Seattle Asian Art Museum

free entry first thursday of the month! great smaller museum with a variety of exhibits in a gorgeous space, could get through in about 1-2 hours depending on how deeply you like to ponder and start at the art. also a nice little viewpoint where you can see the space needle across from the museum. can bundle this in with a stroll around volunteer park or a visit to the uw japanese garden (also free first thursdays) nearishby

My first time. Beautiful place, located in a large park. Free parking is along the lanes surrounding the building. Smaller venue so you can see everything in one visit (2-3 hours). I took the 11:30am docent tour that covered the main exhibit area (there's also a 1:30pm). I went to see the fabric artist Suchitra Mattei's work but it was tucked away in the back and not easy to find as there are no signs or maps. There is a ticket desk but there was a line. Would be an improvement to provide some basic info like a site map for those visiting for the first time. There's a gift shop but no cafe. I was told there was a canteen with coffee on the park grounds but I didn't see one.

Well organized collection. Different than other museums grouping similar objects from diverse places together versus strictly by age or origin. Beautiful building is a real plus as is its location.

Revisit here after almost 25 years. A quiet artistic atmosphere makes this museum so unique.

Should be on your top 5 list when you visit Seattle. Stunning Asian art collection, excellent travelling shows, beautiful Art Deco building. Surrounded by the magnificent, towering trees of Volunteer Park.

A nice museum dedicated to Asian art. There are a collection of religious artefacts from Buddhism and Hinduism, a collection of pottery from Korea, and other various artifacts and artwork, mostly from China, Japan, Korea, and India. The building is also has character, although it doesn't look so from the outside. You can buy tickets at the counter, although the prices are only suggested values, meaning you can pay less if you can't afford the suggested amount. They have cloak room, free lockers as well. You can spend a decent 1.30 to 2 hrs exploring the exhibits.

LOVE this museum. Great exhibit with variety of arts and mediums ranging from old ruins fragments, religious statues to ceramics and fabric goods. The area is super nice as well, situated within the evergreen tall pine/fir trees of the Volunteer Park. Staff were amazing and very friendly, they helped us store our luggage downstairs when we visit the exhibit upstairs. Since my flight was in the evening, I didn’t wanna miss visiting the museum before going home. 120% recommend if you love art or just to know more about Asian Arts/history in general. Nice place to wind down as well. After visit, if interested, there is Bruce & Brandon Lee grave site close by, just keep walking north. The graveyard is well maintain and you can see the PNW Mountain Cascade since it’s on top of the hill.

We enjoyed the galleries and about an hour. (At least one area was closed) The art deco building and modern addition were beautiful in their own right. The Asian art displayed throughout was a true bonus. Wonderful gallery dedicated to the Buddha. Interesting pieces throughout. Sadly, no Mongolian art on display. We booked tickets through the Seattle Public Library, so it didn’t cost us anything to visit. Free parking right out front.

First time ever here even after growing up in the area. So glad I finally visited! There is plenty of parking in the parking lot so you don't have to worry about that. Also good views of downtown from the parking lot as well. This really cool art deco building used to actually be the main art museum but it was moved downtown in the '90s. This place was renovated recently and it was completely worth it! Very much worth the price. It's more organized with the medium that is used for art versus the origin that it came from. And we were here for about 2 and 1/2 hours and we enjoyed every bit of that! There was so much to see and it was so great! This is a great museum that everyone should go to for the most part if you like art. Staff was friendly and they had gender-neutral restrooms so if you have an issue with that, they have a family one that you can use and lock the door behind you. Otherwise the stalls were completely secure so don't feel like you can't be safe in here. Turns out it's not a big problem to wash your hands next to someone who is a different gender than you.

The Seattle Asian Art Museum is pretty small, and it's a little strange to describe a museum in this way, but it felt very dated, as in much of the collection felt like what most people think Asian art is and not what it has evolved to be. There's a lot of the standard Chinese artifacts, Buddhist and Hindu iconography, Japanese art, and a sprinkling of Korean artifacts. However, in the context of AANHPI, I thought that almost all of the groups in the acronym were underrepresented and there's barely any SEA art mention in the museum. The gift shop is also small and gimmicky. The most fascinating exhibit was by Anida Yoeu Ali (a Cambodian American artist), which was a traveling exhibit. Most of the other collections were not memorable. While admission isn't too expensive, the Art Deco exterior is great, and I'm glad this space exists, Wing Luke does a better job of telling stories from the AANHPI experience.

Overall, while I enjoyed the Seattle Asian Art Museum, I do have a few critiques for the space. First what I enjoyed. I loved the stretch of difference cultures in the items shown. I don't think I've ever seen so many pieces of french specific art/advertising and when juxtaposed with the same type of advertising from a different culture it was eye opening how the same type of work was treated from two different cultures. I loved the piece made up of dog tags, and several of the porcelain and glass pieces. I also loved the tunic that had gorgeous beading. But the lighting was definitely off in several sections, and the paint that was used on some of the walls worked against the pieces, often coming off as a different color through my lens. I'm not sure if the lighting was done deliberately due to the nature of the pieces or their fragility, but I also found several of the pieces to be hung ever so slightly crooked, like a level wasn't used. All minor things that show up when you're reviewing pictures of the collection. My final critique would be that they have such a lovely sunroom complete with water feature and it was barely used. It had maybe four inexpensive metal chairs on one end and I believe it was meant to be relaxing, but due to the design felt empty, even though it was a gorgeous room. All in all, for the price (especially if you purchase advance tickets) this museum is well worth it. if you're a student with ID it's practically a no brainer to visit. I would definitely make the trip for both the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Conservatory if you're in the area.

Though small, this museum is worth visiting at least once. I appreciated the layout and there was more variety of works than I expected. I really liked the fountain in the atrium most - really interesting. It's technically part of the SAM system which is interesting. I liked it much better than the SAM and the staff were a lot kinder and more helpful here. They have both new and old works, but most is older historical work and medium to smaller pieces. Some important notes: They have free lockers and coat check and they will ask you to carry your bag or larger coats in front or store it regardless of size. Their bathroom is all gender. They also have some rotating galleries, and some were closed when we visited so plan ahead if you want to see something specific. Photos are ok so long as you are not using a professional set up but try to avoid flash. There's a gift shop at the end of your like an interesting gift.

It's funny how in almost a decade of living in Seattle, I've completely missed this museum. However, this time there was a very solid reason to prioritize - the "Renegade Edo and Paris" exhibition that is on display till December 2023. The museum space is gorgeous and located in the Volunteer Park which is worth exploring on its own. While the main exhibit deserves some time (it's relatively small), the Edo & Toulouse-Lautrec is small but mighty and a must-see if you ask me. Some of the prints were mind-blowing: the level of detail, the subtlety, the composition - sublime. And it was very interesting to read up on the parallels between the art in 19th-century Paris and Tokyo.

Set in a wonderful public park, this is just a great museum. The sculptures are so intricate and how about those art deco front doors. Just walking in you almost feel like you're entering a church. I think this is one of those places a lot of residents aren't even aware exist, sort of like living in Arizona your whole life without bothering to get up to the Grand Canyon. If you ever get the chance take a few hours and check it out. Get some culture!

Art space - awesome art space Floor to ceiling glass space to bring the green from outside in Love that they've carefully placed signs for family restroom, gender neutral, and changing station for the bathrooms Location is perfect - view of space needle and it's located right at volunteer park along with the botanical observatory garden near by.

We came here on a Friday around the afternoon and it was not crowded at all, which was great. They were offering free tickets which made the experience a great bonus. They have so many art instillations to look at and see all the historical pieces. I loved that they had modern pieces installed as well. The Murakami was my favorite!!! They have free parking at this park, which is great and you can walk to the art museum. Definitely recommend if you are in the area and love to visit museums!

Wasn't in my to-do list as I've checked out the Luke Wing Museum but this seemed pretty cool. Here was our experience. Parking: Plaza and in-park street parking in Volunteer Park. Art: There are multiple rooms with eclectic styles. Some are historical artifacts and some are modern day. The theme during the time emphasized on South Asian artwork. It's a spacious place and pretty peaceful. Some roots were dark, others were lit, and some had good natural lighting. There's a great view of sitting and seeing the park. Downstairs is where the lockers, restroom, and the library is at. Overall: 4.5 stars. Lovely! I dig it. From the customer service, art, and the environment. It's a good mix of observation and engagement. Tips: * Check their website for events * Free lockers!

I had a great time stopping by the Asian Art Museum this past weekend. Our family stopped for breakfast in Capitol Hill and wanted to see what else was around the area, we read about this museum & noticed it was affordable as well! We arrived payed for our tickets up front & that went by well. Employees helped us out, and since we were traveling with an infant the security guard up front let us know where the elevators & restrooms were. The restrooms however were not that great in my experience. They had a great interior but the stalls & toilets were not clean. I do also wish that I knew it was so warm inside of the museum so I could have left my hoodie behind. Although once I started walking through the exhibits everything changed and I honestly forgot about the bathroom stalls and the warmth, it was BEAUTIFUL, I enjoyed every step through the museum. Enjoyed every exhibit & each room was so therapeutic in its own way. Oh and not to mention, the best part was the FREE parking. Overall great experience with my family and I will definitely be back again in the future!

Do you call it SAM or SAAM? Solid location. I will be honest, it is difficult to have a honest review when I got in for free due to a collaboration with the Portland Art Museum. That being said, I enjoyed both the modern contemporary and old school exhibitions. The old school exhibitions range from Japanese, Indian, Korean, Chinese art works whether they are paintings, articles of clothing, ceramics, etc. Great selection and variety. The new school exhibitions were powerful, thought provoking, interesting. As a Korean-American, I appreciated the warrior suit made out of dog tags. It spoke powerfully. Overall, I think the layout of the museum is clean and simple. Great spot. It was a bit small, there is only really 1 main floor for all the exhibitions. The other floor has a conference room and some other stuff for the community. Lots of parking when I went and was a lot of fun.

Great collections and nice layout. Have different cultures. A lot of beautiful arts. Enjoy visiting.

Spent around 2.5 hours at this museum, had a good time looking at all of the exhibits. It can be a bit confusing at first if you're used to museums that arrange their exhibits geographically, since this museum arranged their exhibits by theme. Loved the calm ambiance of the place & glad I stopped by! Like most museums, their gift shop was a bit overpriced. Also, some interactive exhibits were closed due to covid restrictions.

IMO the best museum in Seattle. Conveniently and beautifully located inside Volunteer Park. Free parking and you have the extra benefit of walking around the park before or after. Or go in the conservatory. Or keep walking and visit the cemetary where Bruce Lee and his son Brandon are buried. So much to offer and that's not even talking about the museum yet, which is stellar. Many of us remember this gem from our childhoods (or adulthoods). They closed a few years back to renovate and reimagine and boy did they do a superb job. Organized now by topic instead of country, there is so much food for thought here in just a few small rooms - yet the best part is you can come at the collection here however you want. If you want to just roam and not ponder too heavily, do that. If you want to get philosophical, do that. If you want to learn A TON, do that. The best part about being a local is watching the small changes made to what's on view, what's there, what's not there, what's new, and having that as a little surprise every visit. Then of course there are the special exhibitions which always deliver. This is a must visit in Seattle. Spend at least 2 to 3 hours here and wandering the surrounding area. Great view from here too!

The museum is small and fairly standard -- very clean, kind staff, and interesting displays, but I felt like it was missing something and wasn't the most engaging. I came alone, but I wouldn't really recommend this museum to families or youth who aren't as interested in historical art periods. Don't get me wrong, the calligraphy, pottery, silks, and stories are beautiful, but it's not very hands-on or as engaging as I'd like. Still a beautiful museum and glad I visited :) The outside park area is beautiful as well and recommend walking around before or afterwards!

Definitely worth the time and effort to come to the museum. Was lucky to score 2 tickets to the Re-Grand opening of the museum. There is a little something for everyone no matter what type of art turns you on. Metal, clay, clothes, paintings sculptures, etc The museum was very nicely remodeled. Unisex (Gender neutral) restrooms on the lower level Docents were available to provide additional Info on the various art techniques. They also have films and live entertainment. Music, poetry readings.

Honestly kinda disappointed. I was intrigued because I've heard so much about the grand opening but I wish there was more modern art and art about the Asian American experience I suppose. It was much more historical with a big section on spirituality and Buddhism and traditional wares. The clothing section was nice though. Also, as one of the sheets on an interactive piece (not during covid) said: Where is the Vietnam art?! Haha Overall it's a beautiful building in an even more beautiful park, I just wouldn't recommend paying for it. The last Friday of each month is free.

Visited SAM's Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park for the the first time. They have spotty hours - only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission was $16 and we spent about 1.5 hours wandering the location. It's quite small and has just a few galleries with representation from a wide variety of cultures. The signature Black Sun sculpture is outside as well. One of the standout elements is the building itself which is quintessentially art deco.

i was finally able to explore the museum and thought it was really cool. $18 dollars for a ticket but worth it. also a nice way to cool off and see some art on a hot day!

The Seattle Asian Art Museum had its grand reopening last weekend (Feb 8), and we were fortunate to be part of the festivities. They had 3 years of re-modeling, and it's very well organized inside. Their collection covers pieces of the past and the present. The collection is of wide breath, of little gems sourced throughout Asia - from India, Tibet, China, Korean, Japan, and more. Statues, textiles, wall art, ceramics, and more are represented. A not-at-all little but a sizeable treasure is the "Some/One" by Do Ho Suh from 2001. Made of 1000's of dog tags fashioned into a traditional Asian armor, Suh seeks to explore the individual to the larger society. The layout is very straightforward, and exploring each room is continuous. Be sure to look out the window towards Volunteer Park from inside the museum. During the twilight, wonderful photos can be taken outside of the museum and towards the Space Needle. Don't miss it!

Currently there is a summer day camp running at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. I found it really hard to concentrate as they were having their music class. The museum isn't very big and the banging of drums and cowbells could be heard across the entire building. I was under the impression that museums were supposed to be somewhat quiet for the patrons to read the signage and enjoy the art. I don't think that this type of activity is appropriate at a museum. If this is a recurring event, I personally would like to be notified prior to paying for my ticket so that I could come back another time. I ended up leaving after only going through half the exhibits because it was so difficult to focus. The exhibits themselves were fine. The collection was a bit small, but some of the rooms seemed to still be under construction so they may be filled in later. Overall, it was a frustrating experience.

The opening days of the SAAM was great. The staff regulated people coming in so it wasn't overly stuffed but still busy. The art is amazing and worth going to see and the flow of the rooms makes it easy to see everything and take your time with each piece.

Amazing museum, celebrating Asian artwork and culture. After a three-year renovation and expansion, this museum has a lot to offer and is a great way to learn more about Asian civilization and history. Located in Volunteer Park, there is a small parking area in the front of the building, but parking can easily be found near the residential streets and is nearby a bus stop. My boyfriend and I went to the grand reopening of the Seattle Asian Art Museum on a Saturday, as we had tickets for a slotted time, since it was expected to be busy with its grand reopening. And it was! We had a fun time, celebrating the museum, as the opening weekend had a full schedule of live entertainment, events and classes that went into the evening. There are two levels to this museum. Once you enter the main entrance, there will be a counter for check-in. It's also next to the steps to the lower level where there's a restroom, water fountain, rooms for classes and events and coat check. There was a lot to see in the museum. All of the items are not arranged by country, but instead, by theme. For example, there was a room for spirituality, which had religious items, dating back several years past. It's even interesting how different countries will use the same material, or how the appearance of Buddha can be different, depending on its origin. It took my boyfriend and me about two hours to go through the entire museum. Throughout the museum were docents who were available to discuss any of the pieces. There were even some talks on specific artwork, which was part of the opening weekend list of events. The museum is pretty easy to navigate, with multiple rooms that easily transition from one to another. You know you've gone through the entire museum when the next room is back towards the entrance where the small gift shop is. We had a fun time at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and what a wonderful treat for Seattle to have a place, dedicated to Asian artwork.

I recently finally got a chance to visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum! It was a fun time and was worth the money for tickets. I feel like it had reasonable prices for the amount of time that I spent there. Their exhibits were decently spaced and well worked so that the walking flow was clear enough and all visitors were spaced out. The exhibits were interesting and showcased a lot of thought into their culmination. The Seattle Asian Art Museum took a different approach to grouping their exhibits. They group their pieces by topic rather than geographic region. It was interesting to see the ties between various Asian cultures across similar types of artworks and themes. There are also some interactive exhibits that help you stay connected and mindful. This is definitely a place I would suggest visiting if you have the time! Although not one of the places I would come back to again since it seems that exhibits are not regularly changed.

This place is like history in volunteer Park area old as can be but still relevant if you're not from Seattle this is where you want to start and taken a great Asian museum and a great park I highly recommend you do both

The Seattle Asian Art Museum is housed in a art-deco building that's almost worth coming to visit simply on it's exterior merits; if you actually enter the museum then you've completely amortized the time investment ;-) While this museum doesn't have a collection extensive enough to rival the one you'll find at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, this place has an excellent lay out; it's spacious, well lit, and nicely documented. Because their SAAM's collection is smaller, it's easier to view the entire museum in a single visit without missing any of the flavor. I also very much appreciate the fact that unlike at a number of other museums I've been to, you can take non-flash personal photos here for your own collection. About the only drawbacks I can think of is the fact that the bathrooms aren't easy to find, and you actually have to go through the gift shop to get to them.

I purchased walk in tickets for the museum. While I thought the facility was beautifully renovated, I wasn't as impressed with the collection. I've been there before and frankly liked their previous collection and special exhibits. Not sure I'd go back again especially if I have to pay admission fee.

Lovely art museum! I've been here a few times now and I've always really enjoyed it. Wish they were open more days of the week!

I was really hoping for so much more than a single exhibition of tired old woodblock prints. I guess I was expecting something more like San Francisco, with room upon room of different histories and art medium... but this turned out to be a very shallow and 1-dimensional experience that was, if anything, a tribute to the wealthy patrons who donated or lent them. I hope that, after the remodel, they will add more permanent and rotating displays that tell stories of art and cultural history through art. Maybe we came on a bad day. We will visit again and hope to update this with something far more glowing then...

Very interesting displays in a beautifully renovated building overlooking the park. We spent 2 hours there, taking our time. I love it when a museum is not so big that you have to run in order to see everything.

Excellent art museum set in a lovely Volunteer Park in the Capital Hill neighborhood. Cool Art Deco building. Small but stimulating permanent galleries and intricate sculptures. As a frequent visitor to Seattle, I enjoy the off the beaten path vibe.

I went on a Sunday and I don't know if this is regular but it was whatever you felt like donating. On the website it says suggested donation $7. The sign in front of the building has all the prices listed on it too, which I think is cool just in case you're the type that doesn't plan for how much things cost or unless you're soooooo loaded your don't worry about money. You don't have to be loaded $$$ to go to this museum though. It's perfect for anyone to enjoy. One thing about this museum is that a majority of the works are mainly just Chinese and/or Japanese. I still consider India, N & South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Phillipines and other countries as Asian but you won't find any of these country's works here...unless I missed them. It is amazing though to see artwork and stoneware and glassware dated in the B.C. era that are still in such excellent shape. I'm not sure how much restoration is done on the pieces but a few of the pieces that were done on scrolls have information on how the pieces are restored using ancient restoration techniques and plant/animals based materials. I think that's really cool. As you browse the artwork, don't be surprised if you find other artists sitting on stools or benches or on the floor sketching and drawing from the art around them. I even saw one lady sketching the roof of the main lobby area. I love the see art and architecture inspire other artists. The gift shop is kind of nice too. Oh...and they have a little area for kids to draw and color picutres and dress themselves up in traditional kimonos or fold origami birds. It's entertaining for the kids

I love going to museums. And Seattle Asian Art Museum is a cool little museum. Situated in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, facing a great sunset view of the Puget Sound (seriously, it is just phenominal), with the Space Needle off to your right. SAAM's entry fee is ONLY $7, and there are plenty of opportunities visit on free days (First & Second Thursdays of the month and the first Saturdays of the month). Parking is free too! The exhibits are focused on Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Indian art. What I like about SAAM, is that it's not overwhelming. You can really take your time and not feel like you've wasted a whole day or that you've missed anything. Also, they have a nice blend of ancient and modern art, as well.

You can easily lose yourself in the wonders that fill that Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) and that's exactly what I did on my last visit. The museum building of the SAAM is one of the best Art Deco style buildings in the Pacific Northwest. Built in 1933 and previously the home of the Seattle Art Museum, in 1994 it became the new home to one of the best collections of Asian art in the Pacific Northwest. I have been here several times before but I specifically wanted to see the exhibit of contemporary Korean art and I was not disappointed. The Paradox of Place is the first major exhibition of Korean contemporary art in Seattle. The exhibit showcases the work of six Korean contemporary artists in various forms. There is photography, video, mixed-media, and other displays. Some of it was amazing! The most interesting display in the current Korean series is the work of Yeon Doo Jung. Bewitched is something I have wanted to see for a while. I have seen Jung's work before in the Kukje Gallery in Seoul and this was even better. Bewitched was an electronic presentation on a large video screen showing two pictures of a person in different settings. You see the person in the first picture and then it transforms slowly to the next picture and they are in a completely different setting. It really captivated me because by seeing the huge differences between the two was almost mind-blowing. Some of them were so different that you will actually feel surprised and shocked with some of them. There is a bench so you can sit and watch all the transformations. It lasts about 20 minutes. As far as some of the permanent displays I had a few that I really felt were outstanding. The 14th century Jingdezhen porcelain plate was beautiful. I loved the used of the cobalt blue underglaze it really made this piece standout. The Indo-Persian Art at the Crossroads exhibit was beautiful. I loved the collection of Islamic calligraphy and art. The Simurgh Returning Zai to His Father is one of the watercolors that stood out to me. It comes from a collection of the Shahnama, Book of Kings which is one of the first literary classics to be illustrated. Bird and Picnic is a 17th century watercolor with gold on paper. It was painted by Riza 'Abassi who was considered a master in his time. The colors are stunning and the subject matter also draws you in. There is a 19th century Qing dynasty silk robe with beautiful golden embroidery. It is a beautiful blue with black at the edge. The embroidery is so intricate flows in a symmetrical manner across the robe. The Imperial document box is lacquered wood lined with cotton. It is also from the Qing dynasty and dates from the 17th or 18th century. The wood has a light yellow tone to it with cloth ties and a lock to keep it closed. The images of the clouds on the top of the box are mysterious and yet so simple. The 17th century Damo is done in wood and comes from the Ming to early Qing dynasty. Damo is also known as Bodhidharma by many of us. He left India and went to preach Buddhism in China in the 6th century. The style of the statue shows Damo seated in his meditative state. The robe clinging to his thin body flows as does his fingers on his hands. The expression on his face is somewhat mysterious as he appears to be in deep thought. There is a collection of 102 snuff bottles and I thought these were fascinating due to all of the artwork that was done on such a small space. There were so many different kinds that it will take you some time to actually view all of them. They take up an entire wall in one of the galleries. These bottles were used in China to hold finely ground tabacco mixed with herbs like jasmine, mint and camphor. These little bottles are an amazing form of art. There are a collection of bronze vessels with ornamentation from China and so many have stylized zoomorphic designs while others have geometric patterns. The use of Taotie, a monster mask is one of the more common decorations you will see in the exhibit. Dragons, birds and rams appear frequently. The Monk at the Moment of Enlightenment is a 14th century Chinese wooden statue. It is a very large piece and the twist in his torso with him thrusting forward conveys movement. It is one of the pieces that has a bench in front of it so you can sit and enjoy this piece. His eyes are almost hypnotic if you stare at them. The museum has a gift shop with lots of interesting items including books, cards and postcards. There are also some shirts and socks for sale as well as some beautiful scrolls that were very reasonably priced. There were also some uniquely Korean items for sale due to the current exhibition. In the very front of the museum is a car and you can drop off some Legos for Ai Weiwei through the sunroof during museum hours. Make sure you check out the main statuary hall and all of the statues including the Buddhas. There are some very intriguing pieces.

Pretty nice place and great surroundings. Stop by the greenhouse near by if you visit. and look at the city including the space needle right outside the museum - it's a great view. The collection in the museum is decent as well. Wish it was bigger.

Great location for a museum and it's complete with a view of the Needle! Well-curated. Loved all the exhibits. All were very unique. Each artist I loved and respected their work. The workers were friendly. I enjoyed my time here and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to visit a museum in the area. FREE on the first Thursday of each month!

I went especially for their current exhibit, Paradox of Place: Contemporary Korean Art. It was my first visit to the museum. Though it's a pretty small museum overall, it is well worth the visit. The price to visit is reasonable & military discounts are available for $6.00 per person. It's not an all day type of activity, but the park and Conservatory are right next door too, so if it's a nice day, you could spend a bit of time there. I also loved the art deco features of the building itself, so if you're a fan of things like that, I think you'll be delighted!

The museum is small, but enjoyable. However the museum is not the only thing to see at Volunteer park. Take a walk down the street to the arboretum. There are some beautiful flowers there. Enjoy a walk around the ground and climb the tower. Has recently purchased the Ai Wei Wei collection of colorfully painted vases. Also other modern Chinese artists. The Mr. Exhibit consisted of colorful cartoon-like paintings with many of the well known Japanese pictures of girls with big eyes First Thursday & Saturday of the month is FREE...

After a hiatus, I revisited the Seattle Asian Art Museum in mid April 2009. It was quite a coup for the Museum to be able to show the "Garden and Cosmos" exhibition of paintings from the 17th through 19th centuries from the royal collections of the Maharajas of Jodhpur in Northwest India--the next venue is the British Museum)--since museums with more stellar collections of Asian Art (San Francisco, Boston, Kansas City, Cleveland, among others) were not. My only criticism is that some of the staff--including guards and the admissions people--tend to shout and laugh. The imposing marble foyer of the Museum, with its 20' high ceiling, is like a huge echo chamber, and voices ricochet and are amplified, enough to make a din that is clearly heard in the adjacent galleries. (What about hiring a few U.W. art history majors as guards, at least during the summer? Or in this economy, graduates?). Some visitors, as well, seem to not realize that art is enjoyed and appreciated as a primarily visual experience--so that the volume of their conversations ought not to interfere with other visitors' experience of the art . During my visit I frequently had great difficulty hearing the highly recommended "audio tour" because of this. Without these aural intrusions, the Seattle Asian Art Museum would be an oasis of tranquility, aesthetic pleasure, and reflection--and less like Macy's. Or the Food Circus. Speaking of which, the placement of an espresso stand in the main courtyard, with its beautiful sandstone Hindu and Tibetan sculptures, is rather unfortunate, not to say tacky. With admission at $5 (as a member, you get in free), this is definitely a bargain, as the special blockbuster shows at the downtown museum are $15 "a head."

Steve and I took full advantage of the free museum day here last week. The Seattle Asian Art Museum houses lots of beautiful pieces. We first went through the section where all of the statues, pottery and dishes are on display. It was great to see the statues and how it changed over the centuries but it felt a little bit redundant after a while. What impressed us both the most was the gorgeous wood prints, paintings and screens! That is what we thought was the highlight of the museum! They have a children's section of the museum where they can play and learn as well as a small gift shop. I fell in love a little stuffed animal dragon and had to get it. The Seattle Asian Art Museum is free to the public the first Thursday of every month. There was not much of a crowd on the Thursday we went. It is a very peaceful experience walking through all of the art here.

The SAAM is a great place to spend a couple of hours. To be truthful, you won't need more than that at this museum. No offense to the collection but it is smaller but the pieces rotate pretty frequently so check their home page if you're returning. The building is a gorgeous Art Moderne from the 1930s that originally housed the main collection of our Art Museum. In the early 90s, the SAM got new digs and the SAAM was born! If you hit up the SAAM, leave time to walk around the grounds especially if the day is nice. Take a moment to admire Black Sun by Isamu Noguchi and the view of the Space Needle in the distance. Stroll to the top of the Water Tower and generally soak up the beauty of Volunteer Park. Your day doesn't even have to cost you one pretty penny! On the first Thursday and the first Saturday of every month, admission is free. But if you can, leave a little as a donation. Patronise the arts!

I LOVE the Asian Art Museum. First off, could it be in a more picturesque place? Volunteer park is ~beautiful~. Even the parking lot of the museum has an amazing view of the space needle. The building itself is lovely. Talk about awesome architecture. It is probably one of my favorite buildings in the Seattle area that I have come across. I has to say the collection here is lovely. I am COMPLETELY enamored with the Indian sculpture section. I can sit int hat hall for hours and just look. The kimono section and calligraphy are really neat exhibits too! Certainly kicking myself for not going here sooner. Great location, great exhibits, and at a suggested entrance fee of $7 you can't ask for much better. Go. See some gorgeous cultural artifacts and art.

This is currently my favorite art museum in Seattle! It's tucked away on the Hill, in the middle of the park, which makes it even a more enjoyable overall experience- you can combine urban hike up the hill, views of Seattle's skyline and Space Needle, stroll in the park and some great art in one! What I loved so much about this experience: - Great selection and mix between paintings, sculptures, installations, graphic arts, video screenings, decorative arts. All the areas were really nicely designed and cohesive in telling a story. On top of that great selection between contemporary art and pieces that date back to ancient times. I saw some great manga comics as well as beautiful antique prints. - It immerses you in the Asian culture in deep and provoking way. What you will see will sometimes have a pretty surface, but sometimes you will be challenged and shocked. I loved their After Tsunami installation. It was really touching to see every day objects in the rumble of overall things left in a hurry. Especially seeing children's toys (adorable little pandas) who could have been cuddled and played with until the moment of catastrophe. - I like that the space is medium in size and doesn't have overwhelming amount of pieces to look at. I had time to read some of the little plates with descriptions, while still being engaged and not tired from walking. Overall: I truly can't wait to go back here! Take advantage of their Free First Thursday, if you can, otherwise it will be money very well spent.

Ah one of my fav's in the old hood, went to skool near by back in the day.... I'm glad they switched up things and made this the Asian flagship, the new SAM is outstanding by no means, I just like the quiet zen-like atmosphere this place lends to. With Volunteer park near by as well as the hidden secret plant conservatory, which houses a very nice size collection of orchids and tropical plants, many I've never seen before. Make this a must see as well! Took Starch-boy to an all-lady saxophone quintet concert up here a while back, the sound was great for an open cross-way of paths of the museum and to top it all off we got to check out the artwork along with our admission to the concert, that was a nice bonus. The collection seems to be ever changing mix of fine pieces of art, scrolls, some metal work, and other bits of Asian artistry, not just narrowed to one Asian culture it was really great to be able to see such varied beauty all in one place. The museum itself is as drop dead gorgeous and well maintained. As are the outside grounds. If you haven't been here in a while or new to town, it's worth the visit. The views from the park are amazing.

First time coming here and found out it has been recently renovated. I don't know how it previously looked, but the space looks really modern and nice. We went on a Saturday when it opened and there wasn't too many people yet. We were able to go through the whole museum in about an hour and a half. It was great to see a lot of Asian art and history. Parking was already a bit tough, but got lucky and found parking right in front. Definitely worth to check out!

I actually enjoyed my visit to the Seattle Asian Art Museum. It is a bit difficult to find as it is located in the middle of the park. I wish they could offer more or clearer signs to direct people to the museum. The museum is not too big, compared to other Asian (Art) museums that I have visited. You probably need 1.5 to 2 hours to thoroughly tour the entire museum. Some collections are really impressive! They open late on Thursday evenings until 9pm. I think their "gift shop" is the smallest museum gift shop I have seen. It is very neat though! Free coat check with donations accepted.

I'm glad the museum is getting a little extra attention and I can't wait to see the improvements. Not a bad museum at all, always clean and staff are knowledgeable and eager to teach you something new or answer questions. Definitely a smaller museum, but not necessarily anything wrong with that. I come here regularly and bring visitors from out of town to see the beauty of the museum and the surrounding park. A great place to spend a few hours nestled in a beautiful part of Capitol Hill!

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this park by accident on the first Saturday of the month. To our surprise, the museum is free on those days, so we went inside to take a look. My boyfriend did not seem too impressed with the wares. He felt like a lot of the vases and small trinkets and whatnot were items that you can still see today ("See that bowl?" *points to those blue and white patterned bowls that are ubiquitous in Chinese restaurants* "I HAVE THAT BOWL") -- I guess this is a testament to how some aspects of Asian (Chinese, in particular) culture don't really change after all this time. The majority of the museum was a special exhibit of Central Asian garb, which I thought was okay but I was hoping for more cool artwork. We were left rather disappointed, although I did like the long scroll that was a Buddhist scripture or something like that, written in gold. We finished the museum in about 15 minutes. The museum was that small! It's quaint but I probably wouldn't pay admission for this museum.

The building-- amazing. Views from inside to the park are stunning. The collection: only a tiny fraction of what they must hold is on display due to the space. And as it happened, on our visit they were changing out the rotating exhibit in the west side of the building, so nothing there. Me: I hope they get a larger space somewhere to do justice to the collection, for such a large population as Seattle.