Mingei International Museum, located in the Balboa Park Cultural District, celebrates human creativity through multicultural works of folk art, craft, and design. Inspired by the Japanese mingei (art of the people) movement, Mingei cares deeply about design functionality, handmade craft, and bringing out the creativity that lives in all of us.
In addition to rotating gallery exhibitions and event programming, Mingei's gift shop, theater, education center, restaurant, and café are backdrops for finding inspiration and connecting with community.
Learn more at mingei.org and connect with us on social media!
Established in 1978, Mingei International Museum collects, conserves, and exhibits arts of daily use – by anonymous craftsmen of ancient times, from traditional cultures of past and present and by historical and contemporary designers. The Museum has a rich history and commitment to furthering the understanding of art of the people, mingei. Objects in our Collection reflect a joy in making, by hand, useful objects of timeless beauty that are satisfying to the human spirit.
At the Museum
The Entry Level (ground floor) of the Museum is accessible from the Plaza de Panama and Alcazar Garden, open and free to the public, featuring objects from Mingei's permanent collection, Shop Mingei, ARTIFACT at Mingei's elevated dining experience, CRAFT CAFÉ, and an interactive Make with Mingei art station. Also referred to as the "living room of Balboa Park," this gathering space seeks to be a warm welcome to Park visitors.
The Exhibitions Level (second floor) is a hub of inspiration with flexible gallery space in which the Museum presents regularly rotating exhibitions of folk art, craft, and design objects. This level also hosts Mingei's Art Library, Founder's Gallery that showcases an iconic Nakashima table, and two terraces with wide views of Balboa Park plazas.
Plan Your Visit
Make your museum trip a breeze! Purchase tickets ahead of time and access our free Digital Guide. Learn more at Mingei.org/Visit
1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-0003
website@mingei.org
MUSEUM and SHOP MINGEI
Mon: Closed
Tues - Thu
Sat
Sun: 10am - 5pm
Fri: 10am - 8pm
CRAFT CAFÉ
Mon - Sun: 8:30am - 5pm
ARTIFACT at MINGEI
Lunch | Tues - Sun: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Dinner | Fri: 5 - 8pm
Happy Hour | Fri - Sun: 2:30 - 5pm
Fashioning an Icon: Virgin of Guadalupe Imagery in Textile Design celebrates her representation on clothing and adornment. Objects range from traditional garments created by over 70 artists from...
This exhibition presents over 100 spoons from across the globe, including examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Some are adorned with exquisite carvings of human and animal figures,...
Organized collaboratively with faculty and students from the University of California San Diego, members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and the Kiowa Tribe, this exhibition explores hand-drawn...
What makes an icon? Drawing inspiration from concurrent exhibition Fashioning an Icon: Virgin of Guadalupe Imagery in Textile Design , high school students were invited to create work...
Examining a major historic event, the United States’ 1876 Centennial, this exhibition looks at quilts from the era to discuss representation, socio-politics, absent voices, and unheard stories....
Located on Mingei’s free Entry Level, Tuck and Roll showcases over 80 armadillo figures from Mingei’s permanent collection! Featuring works made by artisans across the Americas, this...
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