Expedition796353
05 Mar 2026
SF Moma is undergoing some modifications to exhibits and interior. We opted not to take the KAWS tour on the 4th floor, so really only saw exhibits on Floor 5, 3 and 1. Not enough for me as an NYC MOMA visitor to explore. The Suzanne Jackson exhibit was amazing - loved learning about her and her process. Lovely building and close to FANG (great restaurant) but was helpful to have tickets that would be good until June 2026. Great for kids, and loved the outdoor sculpture space.
Visiting the KAWS: FAMILY show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) was legit one of the most fun, unexpected art experiences I’ve had in a while. This isn’t just another museum exhibition — it’s a full-on cultural moment that connects deeply with everyone, not just the art crowd. 
From the minute you step in, you’re hit with over 100 pieces spanning KAWS’s three-decade journey — paintings, drawings, sculptures, design collabs, toy objects — a real breadth that shows how this artist lives between worlds: fine art, street culture, design, and pop emotional language. The mix is playful, thoughtful, and genuinely accessible without ever feeling dumbed down. 
The centerpiece — the FAMILY sculpture — is more than eye candy. Seeing Companion, BFF, and CHUM together, posed like a tight-knit family, makes you feel something real: warmth, connection, maybe a little nostalgia. It’s a bold move to take what feels like pop culture and give it emotional gravity, but KAWS pulls it off. 
Don’t miss the rooftop HOLIDAY: SAN FRANCISCO giant inflatable: a massive COMPANION that makes the city itself part of the art. It’s clever, inviting, and totally share-worthy — great for photos but also a genuine reminder that art doesn’t have to be intimidating to matter. 
Bottom line: Whether you’re a die-hard art fan or just out for something creative and memorable in SF, this show delivers. It’s fresh, it’s bold, and it’s a great example of how a museum can break the mold and make modern art feel alive and relevant.