de Saisset Museum

The de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University is the South Bay’s free Museum of art and history. It is currently one of three museums in the South Bay to hold accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. Operated and supported by Santa Clara University, the de Saisset Museum also is privately funded and member-supported. The de Saisset Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets

objects of art and history for the educational and cultural enrichment of all people. The museum achieves its mission through an active program of exhibitions, collections, education programs, and publications. As an important resource for SCU, the de Saisset actively collaborates with the larger University community in order to foster the integration of diverse forms of learning. The de Saisset presents 6 to 10 temporary exhibitions every year. Exhibitions highlight the diversity of our community, address issues of contemporary society, showcase the work of under-recognized or under-appreciated artists, and emphasize the strengths of the permanent collection. The museum also serves as the caretaker of the University's California History Collection, which is on permanent view. Since its founding, the de Saisset's permanent collection has expanded to include more than 12,000 objects collected in six main areas: California history, Mission-era liturgical vestments, decorative arts, works on paper, painting & sculpture, and new media. The collection includes prints from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, 19th century, and Modernist periods. The museum has an extensive collection of contemporary works on paper, with a special emphasis on artists from the San Francisco Bay Area. The de Saisset Museum offers a variety of educational programs including lectures, symposia, workshops, and family days. In addition, the de Saisset provides free docent tours of the California History Collection and Mission Santa Clara. MISSION
The de Saisset Museum supports Santa Clara University's goal of educating the whole person through a diverse and accessible range of exhibitions, collections, and educational programs that highlight the art and history of the San Francisco Bay Area and the local Santa Clara Valley. As a center of lifelong learning, the de Saisset Museum facilitates discovery, experience, and inspiration through engaging objects of art and history. Core Values:
- The Museum will present exhibitions that highlight the diversity of our community (in age, gender, and ethnicity), feature a variety of media, offer a diverse representation of topics and viewpoints, showcase the work of recognized and under-recognized or under-appreciated artists, address issues of contemporary society, and highlight the strengths of our permanent collection.
- The Museum will continue the development, management, and preservation of the permanent collection, thereby creating an artistic and historic legacy for the community.
- The Museum will engage in University departmental collaborations, expanding the environment that fosters the integration of different forms of learning as well as the Jesuit ideals of reasoned and rigorous inquiry.
- The Museum will provide a welcoming and service-oriented atmosphere that encourages participation by diverse audiences.
- The Museum will nurture a sense of pride and ownership among its principals, including the University, advisory board, staff, members, donors, volunteers, and visitors.

09/28/2023

New exhibition opening tonight!

June Wayne: Artist, Feminist, Social Entrepreneur showcases 27 lithographs by June Wayne created over a 40+ year period. Developing from a capstone project by art history majors (now alumnae) Lauren Stein ‘23 and Maggie Walter ‘23 from Santa Clara University’s Department of Art and Art History, this exhibition includes artworks are drawn from the de Saisset Museum’s permanent collection and works on loan.

A catalog for this exhibition will be available, made possible in part through project sponsorship from the Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The realization of the full vision for this exhibition and catalog would not have been possible without the support of the June Wayne Collection, MB Abram, the University of New Mexico, Robert Conway, SCU’s Department of Art and Art History, the Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Annika Singh ‘23.

https://events.scu.edu/event/321798

Image: June Wayne, Base Pair (detail), from the series Burning Helix, 1970, lithograph, edition 24/25, de Saisset Museum permanent collection, Santa Clara University, Gift of Robert Conway, 2014.12.12. Photo by Adam Hays. © June Wayne Collection.

06/15/2023

Final days to visit the exhibition con.Text: Portraits by Bryan Ida. On view through June 17.

04/14/2023

Thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday’s reception and today’s gallery walk-throughs with artist Bryan Ida.

There are two more walk throughs tomorrow, Saturday, April 15th at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Join us! These events are free and open to the public.

04/13/2023

Join us today from 4-6 p.m. for the reception celebrating con.Text: Portraits by Bryan Ida!

04/12/2023

Today is Santa Clara University's 10th annual Day of Giving. Go and the de Saisset Museum with a donation of any size.

Arts and culture play an important role in the intellectual and creative lives of our students and the de Saisset Museum offers dynamic educational opportunities that complement and expand their experiences in the classroom. Your support helps the de Saisset Museum continue to grow as a space of discovery, experience, and inspiration.

https://givingday.scu.edu/giving-day/66291/department/66296

04/06/2023

The reception for exhibition con.Text: Portraits by Bryan Ida is one week away! Join us Thursday, April 13 from 4-6 p.m. and meet the artist.

Can't make the reception? There are gallery walk-throughs with artist Bryan Ida on Friday, April 14 & Saturday, April 15.

All events are free and open to the public. Advance registration encouraged.

RSVP for the reception
https://bit.ly/3GoK0CR

Register for a walk-through on Friday, April 14
https://bit.ly/40E3ifv

Register for a walk-through on Saturday, April 15
https://bit.ly/40PzJb4

Pictured: Bryan Ida, Protester (left), 2019, and Neighbor (right, detail), 2018, both from the series con.Text, ink on panel. Photos courtesy of the artist.

06/17/2022

de Saisset Museum updated their business hours.

06/09/2022

The de Saisset is about to close for the academic year. Tomorrow, Friday June 10, is the final day to view Kara Maria - Precious and Precarious: Life on the Edge of Extinction. See you again in September!

06/08/2022

Much to the surprise of anyone who remembers Crush, the 150 year-old green sea turtle from Finding Nemo, sea turtles 🐢 don’t actually speak in laid-back California surfer accents and aren’t even green. The “green” in their name comes from the color of their fat rather than their skin or shell. World Sea Turtle Day is observed annually on June 16th to raise awareness about their importance as a keystone species.

See Kaleidoscope Eyes (Green Sea Turtle) and other works by Kara Maria during the final week of Precious and Precarious on the Edge of Extinction on view until June 10, 2022.

Pictured: Kara Maria, Kaleidoscope Eyes, (Green Sea Turtle, detail), 2017, acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of Anglim/Trimble. Photo by John Wilson White.

06/06/2022

This week is your LAST chance to see student responses to Precious and Precarious: Life on the Edge of Extinction at the de Saisset! Visit the museum Tuesday through Friday, open 11am - 4pm.

06/03/2022

Due to the Class of 2022 Commencement, Friday June 10, 2022 will be the last day to view photography from the de Saisset’s permanent collection in Unexpected Perspectives and other exhibitions on display. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11am - 4pm through June 10.

06/01/2022

Ursus maritimus translates to “sea bear,” but the revered polar bear goes by many names in different cultures. The Inuit, who rely on the nanuk (meaning “animal worthy of respect”) for nutrition and resources face challenges as the species’ sea ice habitat fades. Some studies suggest that polar bears will be extinct by 2100 due to melting ice 🧊

See Not Fade Away, (Polar Bear) and other works by Kara Maria in Precious and Precarious: Life on the Edge of Extinction on view until June 11, 2022.

Pictured: Kara Maria, Not Fade Away, (Polar Bear), 2014, acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of Anglim/Trimble. Photo by John Wilson White.

05/28/2022

Each year on May 28th, the International Crane Foundation (ICF) celebrates Whooping Crane Day. The tallest bird in North America and identifiable by their black “mustaches,” the whooping crane is one of the Endangered Species Act’s success stories with a population of 16 individuals in 1942 now surpassing 800.

See An Exercise of Freedom, (Whooping Crane) and other works by Kara Maria in Precious and Precarious: Life on the Edge of Extinction on view until June 11, 2022.

Pictured: Kara Maria, An Exercise of Freedom, (Whooping Crane), 2018, acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of Anglim/Trimble. Photo by John Wilson White.

05/20/2022

Of the featured species, the honeybee 🐝 is perhaps the most recent to join the collection of disappearing animals. World Bee Day, celebrated on May 20th, was established in 2018 in honor of Slovenian beekeeper, Anton Jansa, the pioneer of modern bee-keeping. Experts suggest one thing you can do to is to purchase local and raw honey from beekeepers.

See Everything Takes Time (Honey Bee) and other works by Kara Maria in Precious and Precarious: Life on the Edge of Extinction on view until June 11, 2022.

Pictured: Kara Maria, Everything Takes Time (Honey Bee), 2013, acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of Anglim/Trimble. Photo by John Wilson White.

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Our Story

The de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University is the South Bay’s free Museum of art and history. The museum was founded adjacent to Mission Santa Clara de Asís on SCU's campus in 1955. It is currently one of three museums in the South Bay to hold accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. Operated and supported by Santa Clara University, the de Saisset Museum also is privately funded and member-supported.

The de Saisset Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets objects of art and history for the educational and cultural enrichment of all people. The museum achieves its mission through an active program of exhibitions, collections, education programs, and publications. As an important resource for SCU, the de Saisset actively collaborates with the larger University community in order to foster the integration of diverse forms of learning.

The de Saisset presents 6 to 10 temporary exhibitions every year. Exhibitions highlight the diversity of our community, address issues of contemporary society, showcase the work of under-recognized or under-appreciated artists, and emphasize the strengths of the permanent collection. The museum also serves as the caretaker of the University's California History Collection, which is on permanent view.

Since its founding, the de Saisset's permanent collection has expanded to include more than 12,000 objects collected in six main areas: California history, Mission-era liturgical vestments, decorative arts, works on paper, painting & sculpture, and new media. The collection includes prints from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, 19th century, and Modernist periods. The museum has an extensive collection of contemporary works on paper, with a special emphasis on artists from the San Francisco Bay Area.

The de Saisset Museum offers a variety of educational programs including lectures, symposia, workshops, and family days. In addition, the de Saisset provides free docent tours of the California History Collection and Mission Santa Clara.

Videos (show all)

California History Docents respond to the new exhibition

Telephone

(408) 554-4528

Website

http://www.scu.edu/desaisset

Address

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA
95050

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