Though Los Angeles may be the first place that comes to mind when you consider visiting the best art galleries in California, San Francisco has its fair share of museums that are equally worth exploring. A popularly vibrant and diverse city, San Francisco boasts a growing art scene that’ll keep cultured visitors content for days. Add these art galleries in San Francisco to your itinerary and check out paintings, sculptures, and photography by local, national, and international artists—they’ll be well worth your time. 

These are the Top Galleries in San Francisco you Should Visit

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) 

Address: 151 Third Street

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest modern art museums in the country and definitely ought to be a stop on your next San Francisco getaway. Featuring everything from outdoor sculpture gardens, to unique eateries, to a 30-foot living wall, to an unbeatable Sightglass Coffee espresso bar, to artworks from unparalleled artists—such as Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Georgia O’Keeffe—SFMOMA makes it easy for visitors to spend an entire day wandering around the grounds in wonderment. 

Art Attack S.F. 

Address: 2358 Market Street, Suite 1

Art Attack S.F. is a unique San Francisco art gallery nestled in the Castro District. Dedicated to celebrating the artistic expressions of local creators, Art Attack S.F. is a vibrant space complete with ceramic works, sculptures, and paintings. The San Francisco gallery features new artists on a regular basis and hosts free opening receptions on Thursday evenings, so make sure to reserve your spot to see the next great S.F. artist of our time.

Berggruen Gallery

Address: 10 Hawthorne Street

Berggruen Gallery is home to a collection of contemporary art, plus 20th-century American and European paintings, sculptures, drawings, and limited-edition prints—and is entirely free to the public. As a prominent Bay Area art gallery, every piece of art on display is for sale, making it a tremendous resource for locals looking to furnish their apartments, homes, and businesses. 

S.F. Camerawork 

Address: 1150 25th Street

S.F. Camerawork is a photography space dedicated to showing off a range of styles and approaches that differ from the norm. This unique San Francisco gallery hosts a variety of events, workshops, and exhibitions and can be rented for both private and corporate events. Settle into the Mid-Market Arts District in San Francisco, between the Civic Center and Powell BART stations, and get ready to see photographic art like never before.

STUDIO Gallery

Address: 1641 Pacific Avenue

Founded in 2003 with a mission to highlight Bay Area artists, STUDIO Gallery S.F. showcases artwork across a variety of media. As one of the best art galleries in San Francisco, STUDIO Gallery in S.F. exhibits a new show about once a month, alternating between solo and group shows across a variety of subjects mainly centered around local themes. Check it out and you might just meet your next favorite artist from the Bay Area!

San Francisco Art Exchange

Address: 458 Geary Street

Founded by Theron Kabrich and James Hartley, San Francisco Art Exchange has come a long way since it first opened its doors in 1983. Today, this top gallery in San Francisco is recognized as a leader and pioneer in the representation and sale of important photographs and artwork in popular culture. This impressive gallery has also been responsible for many firsts in the art world, hosted several private concerts, and accommodated speaking engagements with writers and prominent figures from all over the world. In other words, if you’re on the hunt for a historically significant San Francisco gallery with an uber-cool vintage collection on display, S.F.A.E. will definitely impress.

Catharine Clark Gallery 

Address: 248 Utah Street

Located in DoReMi—an emerging art district in San Francisco—Catharine Clark Gallery is a bucket-list destination for art lovers and curators from all over the world. You’ll find a new exhibit on display every six weeks at this esteemed gallery. And, since it serves as the primary dealer for an acclaimed roster of international artists, you’ll always leave with an influx of motivation and inspiration to create.

Cartoon Art Museum

Address: 781 Beach Street

As its name accurately indicates, Cartoon Art Museum serves a more niche audience of gallery-goers. Displaying a wide range of cartoon-based artworks, from comic strips and anime to political cartoons and graphic novels, this one-of-a-kind museum in San Francisco houses approximately 7,000 original pieces in its permanent collection. You’ll definitely leave this San Francisco gallery with a newfound appreciation for the history of cartoon art, its role in society, and its universal appeal.

Martin Lawrence Gallery

Address: 366 Geary Street

Martin Lawrence Gallery is an incredible 9,000 square foot exhibition space located in the heart of downtown San Francisco’s bustling Union Square. Whether you’re gallery-hopping to find the next addition to your collection, decorating your home or office, or simply itching to learn more about art history, you’ll likely hit the jackpot at this art gallery in San Francisco. Housing works by legendary artists like Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Salvador Dali, Martin Lawrence Gallery is as impressive as they come.

Hosfelt Gallery

Address: 260 Utah Street

With a background in law, non-profit arts administration, and collecting, Todd Hosfelt founded his namesake gallery in 1996 in a 2,000 square foot space in San Francisco's SOMA district. Over the course of more than twenty years, Hosfelt Gallery has developed to distinguish itself through the introduction of exceptional new international artists, its role in nurturing the careers now-acclaimed creatives, and commitment to showing work that doesn't necessarily align with current trends. Known as one of the best Bay Area art galleries, Hosfelt Gallery is a spot you can’t miss adding to your S.F. art tour.