Art Talks: Bringing the Museums to You
Art Talks are now available onsite and live online!
Schedule a presentation for your audience here.
Art Talks are entertaining, educational, multi-media art presentations delivered by museum speakers. These talks can be presented to your group either onsite at your venue or using online (Zoom) technology. Select Art Talks are offered in Mandarin or Spanish. Onsite talks are $200 and live online talks are $150.
Please note: If you request a talk to be presented online (Zoom), we ask that you host this on your platform and provide technical support during the program.
Below you will find descriptions of the Art Talks currently available.
To learn more and to reserve talks we have available now, email us at AT@famsf.org.
The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy New
May 2 – September 20, 2026, Legion of Honor
From the ninth to second centuries BC, Etruscan culture flourished in what is present-day Tuscany, Italy. The Etruscans were a sophisticated, wealthy people who left behind a rich history and traditions reflected in artistic objects found in tombs, temples, sanctuaries, and homes. They made major contributions to Western civilization’s architectural, engineering, and artistic achievements. Yet their culture remains largely unknown, overshadowed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and shrouded in the absence of surviving written Etruscan histories. Organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy is the first major US exhibition in two decades to focus on this complex culture that significantly influenced the ancient Mediterranean world. Based on the latest archaeological discoveries and the most up-to-date scholarship, the exhibition presents objects renowned for their unparalleled beauty and exquisite craftsmanship. These include remarkable bronze and terracotta vessels and sculptures, opulent gold jewelry, and other treasures on view to the public for the first time. The Etruscans
Monet and Venice New
March 21 – July 26, 2026, de Young
Although Claude Monet visited Venice only once, his paintings of the city are among his most dazzling. This exhibition, co-organized with the Brooklyn Museum, is the first dedicated to Monet’s Venetian cityscapes since their debut over a century ago. Featuring more than 100 artworks, the exhibition places Monet’s Venice paintings alongside select works from across his career, including his Water Lilies, as well as Venetian views by artists such as Renoir, Sargent, and Canaletto. Unlike the bustling scenes painted by other artists, Monet’s Venice is eerily deserted, its architecture, buildings, and canals dissolving in an encompassing, hazy light he described as the enveloppe. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience Monet’s vision of the famed Italian city. Monet and Venice
Gods and Monsters: Classical Mythology at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco NEW
The cultures of ancient Greece and Rome left the world with a treasure trove of stories and legends. These are timeless tales filled with all-powerful gods like Venus and Apollo, fearless heroes like Hercules, as well as mighty Amazon warriors and deadly monsters. Today we refer to this lore as classical mythology. These myths inspired artists for thousands of years and are brought to life within the collections of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. From ancient and European masterworks at the Legion of Honor to American art at the de Young Museum, this Art Talk will explore these stories of gods and monsters, love and deception, treachery and triumph that date back millennia and continue to intrigue and entertain us today.
Behind the Scenes at Bouquets to Art
Bouquets to Art is one of the most popular and highly anticipated events at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Have you ever wondered how this annual floral celebration got started? This talk will reveal what goes on behind-the-scenes to make this highly successful event happen each year. Learn how talented Bay Area designers use flowers and other natural elements to create dazzling displays inspired by works of art in the museum’s collections. Don’t miss your chance to get an inside look at this unique event that’s become a San Francisco tradition. Bouquets to Art
The World of Jane Austen: Art, Fashion, and Eligible Gentlemen
Join us for a stroll through the British galleries of the Legion of Honor as we explore the world of beloved English author Jane Austen. We’ll see paintings that Austen herself would have seen; portraits of ladies, gentlemen, and military officers by famous artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds. We’ll look at trends in fashion, country estates, and gardens, and talk about how “new money” was changing society. You will gain a fresh perspective of Jane Austen’s life and times, and a deeper understanding of her ever-popular novels.
Dressed to Thrill: Fashion in Art at the Legion of Honor
It’s often said that you can’t judge a book by its cover. But can a person’s clothing tell us something about who they are, or the world they lived in? This informative and entertaining talk explores the fashions seen in the vast art collections of the Legion of Honor. Hear how revolution, religion, and politics have shaped the way people dress. From ancient Greece to the court of Versailles, this presentation gives you a front row seat at a fashion show 2000 years in the making.
New Art Talks Coming Soon:
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