The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is one of the premiere art destinations in the Seattle area. This museum is massive with 4 stories worth of traditional and contemporary art from across the globe. To get here, you can either find street parking or park in nearby parking garages and walk over. Museum admission is $30 per adult or $20 with student ID. We definitely spent a good couple hours here browsing all the art and stopping by their gift shop. I would highly recommend stopping by for all art lovers! read more

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Located at Seattle downtown. Very worth a visit. You may need 2 hours for this visit. There are many exhibitions that are very interesting and informative. Design of each exhibit items is very artistic. I like very much of 3D display of Diego Cibelli porcelain sculpture. There is several of the display. This is a must see item. The other is the Lessons from the Institute of Empathy. This is interesting collection. The other wow collection is the porcelain room collection with decorative dinning set. There are some special exhibits. This room may be changed every 3 months. Overall we like the visit. read more

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Went to a private Lunar New Year party with friends at the Seattle Art Museum, and it was such a fun night. The space was bright, clean, and really well organized. They had four buffet tables, a hosted bar, a dessert station, and even a coffee station. The food spread was great -- Chinese BBQ pork, bok choy, jasmine rice, Sea bass, Dim Sum dumplings, shredded duck and shrimp for stuffing into steamed buns, garlic green beans, and more. Dessert had everything from crème roll cakes, and crepe cakes to a fruit platter to assorted Asian cookies and snacks. We also got to watch a lion dance and try our hand at Chinese calligraphy, which was a cool touch. After dinner and the performance, one of the staff members, David Turner, took us around the exhibits. He walked us through several pieces and gave really thoughtful explanations about the artists, their inspiration, and the meaning behind the work. We genuinely enjoyed the whole experience and learned a ton. They rotate exhibits every two weeks, so we're definitely planning to come back. Excellent exhibit overall. read more

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The first Thursday of each month is a free entry day for everyone to visit the museum. This is a fantastic museum that has a nice mix of modern classic art pieces throughout the three levels. There is a really nice gift shop on the main floor to stop by after your visit through the entire museum. It is a great walkable location from all of the waterfront and Pike place attractions. read more

I love SAM . Every time I come here (which is usually on the first Thursday of the month when admission is free) I see at least one or more new exhibits that challenge me to think, and respect the artists that have prepared the exhibits. It's not just paintings or sculptures, but exhibits that challenge you to dig deeper into your emotions and expressions. I love the live music they have at times, listening and reading areas, and how they display and involve patrons in the art they share. It's OK to go there and just read in a beautiful space or close your eyes and listen to amazing music or live music. read more

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Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest offers a few insights into our cultural, racial, and industrial history through art. It was fun to see how local artists were influenced by global forms such as surrealism and used them to reflect on their concerns about our modernization. It made me want to learn more about current art movements. Thanks SAM! read more

Seattle Art Museum - Yesler - read the placard - Art Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I thought this place was great! I love museums! I found some rooms to be really cool with a lot of cool art and history, but some rooms felt underwhelming. I did have a great time though and my out of town family enjoyed it as well! Definitely a good place to visit in downtown! read more

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I was worried that there might be lines going on Saturday but walked right up to kiosk (save $3 doing so) and then entered museum. The stand outs to me were the Native American and Egyptian collections. I also really enjoyed their collection of animal art drawn from around the world and across time. Highly reccomend. For my tired feet and back, would have enjoyed more chairs but did briefly stumble upon a room with those IKEA recliners. read more

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Good museum to come check out. 2 floors, very interesting unique pieces of art. You can save money by getting a seattle city pass read more

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Visiting Seattle and needed to check this place out, I enjoyed it. Nicely organized and I really appreciate the museum acknowledging the cultures' right to these artifacts. They had Monet and Murakami. Staff were helpful. It took about 60 minutes read more

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I Was here for an event and had a great time - the venue is really nice and acoustic is great (they had a show going as well ) . Getting there was simple and all together it was a great venue read more

I really loved my experience here. All the workers were very friendly and helpful. One of them even took a picture for me which I appreciated. I really loved the modern and contemporary art section as they had a lot of well curated shows to look through. Great place! read more

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On the first Thursday of every month, they have free entry. In spite of living in Seattle for 5 years, this was my first time visiting SAM. They have a food to table exhibit which I wanted to check out. It has beautiful paintings from markets, food sources to dining scenes. They have a beautiful porcelain room! They have art from popular artists like Monet, Goya and Matisse. They also have a modern art and native art section. I thought the interpretations were insightful. They also provide free tours for the museum, you can check the schedule online and plan accordingly. They provide complimentary coat check which was nice! read more

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My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to the Seattle Art Museum on our third date and it was literally the perfect date spot because it was romantic and we learned a lot about each other sharing our thoughts on art. We went on a Friday afternoon and the museum was almost completely empty. The staff were super kind and helpful and I love how clean and bright the space is. My boyfriend was super excited to show me his favourite painting and I was surprised to find it was by Albert Bierstadt my favourite painter. I thought that was such a romantic coincedence and the museum will always hold a special place in my heart. If you're visiting the museum I'd totally recommend checking out Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast, its so captivating. I can't wait to return to the museum and explore more of their collection with him soon. read more

This place isn't bad at all -- in fact, it's a solid stop if you're visiting Downtown Seattle and want something interesting to explore. There's a lot to see, and it's a great way to spend a few hours learning, walking, and just soaking in the space. It's well worth the visit, especially considering how affordable the ticket prices are compared to many other attractions in the city. The exhibits are spread out nicely, with plenty of artwork, displays, and interactive areas (depending on the type of museum you're visiting -- art, history, etc.). Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes -- there's quite a bit of walking involved, and it's the kind of place where you'll want to take your time and move at your own pace. One thing that left me a little confused, though: when we entered, we were told we needed to check in our small backpack at the front. No problem, we followed the instructions -- but once inside, I noticed plenty of other visitors carrying oversized purses and tote bags, some even bigger than the backpack we had to leave behind. It made me wonder what the actual policy was or why it was enforced in such an inconsistent way. I originally assumed it was to protect the exhibits -- maybe to prevent people from accidentally bumping into things or to reduce theft risk -- but if that were the case, it should apply across the board, right? That kind of inconsistency stood out, and what made it more frustrating was that there was no clear signage or explanation from staff. Everything felt very "figure it out yourself." A bit more verbal communication or clarification would've gone a long way here. Even a simple "We ask all backpacks to be checked in for safety reasons, but handbags are allowed if kept close to the body" would've been enough. Instead, it left us a little puzzled and wondering what the actual rules were. That said, location-wise, it's super convenient -- right in Downtown Seattle, within walking distance of other major attractions, restaurants, and shopping. I'd recommend making this one of your first stops of the day. You'll want to give yourself enough time to walk through the exhibits, and it can be tiring if you save it for the end of the day. Overall takeaway: This spot is affordable, interesting, and worth visiting, but be prepared for a few quirks in terms of policies and communication. If you don't mind figuring things out on your own, you'll likely have a great time exploring. Definitely a good option for families, tourists, or anyone looking for a low-cost, high-value museum or cultural experience in the heart of Seattle. read more

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Of the art museums of the world, Seattle's is mid. An art museum is patrons. They enable the capital construction. They lend their work and often donate it on passing, sometimes they fund acquisitions, but with prices, that is rare. Seattle will never be New York or London. But the Seattle economy has created some patron families and they have shaped the museum. First, the building. When the SAM expanded beyond their small Volunteer Park spot, now their Asian art museum, they built a new building on University spanning a slope between 1st and 2nd. It was designed by the famous architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. Look them up and then see the building. On the corner is the famous Hammering Man sculpture. It was famously pranked with a ball and chain. The museum was expanded along 1st by Allied Works Architecture, famous for museums. The collection has some highlights I saw, like some Bacons and a Rothko. I visited for the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei survey show. It tells the story of his career through the cycle of his work. It is contemporary art meaning the idea is more important than visual manifestation of the work. So read the guides, follow the audio, or ask museum employees to talk you through the work. If you have the time, read or listen to the artist's autobiography 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows, and see movie Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. Formative, I did not know, was photographing street protests, college age, in NYC. It will be almost impossible to see that much of the artist's work in one place and time. To patrons, much of the work is on loan from private collectors. They even have some small edition items in the gift shop you can patronize. The Allied Works addition includes a large hall open to the public with some seating. I have enjoyed works there. Now it's filled with a poppy installation of clouds, good for kids. It is always changing. Parking is tough. The museum website suggests garages with museum discounts. Some days on weekends, the City street parking is free. Or go by transit! The Seattle Art Museum is worth a visit for regional residents and visitors. It especially shines if they have a show that interests you. To see the whole museum, it would be easy to spend at least 90 minutes, and that could double. Much of their educational material is on line. And Hammering Man FTW! read more

Seattle Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

VISIT SAM. There is a wonderful exhibition called "Farm to Table" right now and as a member I was invited to the opening. Mostly 19th century French oil and bronzes depicting farm or food themes. While you are here you can also avail yourself of the other exhibitions including a fabulous collection of Calder mobiles. Remember art is good for you. And art venues as well as artists need your support. Support SAM and support your local artists. Excelsior. read more

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Seattle Art Museum. While my husband's sister was visiting from CA, we took her to the Seattle Art Museum -- and were lucky to catch the Ai Weiwei exhibition. It was an unexpected yet powerful experience. His works are visually stunning, but they also carry deep social and political messages that stay with you long after you leave the museum. If you're in Seattle, I highly recommend checking it out. #SeattleArtMuseum #AiWeiwei #ContemporaryArt #SeattleSights read more

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Nice museum. Great Warhol pieces. I enjoyed it. They had a special artist showcase for an artist named Ai Weiwei. Counter culture artist who uses disruption as a medium. The main really interesting art pieces in here were done with Legos! Had a nice time and the artist spread out really well. Nothing particularly stood out, but we enjoyed our visit here. read more

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Loved my time here. This is an incredibly thought out museum! The collections were all super strong with amazing threads of community engagement (teen audio guides) and mindful equity work throughout. Got to check out the Farm to Table exhibit which felt very apt visiting near the holidays. Definitely stop by if you're in town. Parking is a bit treacherous, but they do have their own garage if you're open to paying those prices. read more

I used to work for a non profit that served families of color. I met a coordinator named Nani who bridged gaps between the museum and other agencies and was really impressed with this. SAM, has done a lot of good equity and inclusivity work and it is noticeable with the programming. I also love seeing the work that SAM does in putting in programs for kids to expose them to art and nature. Seattle is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented staff that works hard to ensure our city has a world class museum. I've seen multiple exhibits here and I am always impressed. A must visit if someone is local or from out of town. read more

During my trip I happened to go to the Asian and downtown locations of the Seattle art museum. Both were great. I walked into the Sam just in time to join a free docent tour of highlights. Our guide was wonderful and it was the most entertaining hour I've ever spent at a museum-highly recommend. Lots of wonderful stories and insights you'd never get even reading the descriptions. read more

This is a limited review of SAM since I unfortunately had limited time to explored. However, I got to see the Farm to Table exhibit, which was my main goal anyways, and it was absolutely amazing!! I came in the morning and there weren't yet many people visiting. I appreciated the complimentary coat check. All the staff I encountered were super kind and helpful! Ticketing was easy and before I knew it, I was walking into the exhibit, found on the fourth floor. Whoever is writing the captions for the paintings DEFINITELY aced their art interpretation courses because they ate DOWN. I think generally, I go back and forth on how much interpretation should be included for paintings, since it is meaningful for people to connect individually with the pieces in their own ways. However, I think they nailed it for this exhibit, providing enough context and commentary to allow deeper immersion to the pieces. The way this exhibit was organized thematically and placed either similar or contrasting paintings next to each other really allowed us to interact not only with the painting in front of us, but with the exhibit as a whole. Before I had to go, I also got the chance to stop by the porcelain room on the fourth floor. What an absolute SHOWSTOPPER of an exhibit. I love how the pieces were displayed as well as the way we were able to take in the majesty of the entire room of floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall ceramics. I think the digital catalogue at the entrance is a bit difficult to use and janky, but the pieces themselves were incredible to look at. This is one of the best art museums I've ever been to. I think the curators really give a voice to the art and have created a space that really allows us to hear it. I can't wait to explore more of the museum when I have more time. read more

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This is an amazingly spacious facility was a large and varied collection. I was overwhelmed but still had a great time. read more

Seattle Art Museum - A Sargent portrait with a nicely executed face but that hand is so weird - Art Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We lucked out on our trip to Seattle and found out that there were many museums that are free in the evenings of the first Thursday of every month. So we visited SAM and the "Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei" exhibit. The artwork and exhibits were well displayed. Since it was free admission, it was probably more crowded than normal, but we still had space to peruse around freely. Staff were friendly and mostly left us alone. If you're used to museums in DC or NYC like me, this was a bit small in comparison and for the normal admission price, it might not be worth it. But if you're in town on the first Thursday of the month, definitely give them a visit in the evening! read more

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an excellent art museum well worth the price of admission. Not a whole lot of famous names but what they do have is really nice. It's a great forum for great art by lesser known artists. They also have a wonderful collection of local native American art. They also have a few pieces mixed in with the old that are of the same style but are not old and attempt to blend the old with the new. Definitely something here for everyone. Some wonderful examples of not well known styles along with all the various media including a massive porcelain exhibit. read more

I really enjoyed the variety of exhibitions even if I didn't really understand a majority of them. read more

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I could spend all day here and you probably could too. There are two floors and I liked the second floor better. There are so many exhibits that it was hard to keep track of what we've seen and what we hadn't. The layout is a bit wonky. The tickets are a bit pricy but I thought it was absolutely worth it. read more

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During our Seattle trip, we stumbled upon this museum that has free admission on Thursdays! Honestly, for the size of this place, it's a no brainer to take advantage of that. There's so many exhibits and different areas/rooms to see, that it's pretty easy to get lost in here and figure out what you haven't seen yet, so you can easily spend hours here. read more

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A beautiful collection of art from all backgrounds and walks of life. From rooms filled with African masks, contemporary art, Mexican sculptures, and ceramics. There is so much to explore as the museum is 3 stories. You'll be immersed in a world of history and perfectly curated nooks to explore. My favorite room is on the second floor and is filled with art from Native artists from the surrounding area. You'll learn about their histories, pains, joys, and celebrations. You can snap photos and videos freely which will make great momentos to remember to your day by. I recommend purchasing tickets before the day you plan to visit- you'll save $3 per ticket. They also have student, senior, and military discounts. It'll be well worth your while! read more

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I didn't have a chance to visit the inside of the museum but will the next time I'm in town but love the statue of the hammering man which represents the worker in all of us & the contributions to society we all make each and every day. read more

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Lots to see. Variety of art work. Some unique collections dated back to hundreds of years BC. read more

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There were so many amazing exhibits at SAM. The staff here are very kind and helpful. I love how each section has a different wall paper color, it gives every area of the world a difference ambiance and sets the mood for the next exhibit. SAM also has a market/restaurant on site, there's a sitting area for food and a bar. Tickets are $30/adult and we spent 3 hours at this museum and the market. read more

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Seattle Art Museum is a super interesting museum. I found so many different art pieces that were beautiful to see and I am glad I stopped in here to look around. This place is close to the Pike Market Place so if you are around the area, this is walkable from there. Most museums if you love going to them have some art pieces that are always inside and others that tour around the world. I got to see the Japanese exhibit of Hokusai which is infamous for that Japanese wave that is so memorable worldwide. Within this exhibit, there are other traditional Japanese art from paintings, kimonos, to even Legos. Overall I had a great time here and with so many floors to explore you will also find something unique and interesting for yourself. read more

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It was my first time to come here. It was free on the Saturday that we went with a family of 5. We only visited one floor-not a rush, just absorbing the information AND enjoying the live pianist on the main floor. It was incredible! You are greeted with the little cloud sky on the ceiling about the pianist. They have a free coat and water bottle check area. Then we went to the next floor up and there's a video wall that changes every 2-3 mins with a phrase such as "I am defined by...", "When they paint my portrait what you won't see is...", "The stories I carry are about..." The Hammering Man in front of the museum in awesome and the meaning behind it. It's a celebration of all the working class-from laborers to tech people who contributes for the good and improvement of our society. read more

This was my second visit to the museum and like last time it completely underwhelmed. Even the smaller exhibits lack a coherent story and I don't believe there's a major work in the entire collection. A rich city like Seattle deserves much better museum. The $30.00 entry price is expensive especially for such a small collection. Staff is very helpful. read more

This place was on our "try to do" list when we were in town. We happened to walk past by it on our way to the Seattle aquarium. We had a little over an hour to kill so we decided to stop by. It just so happens that it was the first Thursday of the month, which was free! We didn't know that so it made it even more worth checking out last minute. Museum is pretty big! You can probably spend an hour if you take your time walking around. Cool spot to check out. read more

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Nice place to spend some time to look at the art in Seattle! Check with your employer to see if there are discounts on tickets! Great place to get some steps in and appreciate the artwork. You can easily spend 1-2 hours here. Not sure if there's a parking garage tied to the museum...otherwise, street parking or other garages nearby. The museum is walkable from Pike's. So you can definitely park closer to the market and knock two activties out with one go! read more

For a big city, this is a rather small museum. That being said, it has a wonderful rotation of exhibits and a has little bit of everything. We like to go when we are in Seattle because our preferred hotel is right across the street. They offer a senior rate and some days offer discounts. Check out the website while planning your trip. read more

Stopped by the Seattle Art Museum yesterday during the afternoon time. When we arrived we purchased our tickets in person. Since we were card holders for Bank Of America we got free tickets as that was a partnership they had for the first Saturday of the month. There's a few floors of exhibits which was nice, and a few interactive parts too. We were lucky to get street parking so that was nice as well. read more

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