This holiday season, I look back with gratitude at a year of auspicious beginnings and unprecedented successes. Without a doubt, this was a year full of celebration: we welcomed record-breaking crowds to a blockbuster Takashi Murakami exhibition, raised a toast with friends and family at the opening of the East West Bank Art Terrace, hosted a star-studded and spectacular gala, and caught a thrilling glimpse of our future at the annual meeting — to name only a few highlights from a whirlwind year.

While our robust slate of exhibitions included Beyond Bollywood, Delightful Luxury: the Art of Chinese Lacquer, Lam Tung Pang’s Past Continuous Tense, and Resilient Traditions in the Koret Korean Galleries, this was an especially notable year for art from Japan. From Muqi’s elegantly simple persimmons to the dazzlingly cinematic universe of Murakami’s monsters, we offered a master class in influential Japanese art from the 16th century to the digital age. Besides giving U.S. audiences a rare chance to see two extraordinary masterworks in person for the first and perhaps only time, The Heart of Zen also provided an important reminder of the deeper purpose behind our work. By building bridges between cultures and institutions across the globe, exhibitions like this one reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering peace and mutual understanding worldwide.

With great appreciation for all that you provide as a valued member of our museum family, I wish you and your loved ones happiness, harmony, and a fruitful holiday season.

Jay Xu
Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO

FINAL WEEKS for The Heart of Zen

On View Through Dec 31

Get a rare glimpse into the world of a Japanese Zen temple and discover the delicate brushwork and profound simplicity of Chestnuts. Enjoy a moment of peace...

38th Annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony

Sunday, Dec 31 | 12:30 PM

Take a swing at a 16th-century Japanese temple bell and join us for an experience the San Francisco Chronicle calls “a great way to end a year and start a new year.” Ring in the new year...

Murakami: Monsterized Winter Tickets

Final Block of Tickets On Sale Now

Murakami: Monsterized tickets for January and February are now on sale! Delight in Takashi Murakami’s weirdly lovable monsters and experience his larger-than-life paintings and sculptures. Don’t miss this blockbuster...

Looking Ahead

Upcoming 2024 Exhibitions

We can’t wait to dive into 2024 with exhibitions that imagine fantastic futures and explore the mysteries of the past. Get a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2024...