It's small, thoughtfully curated and displays are minimal in the best way possible. The space is welcoming, serene and pensive. The exhibits are wonderful and unique, historic and truly awe-inspiring. Parking, free, in front of the building, near the volunteer park tower, with views out toward the space needle make for easy transportation and visiting. Highly recommend. read more

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

This museum is small but it has quite a good collection. Every Thursday of the month is free museum day. Today is January 1 Thursday has a lot of people. The collection is dedicated to Asian art. This includes China, Japan, India and Cambodia, Thailand as major countries. The collection is very detailed. They are religious, artistic, armory and more. The visit takes 2 hours to complete. It is just one floor. read more

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it's nice but there's so little to see here that this is hardly worth the trouble. I suppose if you yourself are buddhist or hindu or just and admirer you might find the artifacts here particularly interesting. The concept is nice. They took an old art deco style building and repurposed it. totally cool but it needs to be expanded and made into a real art museum. read more

The Seattle Asian Art Museum is a smaller museum that has modern and traditional Asian diasporic art. This spot has a free parking lot directly across from the museum. Inside, the museum is one floor and has a pay what you want setup. I would definitely recommend stopping by to check this museum out for any art and culture lovers! read more

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On the first Thursday of every month, you can enter the Seattle Asian Art Museum for free.　The location is within the volunteer park, and there is also a free parking lot. On free days, there are many families and groups of young children, so it can be crowded. When you enter the museum, you will receive a free ticket at the reception. If you go down the stairs on your left, there is a restroom. Compared to the Seattle Art Museum, it is much smaller, but it is worth seeing. There is Ai Weiwei's water lilies, so don't miss it. Also, Boundless: stories of Asian Art. After viewing the museum, I recommend taking a walk in the volunteer park. read more

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I loved that this museum showcased Asian culture and history and that it was by donation. It made it super accessible in a climate where all the museums in Seattle are built for profit, $30+ for admission for one. It is a small museum, we did it in about 30 minutes but the surrounding grounds are also beautiful. Thank you for keeping this space accessible, we saw 3 different school field trips happening. read more

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It's a pretty cool museum - most of the exhibit pertains to eastern culture. It can be a really amazing experience to visit the museum. In my opinion what truly stood out was sculpture and exhibits around Buddhism. read more

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I have always loved the SAM. I try to visit every couple of years to see what's changed. The staff are always friendly. The exhibits are wonderfully arranged with lots to learn about. The space is not huge but there is enough to see that I highly recommend stopping by to get a glimpse of art and culture. read more

The Seattle Asian Art Museum is pretty small, and it's a little strange to describe a museum in this way, but it felt very dated, as in much of the collection felt like what most people think Asian art is and not what it has evolved to be. There's a lot of the standard Chinese artifacts, Buddhist and Hindu iconography, Japanese art, and a sprinkling of Korean artifacts. However, in the context of AANHPI, I thought that almost all of the groups in the acronym were underrepresented and there's barely any SEA art mention in the museum. The gift shop is also small and gimmicky. The most fascinating exhibit was by Anida Yoeu Ali (a Cambodian American artist), which was a traveling exhibit. Most of the other collections were not memorable. While admission isn't too expensive, the Art Deco exterior is great, and I'm glad this space exists, Wing Luke does a better job of telling stories from the AANHPI experience. read more

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First time ever here even after growing up in the area. So glad I finally visited! There is plenty of parking in the parking lot so you don't have to worry about that. Also good views of downtown from the parking lot as well. This really cool art deco building used to actually be the main art museum but it was moved downtown in the '90s. This place was renovated recently and it was completely worth it! Very much worth the price. It's more organized with the medium that is used for art versus the origin that it came from. And we were here for about 2 and 1/2 hours and we enjoyed every bit of that! There was so much to see and it was so great! This is a great museum that everyone should go to for the most part if you like art. Staff was friendly and they had gender-neutral restrooms so if you have an issue with that, they have a family one that you can use and lock the door behind you. Otherwise the stalls were completely secure so don't feel like you can't be safe in here. Turns out it's not a big problem to wash your hands next to someone who is a different gender than you. read more

Overall, while I enjoyed the Seattle Asian Art Museum, I do have a few critiques for the space. First what I enjoyed. I loved the stretch of difference cultures in the items shown. I don't think I've ever seen so many pieces of french specific art/advertising and when juxtaposed with the same type of advertising from a different culture it was eye opening how the same type of work was treated from two different cultures. I loved the piece made up of dog tags, and several of the porcelain and glass pieces. I also loved the tunic that had gorgeous beading. But the lighting was definitely off in several sections, and the paint that was used on some of the walls worked against the pieces, often coming off as a different color through my lens. I'm not sure if the lighting was done deliberately due to the nature of the pieces or their fragility, but I also found several of the pieces to be hung ever so slightly crooked, like a level wasn't used. All minor things that show up when you're reviewing pictures of the collection. My final critique would be that they have such a lovely sunroom complete with water feature and it was barely used. It had maybe four inexpensive metal chairs on one end and I believe it was meant to be relaxing, but due to the design felt empty, even though it was a gorgeous room. All in all, for the price (especially if you purchase advance tickets) this museum is well worth it. if you're a student with ID it's practically a no brainer to visit. I would definitely make the trip for both the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Conservatory if you're in the area. read more

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Though small, this museum is worth visiting at least once. I appreciated the layout and there was more variety of works than I expected. I really liked the fountain in the atrium most - really interesting. It's technically part of the SAM system which is interesting. I liked it much better than the SAM and the staff were a lot kinder and more helpful here. They have both new and old works, but most is older historical work and medium to smaller pieces. Some important notes: They have free lockers and coat check and they will ask you to carry your bag or larger coats in front or store it regardless of size. Their bathroom is all gender. They also have some rotating galleries, and some were closed when we visited so plan ahead if you want to see something specific. Photos are ok so long as you are not using a professional set up but try to avoid flash. There's a gift shop at the end of your like an interesting gift. read more

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This was a great museum trip for a rainy afternoon. The space is beautiful, a nice combination of the new renovation with the original architecture. I thought there were many interesting pieces from a variety of time periods! It's not too large, which I honestly appreciated. There is plenty of close by parking and if you would like you can explore the surrounding park and nearby conservatory! read more

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It's funny how in almost a decade of living in Seattle, I've completely missed this museum. However, this time there was a very solid reason to prioritize - the "Renegade Edo and Paris" exhibition that is on display till December 2023. The museum space is gorgeous and located in the Volunteer Park which is worth exploring on its own. While the main exhibit deserves some time (it's relatively small), the Edo & Toulouse-Lautrec is small but mighty and a must-see if you ask me. Some of the prints were mind-blowing: the level of detail, the subtlety, the composition - sublime. And it was very interesting to read up on the parallels between the art in 19th-century Paris and Tokyo. read more

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Art space - awesome art space Floor to ceiling glass space to bring the green from outside in Love that they've carefully placed signs for family restroom, gender neutral, and changing station for the bathrooms Location is perfect - view of space needle and it's located right at volunteer park along with the botanical observatory garden near by. read more

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

We came here on a Friday around the afternoon and it was not crowded at all, which was great. They were offering free tickets which made the experience a great bonus. They have so many art instillations to look at and see all the historical pieces. I loved that they had modern pieces installed as well. The Murakami was my favorite!!! They have free parking at this park, which is great and you can walk to the art museum. Definitely recommend if you are in the area and love to visit museums! read more

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

Set in a wonderful public park, this is just a great museum. The sculptures are so intricate and how about those art deco front doors. Just walking in you almost feel like you're entering a church. I think this is one of those places a lot of residents aren't even aware exist, sort of like living in Arizona your whole life without bothering to get up to the Grand Canyon. If you ever get the chance take a few hours and check it out. Get some culture! read more

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

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Wasn't in my to-do list as I've checked out the Luke Wing Museum but this seemed pretty cool. Here was our experience. Parking: Plaza and in-park street parking in Volunteer Park. Art: There are multiple rooms with eclectic styles. Some are historical artifacts and some are modern day. The theme during the time emphasized on South Asian artwork. It's a spacious place and pretty peaceful. Some roots were dark, others were lit, and some had good natural lighting. There's a great view of sitting and seeing the park. Downstairs is where the lockers, restroom, and the library is at. Overall: 4.5 stars. Lovely! I dig it. From the customer service, art, and the environment. It's a good mix of observation and engagement. Tips: * Check their website for events * Free lockers! read more

Seattle Asian Art Museum - Woooo! - Art Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great collections and nice layout. Have different cultures. A lot of beautiful arts. Enjoy visiting. read more

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Spent around 2.5 hours at this museum, had a good time looking at all of the exhibits. It can be a bit confusing at first if you're used to museums that arrange their exhibits geographically, since this museum arranged their exhibits by theme. Loved the calm ambiance of the place & glad I stopped by! Like most museums, their gift shop was a bit overpriced. Also, some interactive exhibits were closed due to covid restrictions. read more

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

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Do you call it SAM or SAAM? Solid location. I will be honest, it is difficult to have a honest review when I got in for free due to a collaboration with the Portland Art Museum. That being said, I enjoyed both the modern contemporary and old school exhibitions. The old school exhibitions range from Japanese, Indian, Korean, Chinese art works whether they are paintings, articles of clothing, ceramics, etc. Great selection and variety. The new school exhibitions were powerful, thought provoking, interesting. As a Korean-American, I appreciated the warrior suit made out of dog tags. It spoke powerfully. Overall, I think the layout of the museum is clean and simple. Great spot. It was a bit small, there is only really 1 main floor for all the exhibitions. The other floor has a conference room and some other stuff for the community. Lots of parking when I went and was a lot of fun. read more

The museum is small and fairly standard -- very clean, kind staff, and interesting displays, but I felt like it was missing something and wasn't the most engaging. I came alone, but I wouldn't really recommend this museum to families or youth who aren't as interested in historical art periods. Don't get me wrong, the calligraphy, pottery, silks, and stories are beautiful, but it's not very hands-on or as engaging as I'd like. Still a beautiful museum and glad I visited :) The outside park area is beautiful as well and recommend walking around before or afterwards! read more

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I had a great time stopping by the Asian Art Museum this past weekend. Our family stopped for breakfast in Capitol Hill and wanted to see what else was around the area, we read about this museum & noticed it was affordable as well! We arrived payed for our tickets up front & that went by well. Employees helped us out, and since we were traveling with an infant the security guard up front let us know where the elevators & restrooms were. The restrooms however were not that great in my experience. They had a great interior but the stalls & toilets were not clean. I do also wish that I knew it was so warm inside of the museum so I could have left my hoodie behind. Although once I started walking through the exhibits everything changed and I honestly forgot about the bathroom stalls and the warmth, it was BEAUTIFUL, I enjoyed every step through the museum. Enjoyed every exhibit & each room was so therapeutic in its own way. Oh and not to mention, the best part was the FREE parking. Overall great experience with my family and I will definitely be back again in the future! read more

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Definitely worth the time and effort to come to the museum. Was lucky to score 2 tickets to the Re-Grand opening of the museum. There is a little something for everyone no matter what type of art turns you on. Metal, clay, clothes, paintings sculptures, etc The museum was very nicely remodeled. Unisex (Gender neutral) restrooms on the lower level Docents were available to provide additional Info on the various art techniques. They also have films and live entertainment. Music, poetry readings. read more

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The Seattle Asian Art Museum had its grand reopening last weekend (Feb 8), and we were fortunate to be part of the festivities. They had 3 years of re-modeling, and it's very well organized inside. Their collection covers pieces of the past and the present. The collection is of wide breath, of little gems sourced throughout Asia - from India, Tibet, China, Korean, Japan, and more. Statues, textiles, wall art, ceramics, and more are represented. A not-at-all little but a sizeable treasure is the "Some/One" by Do Ho Suh from 2001. Made of 1000's of dog tags fashioned into a traditional Asian armor, Suh seeks to explore the individual to the larger society. The layout is very straightforward, and exploring each room is continuous. Be sure to look out the window towards Volunteer Park from inside the museum. During the twilight, wonderful photos can be taken outside of the museum and towards the Space Needle. Don't miss it! read more

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Honestly kinda disappointed. I was intrigued because I've heard so much about the grand opening but I wish there was more modern art and art about the Asian American experience I suppose. It was much more historical with a big section on spirituality and Buddhism and traditional wares. The clothing section was nice though. Also, as one of the sheets on an interactive piece (not during covid) said: Where is the Vietnam art?! Haha Overall it's a beautiful building in an even more beautiful park, I just wouldn't recommend paying for it. The last Friday of each month is free. read more

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

Amazing museum, celebrating Asian artwork and culture. After a three-year renovation and expansion, this museum has a lot to offer and is a great way to learn more about Asian civilization and history. Located in Volunteer Park, there is a small parking area in the front of the building, but parking can easily be found near the residential streets and is nearby a bus stop. My boyfriend and I went to the grand reopening of the Seattle Asian Art Museum on a Saturday, as we had tickets for a slotted time, since it was expected to be busy with its grand reopening. And it was! We had a fun time, celebrating the museum, as the opening weekend had a full schedule of live entertainment, events and classes that went into the evening. There are two levels to this museum. Once you enter the main entrance, there will be a counter for check-in. It's also next to the steps to the lower level where there's a restroom, water fountain, rooms for classes and events and coat check. There was a lot to see in the museum. All of the items are not arranged by country, but instead, by theme. For example, there was a room for spirituality, which had religious items, dating back several years past. It's even interesting how different countries will use the same material, or how the appearance of Buddha can be different, depending on its origin. It took my boyfriend and me about two hours to go through the entire museum. Throughout the museum were docents who were available to discuss any of the pieces. There were even some talks on specific artwork, which was part of the opening weekend list of events. The museum is pretty easy to navigate, with multiple rooms that easily transition from one to another. You know you've gone through the entire museum when the next room is back towards the entrance where the small gift shop is. We had a fun time at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and what a wonderful treat for Seattle to have a place, dedicated to Asian artwork. read more

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Visited SAM's Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park for the the first time. They have spotty hours - only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission was $16 and we spent about 1.5 hours wandering the location. It's quite small and has just a few galleries with representation from a wide variety of cultures. The signature Black Sun sculpture is outside as well. One of the standout elements is the building itself which is quintessentially art deco. read more

IMO the best museum in Seattle. Conveniently and beautifully located inside Volunteer Park. Free parking and you have the extra benefit of walking around the park before or after. Or go in the conservatory. Or keep walking and visit the cemetary where Bruce Lee and his son Brandon are buried. So much to offer and that's not even talking about the museum yet, which is stellar. Many of us remember this gem from our childhoods (or adulthoods). They closed a few years back to renovate and reimagine and boy did they do a superb job. Organized now by topic instead of country, there is so much food for thought here in just a few small rooms - yet the best part is you can come at the collection here however you want. If you want to just roam and not ponder too heavily, do that. If you want to get philosophical, do that. If you want to learn A TON, do that. The best part about being a local is watching the small changes made to what's on view, what's there, what's not there, what's new, and having that as a little surprise every visit. Then of course there are the special exhibitions which always deliver. This is a must visit in Seattle. Spend at least 2 to 3 hours here and wandering the surrounding area. Great view from here too! read more

I recently finally got a chance to visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum! It was a fun time and was worth the money for tickets. I feel like it had reasonable prices for the amount of time that I spent there. Their exhibits were decently spaced and well worked so that the walking flow was clear enough and all visitors were spaced out. The exhibits were interesting and showcased a lot of thought into their culmination. The Seattle Asian Art Museum took a different approach to grouping their exhibits. They group their pieces by topic rather than geographic region. It was interesting to see the ties between various Asian cultures across similar types of artworks and themes. There are also some interactive exhibits that help you stay connected and mindful. This is definitely a place I would suggest visiting if you have the time! Although not one of the places I would come back to again since it seems that exhibits are not regularly changed. read more

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Currently there is a summer day camp running at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. I found it really hard to concentrate as they were having their music class. The museum isn't very big and the banging of drums and cowbells could be heard across the entire building. I was under the impression that museums were supposed to be somewhat quiet for the patrons to read the signage and enjoy the art. I don't think that this type of activity is appropriate at a museum. If this is a recurring event, I personally would like to be notified prior to paying for my ticket so that I could come back another time. I ended up leaving after only going through half the exhibits because it was so difficult to focus. The exhibits themselves were fine. The collection was a bit small, but some of the rooms seemed to still be under construction so they may be filled in later. Overall, it was a frustrating experience. read more

i was finally able to explore the museum and thought it was really cool. $18 dollars for a ticket but worth it. also a nice way to cool off and see some art on a hot day! read more

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The opening days of the SAAM was great. The staff regulated people coming in so it wasn't overly stuffed but still busy. The art is amazing and worth going to see and the flow of the rooms makes it easy to see everything and take your time with each piece. read more

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

I went on a Sunday and I don't know if this is regular but it was whatever you felt like donating. On the website it says suggested donation $7. The sign in front of the building has all the prices listed on it too, which I think is cool just in case you're the type that doesn't plan for how much things cost or unless you're soooooo loaded your don't worry about money. You don't have to be loaded $$$ to go to this museum though. It's perfect for anyone to enjoy. One thing about this museum is that a majority of the works are mainly just Chinese and/or Japanese. I still consider India, N & South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Phillipines and other countries as Asian but you won't find any of these country's works here...unless I missed them. It is amazing though to see artwork and stoneware and glassware dated in the B.C. era that are still in such excellent shape. I'm not sure how much restoration is done on the pieces but a few of the pieces that were done on scrolls have information on how the pieces are restored using ancient restoration techniques and plant/animals based materials. I think that's really cool. As you browse the artwork, don't be surprised if you find other artists sitting on stools or benches or on the floor sketching and drawing from the art around them. I even saw one lady sketching the roof of the main lobby area. I love the see art and architecture inspire other artists. The gift shop is kind of nice too. Oh...and they have a little area for kids to draw and color picutres and dress themselves up in traditional kimonos or fold origami birds. It's entertaining for the kids read more

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Did a museum day on the 4th visiting three museum (SAM, SAAM, MOHAI) since all were offering free admission for the day. My second stop was to the Seattle Asian Art Museum at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. It certainly is a nice setting to have a museum located in a huge park. And the building that the museum is housed is a certified landmark. This location also previously housed Seattle Art Museum until it moved downtown. While the building is quite a lovely piece of architecture, the museum inside is a bit staid. The lighting at the SAAM is not bright and vibrant like the SAM. The museum also does not have the good air ventilation of its partner museum. It felt quite stuffy in some rooms while I toured the exhibits here. Yes, the museum does meet the criteria of an Asian art museum. However, the collection is not diverse. The majority of items on display are Chinese or Japanese. There is a small section in front full of Indian Buddhist statues, but that is about it. Nothing from Korea, Middle East or Southeast Asia. That said it is nice to see an Asian art museum which are not as revered as European art museums. Asian art is not known for their paintings, but for items like cultural artifacts, scrolls and statues. The collection here is okay. But if you are looking for great Asian art museums, you do need to go to Asia to find them. The Shanghai Art Museum is one that I particularly enjoyed visiting. If you are interested in AsIan art, the SAAM is worth a visit. Particularly if you visit on a free admission day. Though the main draw for me about going to the SAAM is the ability to walk around beautiful Volunteer Park before and after a visit to the museum. Honestly, the scenery outside is more interesting to me than what I saw inside here. read more

The Seattle Asian Art Museum is housed in a art-deco building that's almost worth coming to visit simply on it's exterior merits; if you actually enter the museum then you've completely amortized the time investment ;-) While this museum doesn't have a collection extensive enough to rival the one you'll find at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, this place has an excellent lay out; it's spacious, well lit, and nicely documented. Because their SAAM's collection is smaller, it's easier to view the entire museum in a single visit without missing any of the flavor. I also very much appreciate the fact that unlike at a number of other museums I've been to, you can take non-flash personal photos here for your own collection. About the only drawbacks I can think of is the fact that the bathrooms aren't easy to find, and you actually have to go through the gift shop to get to them. read more

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I love going to museums. And Seattle Asian Art Museum is a cool little museum. Situated in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, facing a great sunset view of the Puget Sound (seriously, it is just phenominal), with the Space Needle off to your right. SAAM's entry fee is ONLY $7, and there are plenty of opportunities visit on free days (First & Second Thursdays of the month and the first Saturdays of the month). Parking is free too! The exhibits are focused on Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Indian art. What I like about SAAM, is that it's not overwhelming. You can really take your time and not feel like you've wasted a whole day or that you've missed anything. Also, they have a nice blend of ancient and modern art, as well. read more

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This place is like history in volunteer Park area old as can be but still relevant if you're not from Seattle this is where you want to start and taken a great Asian museum and a great park I highly recommend you do both read more

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

I purchased walk in tickets for the museum. While I thought the facility was beautifully renovated, I wasn't as impressed with the collection. I've been there before and frankly liked their previous collection and special exhibits. Not sure I'd go back again especially if I have to pay admission fee. read more

I was really hoping for so much more than a single exhibition of tired old woodblock prints. I guess I was expecting something more like San Francisco, with room upon room of different histories and art medium... but this turned out to be a very shallow and 1-dimensional experience that was, if anything, a tribute to the wealthy patrons who donated or lent them. I hope that, after the remodel, they will add more permanent and rotating displays that tell stories of art and cultural history through art. Maybe we came on a bad day. We will visit again and hope to update this with something far more glowing then... read more