. As visitors approached the pods and walked over to look at the art, an extremely aggressive and fresh male staff member (long dark hair & glasses) would storm over and in a belligerent voice tell visitors (members & non-members alike) to step back as if we were there to destroy or touch the art; which clearly no one was trying to do. Everyone he did this to looked startled, abashed and immediately backed away from the art and left the gallery. I observed this with at least 5 other people and then he did it to me too. It completely ruined my experience and visit. No one (including me) was anywhere near the art, yet he said we had to stand 3-5' away from the edges of the pods even though there were no markings on the floor indicating that. I can only presume the artist felt it would be like a 'performance art' experience (to match the odd art??) to have an aggressive "guard" embarrassing and verbally accosting museum visitors in an ungentle, unfriendly way ... to see how they reacted. That's not my kind of art experience! Art is supposed to be engaging. If an artist and museum don't want their audiences anywhere near their art (either b/c some people are allowed to lounge against it on one floor and prevent those who came specifically to see it from doing so & others are chased away on another floor for walking over to see what odd thing awaited on another pod) that doesn't seem to sync with what art museums should be trying to accomplish. Either in terms of promoting culture or in terms of promoting the democratization and appreciation of art by more people. There are great museums that are really worth your time to visit in San Fran, Oakland, Berkeley, not to mention L.A. - go check them out instead. You'll even find that some of the smaller, more specialized museums & galleries in San Jose are better places to visit than what the current SJMA has become.

This museum was aight. We got free passes through my work and parked for $12, which allowed my friend and I to walk around Christmas at the park, get coffee at the local Philz. They have ice skating right next to it so that'd be cool but other than that going here just for the museum wasn't worth it for me because of how little there was.

Collage exhibit was interesting and I enjoyed seeing the eclectic art created there.. Other than that our visit was a flop. The staff is very rude. Do not interact with a man with long brown frizzy hair. He followed me around as if I was trying to steal art. I had an empty stainless steel water bottle and he was very rude telling me that it needed to be checked in. It was IN my purse with just the top sticking out - and empty. I'm not checking in a water bottle. The front desk told me it was ok if it was in my purse. Then my friend threw it in her purse and he was fine with that. Very odd. But then he followed us through your the small museum for 30 min. I felt awkward the entire time. I am a POC and my friend is Caucasian and she was allowed to have it in her purse. But not me. I hope the management sees this and makes sure it doesn't happen again. I am a Art Historian and frequent museums. This was not a normal experience.

Boring modern art, boring displays, overly political at times, nothing new to be said. Just overall boring. No displays that will stand out. I do prefer art that tends to be seen as everyone as "beautiful." Modern is nice, but it seems dull to find things without any display of skill or thought whatsoever. Sometimes reading the plaque adds value to the art or explains the story behind it. But this museum generally is just very underwhelming. I'm not sure what it contributes to the art scene or why it is here. The overall consensus from my friends and family is "underwhelming." Nobody I know who's gone here once comes back. Because there's Berkeley, there's San Francisco, there's the Tech Museum, there's SoCal.

Yesterday a good friend and I came here for a free Chinese New Years celebration event. I only came here once before for a yelp event years ago. I remembered the gorgeous glass chandeliers by my favorite artist, Chihuly there. As for the event, the tickets were free. You just needed to print them out or wait in line to get them. Anyways, the whole process was very confusing, so I gave up on it. I did email someone who worked there and she got back to me right away and she told me that tickets could no longer be printed out so we'd have to wait in line. OK, so why not just state that on the site then? Weird! Anyways, my fried and I got there before noon and the line wasn't to bad then, so we got in just fine. The event lasted until 4p.m. We got a flier for the times and events that were going for the day when we got there. The main event which was the dragon parade outside was really cool. The performers were jumping up and down and interacting a lot with the crowd. They all let the little kids there pet them. I loved how they batted their eyes one second, and the next they looked angry or happy, lol. When the parade ended, all of the dragons stayed behind to take pictures with people. People who wanted their pic taken had to wait in line for their turn. The line wasn't to long. Most of the people there left after the show ended. We both had a lot of fun there. The art work inside is just OK. I wouldn't go back there just for the art. I'd strongly suggest taking public transit or Uber there as parking is hard to find in downtown S.J. Any public parking that you'll manage to find there will probably cost you around $10 or more per hour.

Love the museum! So much to see! Love the uniques and recognition of local artists! I also love the companies and organizations that support the museum! It is a great place to be by SJSU. Draws people from all over!

Came to the San Jose Museum of Art specifically to see the William Wegman exhibit (you know the guy with the Weimaraner dogs). We enjoyed the special exhibit and the story behind the art but there was only one room of his work on display and outside of that room at least a third of museum was under wraps for new incoming exhibits. This made a small museum minuscule and not really worth the drive from Oakland. They did give us free passes to come back, and suggested March when the new installations would be in. It is a lovely building but what is available at this time is not worth a visit. I was also surprised the museum store was not carrying any prints of any of the art. By all means if you are in the area visit (there is an ice skating rink in the court yard) but this misses as a destination.

First weekend of the month meant BofA Museums on Us. The museum was small and I was able to browse through it quickly. The main pieces of interest for me were Dale Chihuly's chandeliers in red, yellow and turquoise found at the entrance.