The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) was established in 1935 and was the first art institution of its kind in the West Coast. Attracting approximately 700,000 visitors per year, the closest rival of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is its namesake in New York City.

The creation of this landmark art institution was spearheaded by Grace McCann Morley and gave San Franciscans and tourists alike a venue to see 20th century artworks made by both seasoned and up and coming artists. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was originally named as the San Francisco Museum of Art. The word modern was appended in 1975, even though the art gallery has already showcased works of the present century by the time it opened. The museum was housed the War Memorial Veteran Building in the Civic Center for six decades. In 1995, it transferred to its current location a stone?s throw away from the Yerba Buena Gardens. The present museum structure was conceptualized by a Swiss architect name Mario Botta who became popular because of his mastery of strong geometric aesthetics.

The beautiful San Francisco Museum of Modern Art instantly became an iconic structure in the city?s urban landscape. One of the most distinct features of the museum is a big circular skylight found on a tower. The skylight allows natural light to enter the equally cavernous atrium under it. The tower on which the mammoth skylight is situated is embellished with smooth and rough granite sourced from Canada. The same material was utilized for the museum?s atrium level and lower columns.

The interior of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art showcases a breathtaking grand staircase that threads all the five floors of the 225,000-square foot structure. The galleries within the museum also have additional skylights which make the general ambiance of the museum very bright and airy. A garden situated on the museum?s deck can be accessed through a walkway walled by glass.

Of course, the main attraction of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is its extensive and comprehensive art collection which is approximately at 26,000 art pieces. These include a variety of media made by different artists including media art, paintings, design pieces, photographs, sculptures and architecture. These artworks are often put into touring exhibits or are loaned to other art institutions across the globe.

The SFMoMA possesses several works by American artists as well as a few Mexican and European artworks. The dominant style exhibited here is Expressionism, but other genres such as Surrealism and Fauvism are featured here. Some of the famous art masters whose works are exhibited here include Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.