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
