The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) houses over 30,000 works spanning 5,000 years of human creativity. You’ll discover Texas’s largest collections of Latin American and Asian art, alongside notable Mediterranean, American, and European pieces. Current exhibitions include Manjari Sharma’s “Transcendent Deities of India: The Everyday Occurrence of the Divine” and “Samurai: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller.”
The museum offers daily admission, various discounts, guided tours, and on-site dining at Tre Trattoria. Membership starts at $60, granting exclusive benefits to enhance your cultural experience.
Image: Zereshk, SAMA (1), CC BY-SA 3.0
Exploring the Museum’s World-Class Collections
While many museums specialize in particular regions or eras, the San Antonio Museum of Art stands apart with its globally diverse collections. You’ll find over 30,000 objects reflecting civilizations from ancient to modern times.
SAMA boasts the largest collection of Latin American art in Texas, with over 10,000 pieces. You’ll also see ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian artifacts, works by European masters, and a strong American art collection.
Don’t miss the Asian art wing, home to 3,000+ pieces from across East and South Asia—spotlighting the art of China, Korea, India, and Japan. The museum’s modern and contemporary collection rounds out this extraordinary display, allowing visitors to explore human creativity across time and cultures.
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions Worth Seeing
Beyond its permanent galleries, the museum offers a vibrant rotation of exhibitions highlighting new voices and timeless themes.
Currently on view:
- “Transcendent Deities of India: The Everyday Occurrence of the Divine” by Manjari Sharma, exploring sacred Hindu imagery (through July 2025).
- “Samurai: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller”, featuring intricate Japanese armor and weaponry (through July 2025).
- “Pase Usted” by Carlos Rosales-Silva, a site-specific mural inspired by the borderland experience (through September 2025).
- “The Goddess Triptych Reunited” by Ángel Rodríguez-Díaz, celebrating divine feminine themes in Puerto Rican identity (through September 2025).
- “Lovers & Fighters”, showcasing prints by Latino artists from the museum’s own collection (through April 2025).
Visitor Information and Planning Your Trip
Planning your visit to the San Antonio Museum of Art is simple and rewarding. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with varying hours (closed Mondays). Admission includes discounts for students, seniors, military, and educators, while children under 12 are free.
Free admission is available every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon for Bexar County residents.
Guided tours and mobile guides are available to help enrich your visit, offering deeper insight into the museum’s rotating and permanent collections.
The building is fully ADA-accessible, including ramps and elevators. Parking is available in a secure lot adjacent to the museum, and the River Walk’s Museum Reach makes it accessible by foot or bike.
Dining at Tre Trattoria and the Museum Experience
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Extend your visit with a meal at Tre Trattoria, located on-site at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Overlooking the San Antonio River, this Italian-inspired restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, fusing culinary delights with cultural ambiance.
Tre Trattoria’s menu features modern Italian fare, including handmade pasta, roasted meats, and seasonal ingredients. A visit to the museum isn’t complete without pausing for a meal or glass of wine in this tranquil riverside setting.
Museum members enjoy a 10% discount, making this stop not only convenient but also a smart perk of membership.
Membership Benefits and Supporting the Arts
Becoming a member of the San Antonio Museum of Art offers a wealth of benefits while supporting arts access and preservation. With over 3,000 member households, the museum relies on this community to sustain its mission.
Memberships start at $60 for individuals and $150 for families, offering:
- Unlimited free admission
- Free access to special exhibitions
- Invitations to member-only events and exhibition previews
- 10% discounts at the Museum Shop and Tre Trattoria
- Priority registration for workshops and educational programs
Your membership helps the museum provide outreach to Title I schools, free admission programs, and world-class exhibitions. It’s more than a pass—it’s an investment in San Antonio’s cultural future.