SITE Santa Fe
SITE Santa Fe
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A contemporary art space committed to enriching the cultural life of Santa Fe and beyond. SITE creates significant experiences for visitors by presenting the most innovative visual art of our time in new and engaging ways. Since its opening in 1995, SITE Santa Fe has been committed to supporting new developments in contemporary art, encouraging artistic exploration, and expanding traditional museum experiences.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
59 reviews
Excellent
36
Very good
13
Average
5
Poor
3
Terrible
2
An0nyMs
Tucson, AZ1,563 contributions
Jul 2021
The art was cutting-edge -- but, for the two exhibits I saw on 8 July '21 at least, also surprisingly accessible to people who haven't seen much contemporary art. I got another nice surprise when I asked the "guard" about writing in one of the paintings that looked like Italian to me... she explained that it tied this painting to the next, told me the history of the Italian artist in the next painting and compared the artist's style with Caravaggio. I asked her about another painting and got a similar wealth of info. We ended up talking about languages, how she had studied ancient Greek in college and how ambiguous translations can be, etc. The great art was enough, but she made it much more interesting and meaningful.
Written July 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Weaver
Irvine, CA2,288 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
But it was really interesting to walk through. Another couple came in at the same time, paid and left within 10 minutes. We were still looking in the small gift store and having a coffee and scone, so we did notice them. And as we left she committed that we had gone through backwards, but I strongly disagree with that. You go in where the curtains are open and the lights are bright, not a small doorway that is just a few feet away and darker. This exhibit was Bel Canto, a series of rooms themed with the Opera in mind. Italian Opera Houses, a wall of pictures of 150 of 3 tier houses from all over the Country taken from center stage looking to the back of the house. Some are rather plain, some ornate, big city or small. All show the local Opera House as the real backbone of Italian culture. The next room has a screen showing an aria being performed. Then you move into a story and rooms, dressing, makeup, giving a feel of what it takes to perform. Our time was an hour and a half. Speaking with the front desk, she said that the longest stay she has seen was 4 hours. But if you are a fan, you might be interested in seeing this exhibition.
Written August 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello I6181ENjamesw! We appreciate your review & are happy that you visited our current "Bel Canto" exhibition. Thank you for sharing your thoughts & experience in our museum. You're right, the space may seem empty compared to other museums. The exhibition design is intentionally spare & minimal to help maximize and differentiate the sound quality between the different works of art. We are lucky to have so much room to let the art breathe & sing! It's wonderful that you enjoyed your time at SITE Santa Fe & lingered in the installations for such a long while. We hope that you'll return again soon!
Written August 27, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KthSch
Aurora, IL3,527 contributions
Jul 2011 • Solo
I've visited SITE Santa Fe twice, once in July of 2010 and then again on Saturday, July 30. I enjoy going to contemporary art museums. Either it moves me OR it entertains me. That's been the mixed case both times I've visited. VERY contemporary. Some I don't get. Some I enjoy. Some...well...I have to hold in the laughter, uncultured boor that I am! But that's why I like visiting.
On my most recent visit there were two exhibitions. I enjoyed one ("Pae White: Material Mutters") but not the other ("Suzanna Boxanegra: I Write the Songs"). It's really hit or miss.
I would say this, though. The museum is rather small in scope. The $10 admission fee is quite steep for what you get. However, admission is free on Fridays and then again on Saturdays from 10am-noon when the Farmer's Market is on. Worth popping in when it's free and see what's on. You can always walk out if you don't like it!
So my recommendation is to visit for free on a Saturday, enjoy the Farmer's Market across the street and enjoy the Santa Fe Artists Market next door. I did that last year. I did that this year. I'm sure I'll do it in a future year.
Keith
On my most recent visit there were two exhibitions. I enjoyed one ("Pae White: Material Mutters") but not the other ("Suzanna Boxanegra: I Write the Songs"). It's really hit or miss.
I would say this, though. The museum is rather small in scope. The $10 admission fee is quite steep for what you get. However, admission is free on Fridays and then again on Saturdays from 10am-noon when the Farmer's Market is on. Worth popping in when it's free and see what's on. You can always walk out if you don't like it!
So my recommendation is to visit for free on a Saturday, enjoy the Farmer's Market across the street and enjoy the Santa Fe Artists Market next door. I did that last year. I did that this year. I'm sure I'll do it in a future year.
Keith
Written August 16, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MalteseFalcon
Lewes, DE690 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
I think I would've gotten more out of this 'art' museum if I was wearing a beret, sporting a goatee and smoking a cigarette through a long fancy holder. And used words like "groovy" more often.
If that sounds like you, then the 10 bucks a head to get in would be more worthwhile than it was for me.
If that sounds like you, then the 10 bucks a head to get in would be more worthwhile than it was for me.
Written April 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
McMac
Coloraodo9 contributions
Jul 2012 • Friends
The current installation -- "More Real" -- blew my mind. Smart, funny, playful, provocative. For context, I'm not art ignorant, but I am often baffled by contemporary art and I, as someone else mentioned, go out of my way to avoid renderings of Native Americans and horses. None of that here. Something else entirely, something my friend and I talked about all the way home to Denver. Something extraordinary, fun, exciting, stimulating, inspiring. We're scheming on how to get back before the current show closes in January 2013. SITE is definitely on my must-visit Santa Fe list.
Written July 9, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingTexasChick
San Antonio21 contributions
Peaked by their advertised Exhibition, my husband and I visited SITE Santa Fe, a VERY contemporary art space located in the newly renovated Railyard District. It was, a unique art experience, to say the least. My husband, a typical guy's guy-and "not really into contemporary art", zipped through the whole place in about thirty minutes and neatly summarized it as "weird for the sake of being weird". I'm more optimistic- I'd like to think that it was weird with a purpose-perhaps to force it's audience to see another perspective. Either way, the various exhibitions offered at SITE Santa Fe were strange, thought-provoking, beautiful and ugly, horrific, interesting and definitely NOT something you'd see at your typical art exhibition. Also, striking up a conversation with one of the "art experts" standing in the rooms helped me to learn some interesting facts about the artists that I wouldn't have known otherwise. It helped make the displays more meaningful. Love it or hate it, you'll definitely walk out of SITE Santa Fe with an opinion about art!
Written December 9, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cindy T
Northampton, MA535 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
This is a wonderful modern art museum. A group of four of us visited on a Saturday afternoon. I especially liked the exhibit about nuns. There are several opera-themed exhibits. Quite information. Extra added bonus - the gift shop has unique items at reasonable prices.
Written July 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Cindy! Thank you so much for your review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed the Suzanne Bocanegra installation in our "Bel Canto: Contemporary Artists Explore Opera" exhibition. And we are happy you enjoyed shopping at our gift store. We hope that you'll come visit us again soon!
Written September 24, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KthSch
Aurora, IL3,527 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
I try to visit SITE Santa Fe each time I'm in town. I always find the changing exhibitions interesting and sometimes deeply moving. I'm fascinated by contemporary art. Sometimes I hate it, sometimes I love it, but I'm never indifferent to it.
I was thrilled to see on this trip in November, 2017 that SITE Santa Fe had significantly increased their square footage including a new climate controlled space. This has allowed a greater freedom in what can be on exhibition.
It certainly had a deeply positive impact for my visit. "Future Shock" was just an amazing and challenging exhibition that captured my attention fully. I even bought the exhibition book, something I don't normally do!
KEY HINT: SITE Santa Fe is free every Friday all day and from 10am-noon on Saturdays (during the Farmer's Market which is across the street). I've never paid to visit. Given the uncertainty of what is on display, I like this game plan!
Keith
I was thrilled to see on this trip in November, 2017 that SITE Santa Fe had significantly increased their square footage including a new climate controlled space. This has allowed a greater freedom in what can be on exhibition.
It certainly had a deeply positive impact for my visit. "Future Shock" was just an amazing and challenging exhibition that captured my attention fully. I even bought the exhibition book, something I don't normally do!
KEY HINT: SITE Santa Fe is free every Friday all day and from 10am-noon on Saturdays (during the Farmer's Market which is across the street). I've never paid to visit. Given the uncertainty of what is on display, I like this game plan!
Keith
Written May 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaryEllenM27
Kalispell, MT18,112 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
We had a Sponsor’s Museum Pass so we “technically" did not have to pay to enter this place. We really tried to enjoy Site Santa Fe, but alas, it did not happen. However, you may not agree with us...so the only way to judge for yourselves is to visit yourselves and/or read reviews very carefully.
Written December 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John C
Vancouver Island, Canada460 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
We like art, and most of the art attractions we visited in Santa Fe.
This one however, was too unusual for us.
A whole wall with magazine covers....
One or two of the displays interested us, but sorry, the rest didn't.
Luckily we went on one of their 'Free Fridays'
This one however, was too unusual for us.
A whole wall with magazine covers....
One or two of the displays interested us, but sorry, the rest didn't.
Luckily we went on one of their 'Free Fridays'
Written March 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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