Experience Ansel Adams Like Never Before at the de Young Museum This Spring

From April 8 to July 23, guests at the de Young Museum in San Francisco can explore over 100 works by Ansel Adams alongside pieces from 23 contemporary artists influenced by the same landscapes and environmental themes as the iconic photographer in the exhibition Ansel Adams in Our Time. This showcase is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in collaboration with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, both of which have hosted their own Ansel Adams exhibitions in the past, and it features several artworks from the de Young’s permanent collection. The de Young was the first museum to exhibit Adams’s work and that of his f/64 photography collective in 1932.

Featured contemporary artists in the exhibition include Catherine Opie, renowned for her evocative photographs that reflect the American dream; Vietnamese photographer Binh Danh, who utilizes daguerreotypes and chlorophyll prints to examine themes of war and immigration; and Cuban American artist Abelardo Morell, known for using a camera obscura to cast the external environment onto interior spaces. Rather than focusing on a single theme, the exhibition is divided into five distinct sections, each addressing its own concept: Capturing the View, Marketing the View, San Francisco: Becoming a Modernist, Adams in the American Southwest, and Picturing the National Parks. By juxtaposing Adams’s work with that of contemporary photographers, the de Young aims to demonstrate how his photographs continue to resonate in today’s world.

“[Adams’] deep appreciation for the natural beauty of our region inspired him to capture the diverse landscapes of the Bay Area throughout his life,” stated Lauren Palmor, associate curator of American art at de Young, in a press release. “He was also an unwavering champion for environmental causes, and today the Bay Area embodies that ethos as a global leader in conservation and wilderness preservation.”

How to Prepare for Your Visit to Ansel Adams in Our Time

Tickets for Ansel Adams in Our Time, running from April 8 to July 23, 2023, can be purchased via deYoung’s website. These tickets are for timed entry, so it’s advisable to book in advance. Admission fees are $30 for adults aged 18-64, $27 for seniors 65 and older, and students with valid ID can enjoy discounted tickets at $21. Children aged 6-17 are $15, and those under 6 enter for free. The museum, located in Golden Gate Park, is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm.

If you're visiting San Francisco for the exhibit, consider staying at the Laurel Inn or the Parsonage, both of which are closer to Golden Gate Park than hotels in the Embarcadero area. The Laurel Inn offers views of the Pacific Heights neighborhood and is just a short drive of less than 15 minutes from the de Young. The Parsonage, a charming Victorian with just five rooms filled with antiques, is approximately a 10-minute drive away.

Watch a sneak peek of the exhibition