Interactive Feature

Making Sense of Modern Art
Making Sense of Modern Art

Making Sense of Modern Art is an extensive and engaging guide to modern and contemporary works in SFMOMA's permanent collection. The program's rich-media format enables you to "zoom in" on full-screen details of individual artworks, explore excerpts from archival videos and films, and listen to commentary by artists, art historians, critics, and collectors.

This feature works best with high-bandwidth internet access. You can also view it at the museum on our interactive kiosks, located in the Koret Visitor Education Center.

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Interactive Features
The Country Dog Gentlemen Travel to Extraordinary Worlds Sep 2009 Launch
Frida Kahlo Jun 2008 Launch
Ann Hamilton's indigo blue Sep 2007 Launch
Mexico as Muse: Tina Modotti and Edward Weston Sep 2006 Launch
Kara Walker's No Mere Words . . . Aug 2005 Launch
Image, Body, Text: Selected Works by Gary Hill Mar 2005 Launch
Doris Salcedo's Atrabiliarios Mar 2005 Launch
Ana Mendieta's Tallus Mater (Madre Tallo / Stem Mother) Sep 2004 Launch
Ed Ruscha: Painting Words Jul 2004 Launch
Chris Johanson: An Artist at Work Apr 2004 Launch
Stir Heart, Rinse Heart: Pipilotti Rist Mar 2004 Launch
The Art of Romare Bearden Feb 2004 Launch
Henri Matisse's Femme au chapeau Aug 2003 Launch
Magritte and Surrealism Aug 2003 Launch
Making Sense of Modern Art: The Early 20th Century Aug 2003 Launch
Rene Magritte's Les Valeurs personnelles Aug 2003 Launch
Claude Cahun's Untitled (I am training, don't kiss me) Aug 2003 Launch
Jackson Pollock's Guardians of the Secret Jul 2003 Launch
Jackson Pollock's Lucifer Jul 2003 Launch
Philip Guston Retrospective Jun 2003 Launch
Piet Mondrian's New York City 2 Mar 2003 Launch
Paul Klee's Versunkenheit (Absorption) Mar 2003 Launch
Paul Klee's Rotes Haus Mar 2003 Launch
Mondrian's Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue Mar 2003 Launch
Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting Oct 2002 Launch
Eva Hesse Feb 2002 Launch
Eva Hesse's Untitled or Not Yet Feb 2002 Launch
Eva Hesse's Sans II Feb 2002 Launch
Focus on Post-Revolutionary Mexico May 2001 Launch
Tina Modotti's Convent of Tepotzotlán, Mexico May 2001 Launch
Frida Kahlo's Frieda y Diego Rivera May 2001 Launch
Manuel Alvarez Bravo's Dos pares de piernas May 2001 Launch
Diego Rivera's Cargador de flores May 2001 Launch
David Alfaro Siqueiros's Penitenciaría May 2001 Launch
Jenny Holzer's I Am a Man Oct 2000 Launch
Jasper Johns's 0 through 9 Oct 2000 Launch
Making Sense of Modern Art: The Sixties and Seventies Oct 2000 Launch
Judy Chicago's Female Rejection Drawing Oct 2000 Launch
Making Sense of Modern Art: The Late 20th Century Oct 2000 Launch
Glenn Ligon's Self-Portraits Oct 2000 Launch
Jeff Koons's Michael Jackson and Bubbles Oct 2000 Launch
Celebrating Modern Art: The Anderson Collection Oct 2000 Launch
Louise Bourgeois's The Nest Oct 2000 Launch
Marcel Duchamp's Fountain Oct 2000 Launch
Andy Warhol's National Velvet Oct 2000 Launch
Robert Gober's Installation view of Newspaper, Rat Bait, Functioning Sink, Prison Window Oct 2000 Launch
Richard Serra's Gutter Corner Splash: Night Shift Oct 2000 Launch
Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing #132 Feb 2000 Launch
Sol LeWitt's Incomplete Open Cubes Feb 2000 Launch
Robert Rauschenberg's Untitled (Glossy Black Painting) Jan 2000 Launch
Robert Rauschenberg's Erased de Kooning Drawing Jan 2000 Launch
Robert Rauschenberg's Automobile Tire Print Jan 2000 Launch
Robert Rauschenberg's Collection Jan 2000 Launch
Robert Rauschenberg Case Study Jan 2000 Launch
Video
Richard Serra artist talk Jan 2012 Play
Richard Serra answers: Why make art? Jan 2012 Play
Richard Serra on drawing as visual note taking Jan 2012 Play
Richard Serra on his Splash Pieces Jan 2012 Play
Richard Serra on challenging artistic tradition Jan 2012 Play
Behind the scenes of Richard Serra Drawing Oct 2011 Play
Monsieur Matisse and Mrs. Stein May 2011 Play
Philip Guston at work in his studio Jun 2010 Play
Louise Bourgeois on Spiders Jun 2010 Play
Robert Rauschenberg pays tribute to John Cage Mar 2010 Play
The deinstallation of Sol LeWitt's wall drawings for SFMOMA Oct 2008 Play
Ann Hamilton on the inspiration for indigo blue Sep 2007 Play
Ann Hamilton on creating indigo blue Sep 2007 Play
SFMOMA installs Ann Hamilton's indigo blue Sep 2007 Play
Ann Hamilton discusses the meaning of indigo blue Sep 2007 Play
Patricia Albers on Tina Modotti and Edward Weston Sep 2006 Play
Gary Hill discusses Viewer Feb 2005 Play
Gary Hill's Suspension of Disbelief (for Marine) Feb 2005 Play
Gary Hill discusses his artistic practice Feb 2005 Play
Gary Hill discusses Cut Pipe Feb 2005 Play
Gary Hill discusses Wall Piece Feb 2005 Play
Gary Hill discusses Circular Breathing Feb 2005 Play
Kara Walker's "uneasy relationship" with her own imagination Dec 2004 Play
Kara Walker's alter ego Dec 2004 Play
Doris Salcedo discusses her sources Dec 2004 Play
Doris Salcedo discusses the intentions behind her work Dec 2004 Play
Kara Walker on her nineteenth-century influences Dec 2004 Play
Kara Walker's No Mere Words... Dec 2004 Play
Doris Salcedo on the importance of memory Dec 2004 Play
Doris Salcedo discusses her artistic identity Dec 2004 Play
Ed Ruscha on the borders of art Jul 2004 Play
Ed Ruscha on artists' books Jul 2004 Play
Ed Ruscha talks about painting from photographs Jul 2004 Play
Ed Ruscha on his silhouette paintings Jul 2004 Play
Ed Ruscha on working with gunpowder Jul 2004 Play
Ed Ruscha on the early experiences that shaped his career Jul 2004 Play
Pipilotti Rist on her Innocent Collection Jun 2004 Play
Tour of Pipilotti Rist's Stir Heart, Rinse Heart Jun 2004 Play
Pipilotti Rist on Stir Heart, Rinse Heart Jun 2004 Play
Pipilotti Rist on engaging viewers Jun 2004 Play
Pipilotti Rist discusses her artistic process Jun 2004 Play
Chris Johanson describes his creative process Dec 2003 Play
Chris Johanson on The Sunlight of the Spirit Is the Warmth of Love Dec 2003 Play
Michael Auping on the politics in Philip Guston's work Jun 2003 Play
Philip Guston and Abstract Expressionism Jun 2003 Play
Michael Auping on Philip Guston's hooded figures Jun 2003 Play
Mondrian's grids Dec 2002 Play
The philosophies of Mondrian and Von Doesburg Dec 2002 Play
Rene Magritte considers language and perception Dec 2002 Play
Mondrian and dance Dec 2002 Play
Amelia Jones on Surrealism, gender, and Claude Cahun Dec 2002 Play
Mondrian, Van Doesburg, and De Stijl Dec 2002 Play
Philip Guston in the studio Dec 2002 Play
Judy Chicago on The Dinner Party Dec 2002 Play
Piet Mondrian's place in art history Dec 2002 Play
The making of Eva Hesse's Aught Jan 2002 Play
Anne Wagner on the meaning of Eva Hesse's Untitled or Not Yet Jan 2002 Play
Anne Wagner on the ambiguities in Eva Hesse's work Jan 2002 Play
Sol Lewitt on Eva Hesse's Metronomic Irregularity II Jan 2002 Play
Kenneth Baker on Eva Hesse's Untitled or Not Yet Jan 2002 Play
Studio assistant Doug Johns discusses Eva Hesse's work Jan 2002 Play
A conservator's take on Eva Hesse's work Jan 2002 Play
Anne Wagner on Eva Hesse's work and the body Jan 2002 Play
Eva Hesse on referencing the human body Jan 2002 Play
Eva Hesse's use of latex Jan 2002 Play
Eva Hesse's Untitled (Rope Piece) Jan 2002 Play
Eva Hesse's artistic process Jan 2002 Play
Studio assistant Doug Johns on Eva Hesse's Sans II Jan 2002 Play
Eva Hesse on impermanence of her materials Jan 2002 Play
Looking at Eva Hesse's work Jan 2002 Play
Eva Hesse's Untitled or Not Yet and the female body Jan 2002 Play
Sol LeWitt on Eva Hesse's choice of materials Jan 2002 Play
Robert Storr on organizing Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting Dec 2001 Play
Robert Storr on making sense of Gerhard Richter's work Dec 2001 Play
Gerhard Richter, photography, and abstraction Dec 2001 Play
Caring for Eva Hesse's Aught Dec 2001 Play
Elisabeth Sussman on Eva Hesse's Expanded Expansion Dec 2001 Play
Jasper Johns discusses his target paintings Oct 2001 Play
Jasper Johns on the ideas behind his work Oct 2001 Play
Diego Rivera's frescoes May 2001 Play
Diego Rivera reads the Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art May 2001 Play
Andy Warhol at work Feb 2001 Play
Jenny Holzer's I Am a Man Dec 2000 Play
Tina Modotti in The Tiger's Coat Dec 2000 Play
Marcel Duchamp on Paris Air Dec 2000 Play
Jasper Johns's lithograph series 0 Through 9 Dec 2000 Play
Marcel Duchamp discusses Comb Dec 2000 Play
Marcel Duchamp discusses Bottlerack Dec 2000 Play
The reproduction of Duchamp's Fountain Dec 2000 Play
Jasper Johns draws 0 Through 9 Dec 2000 Play
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the Blue House Dec 2000 Play
Duchamp and the readymade Dec 2000 Play
Jasper Johns on Marcel Duchamp Dec 2000 Play
Marcel Duchamp discusses Bicycle Wheel Dec 2000 Play
Jenny Holzer's Televised Texts Dec 2000 Play
Jenny Holzer's lightboard for Times Square Dec 2000 Play
Clement Greenberg on Marcel Duchamp Dec 2000 Play
Andy Warhol on Pop art Dec 2000 Play
Marcel Duchamp's Fountain Dec 2000 Play
Louise Bourgeois on feminism Oct 2000 Play
Louise Bourgeois on geometric forms Oct 2000 Play
Louise Bourgeois on gender roles Oct 2000 Play
Louise Bourgeois on pottery Oct 2000 Play
Louise Bourgeois on becoming a sculptor Oct 2000 Play
Jackson Pollock at work Oct 2000 Play
Glenn Ligon discusses Day of Absence Oct 2000 Play
Jackson Pollock on his process Oct 2000 Play
John Weber on Robert Gober's Newspapers Oct 2000 Play
Lawrence Rinder on Robert Gober's Newspapers Oct 2000 Play
Glenn Ligon on self-portraits Oct 2000 Play
Jonathan Katz on Richard Serra's Gutter Corner Splash: Night Shift Oct 2000 Play
Judy Chicago on feminist art Oct 2000 Play
Judy Chicago on being a woman artist Oct 2000 Play
Richard Serra's Surprise Attack Oct 2000 Play
Glenn Ligon on confronting slavery Oct 2000 Play
Gary Garrels on Robert Gober's Newspapers Oct 2000 Play
The Trial of Tilted Arc Oct 2000 Play
Richard Serra's Gutter Corner Splash: Night Shift Oct 2000 Play
Jonathan Katz and Maria Porges on Robert Gober Oct 2000 Play
Richard Serra discusses his materials Oct 2000 Play
Amalia Mesa-Bains on Frida Kahlo's self-portraits Jul 2000 Play
Sol LeWitt's Incomplete Open Cubes Jan 2000 Play
John Baldessari sings Sol LeWitt Jan 2000 Play
Sol LeWitt on working with assistants Dec 1999 Play
Amalia Mesa-Bains on Frida Kahlo as a cultural figure Dec 1999 Play
Anthony Lee on Diego Rivera's American patrons Dec 1999 Play
Ray Patlan on the Mexican muralists Dec 1999 Play
Jackson Pollock and the Anderson Collection Dec 1999 Play
Rupert Garcia on Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Dec 1999 Play
The installation of Sol LeWitt's wall drawings for SFMOMA Dec 1999 Play
Sol LeWitt's legacy Dec 1999 Play
Robert Rauschenberg discusses his work Dec 1998 Play
Robert Rauschenberg's Erased de Kooning Drawing Dec 1998 Play
Robert Rauschenberg in Pelican Dec 1998 Play
Robert Rauschenberg on Automobile Tire Print Dec 1998 Play
Robert Rauschenberg on collaboration Dec 1998 Play
Frida Kahlo in San Francisco Dec 1994 Play
Audio
SFMOMA Artcast December 2012: Johns and DeFeo Dec 2012 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast January 2012 Jan 2012 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast August 2011 Aug 2011 Listen
Hilary Spurling on Matisse's Portrait of Sarah Stein Jun 2011 Listen
Henri Matisse's Boy with Butterfly Net: a token of friendship Jun 2011 Listen
Janet Bishop on early reactions to Femme au chapeau Jun 2011 Listen
Femme au chapeau's Journey to SFMOMA Mar 2011 Listen
John Zarobell on Ed Ruscha Jun 2010 Listen
Richard Serra on his use of steel Jun 2010 Listen
Tom Marioni and Richard Serra on Serra's Prop pieces Jun 2010 Listen
Michael Auping on Philip Guston's varied career Jun 2010 Listen
Sol LeWitt, Tom Marioni, and Gary Garrels on conceptual art Jun 2010 Listen
Gary Garrels on Jenny Holzer's The Survival Series Jun 2010 Listen
On Philip Guston's late figurative work Jun 2010 Listen
Gary Garrels discusses the truisms that inspire Jenny Holzer's work Jun 2010 Listen
Marc Huestis on Andy Warhol and celebrity Jun 2010 Listen
About Andy Warhol Jun 2010 Listen
Alison Gass on Louise Bourgeois's Spiders Jun 2010 Listen
Robert Storr on understanding Gerhard Richter Jun 2010 Listen
Kara Walker Gallery Exploration May 2010 Listen
Robert Rauschenberg on Trophy IV (For John Cage) Mar 2010 Listen
Janet Bishop on Matisse's Femme au Chapeau Mar 2010 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast March 2010 Mar 2010 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast June 2009 Jun 2009 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast January 2009 Jan 2009 Listen
John Cage discusses 4'33" Nov 2008 Listen
Robert Rauschenberg's White Paintings Nov 2008 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast June 2008 Jun 2008 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast December 2007 Dec 2007 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast August 2007 Aug 2007 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast June 2007 Jun 2007 Listen
Ann Hamilton discusses indigo blue Jun 2007 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast November 2006 Nov 2006 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast September 2006 Sep 2006 Listen
A walkthrough of the exhibition Mexico as Muse: Tina Modotti and Edward Weston Sep 2006 Listen
SFMOMA Artcast November 2005 Nov 2005 Listen