Spirituality is often the basis from many great works of art. Rarely however, do we have the opportunity to see such art on display with this common focus.

Beyond Belief: 100 Years of the Spiritual in Modern Art, on display at the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco, is a thematic exhibition that explores the far-reaching connections between spirituality and modern and contemporary art from 1911 to 2011. Featuring more than 60 works by artists ranging from early 20th-centure visionaries to leading postwar and contemporary artists, Beyond Belief provides a new perspective of familiar and lesser known works from San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art’s collection.

The Exhibition, divided into ten sections, examines widely held spiritual ideas, many of which closely parallel or are rooted in Jewish religious thought. The exhibition begins, appropriately, with the section entitled Genesis which explores creation and revelation through the lens of art. This particular interpretation looks to challenge the norms by presenting art from women of the modern era. The exhibition then continues on through other sub-themes including Divine Architecture, God in the Abstract, and the Secret Language ending with Loss and Redemption.

As you journey through the various sections, you will experience art of all mediums from paintings, to sculptures, to short-films. This breathtaking experience is thought provoking and truly inspiring. Included in each section are iPads that provide an interactive way for visitors to become engaged.

In addition to the normal viewing hours (listed below), visitors can attend a Wonder Tour of Beyond Belief, which is led by a spiritual thought leader. Wonder Tours occur on select Mondays and a list of speakers and dates can be found on the events’ page.

Beyond Belief is the first of SFMOMA’s collaborative exhibitions at partner venues as part of the next phase of that museum’s expansion project. SFMOMA recently closed its physical doors for renovation and took to the streets of San Francisco, the United States, and even the world to showcase their wonderful collection.

Contemporary Jewish Museum
736 Mission Street
San Francisco, California
Phone: 415.655.7800
Hours: Friday–Tuesday, 11 am–5 pm; Thursday 1 pm-8 pm; closed on Wednesday
Admission:  $12 adults; $10 seniors and students; 18 under and SFMOMA/CJM Members FREE; Thursday after 5pm $5.
Saturday–Sunday: $22 adults; $19 seniors; $18 college students with ID; $12 youths 6–17.
These prices include general admission.