Blooming Art at San Francisco's de Young Museum

San Francisco’s de Young museum hosted a weeklong floral exhibition, Bouquets to Art in March. More than 100 preeminent florists from across the globe- including those of the Royal Ballet, the White House and Queen Sofia Spanish Institute brought their artistic interpretation of the museum’s collections to life.

Each florist fashioned a response piece to the works that fill de Young. Blooming throughout the galleries, the living art presented a conversation between art and nature. The exhibit even looked ahead to April when The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion and Rock & Roll will arrive.

Over the course of 32 years, Bouquets to Art has raised more than $6 million towards special exhibitions, conservation projects and education programs for the San Francisco Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums. The San Francisco Auxiliary will be a Presenting Sponsor of Monet: The Early Years which is now on view at the Legion of Honor.

Photo-free hours every Wednesday through Friday and workshops with the florists made for unique visits while lectures, luncheons and a luxury raffle provided an interactive experience. Normal hours resumed from noon to 5:15 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday.

This year, proceeds from the Bouquets to Art event will assist underwriting special exhibitions, conservations projects and education programs at the de Young museum as well as its sister museum, Legion of Honor.

Molly Harris is Paste Design’s assistant editor and a freelance writer based in Athens, Georgia.