San José Museum of Art

The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a modern and contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and the Silicon Valley—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond.

SJMA’s special exhibitions focus on modern and contemporary art. Widely recognized around the country as a stellar showcase for California artists, the Museum presents an array of exhibitions that examine the interface of art and new technologies, themes of current interest to the general public, or the master artists of our time.

The Museum’s burgeoning permanent collection includes over 2,700 modern and contemporary works of art: paintings, sculpture, installation, new media, photography, drawings, prints, and artists’ books. Widely known for supporting California artists, SJMA has earned a reputation for acquiring pivotal artists early in their careers. As part of the strategic plan, the Museum has expanded the focus of its collection to reflect the high-tech interests, dynamic cultural diversity, and international scope of its communities.