The Exploratorium presents its 2025 rendition of the fan-favorite winter exhibition Glow, opening November 20, 2025 and running through January 25, 2026.
This annual exhibition presents luminous sculptural light art by artists from around the world, turning one of SF’s most popular museums into a compelling landscape of interactive glowing art pieces.
Featured works include optical illusions, hands-on installations, walk-through landscapes, and luminous sculptures to admire from afar.
Glow 2025
This year’s Glow exhibition showcases a new, exciting collection of artworks that celebrate the union of light, art, and science.
Squidsoup’s Wave is likely to be a fan favorite, featuring nearly 500 suspended orbs in the shape of an ocean wave, animated through light and sound. Guests can walk beneath the orbs and gaze up at the wave from all angles.
Tristan Duke’s Aperture Lucida returns after featuring in the Exploratorium’s Artist-in-Residence Program between 2017 and 2019. It’s a fascinating optical illusion where visitors can step inside a dark box containing a holographic ball of light, which transforms as you walk through and interact with it.
Another Exploratorium Artist-in-Residence, Bob Miller, created an original exhibit called Sun Painting in 1971, where guests can use refracted light from the sun to create a “live” painting. This year’s Glow honors and reimagines Sun Painting with the addition of new interactive elements and artificial lighting, meaning it can also be used at night and on cloudy days.
“With larger-than-life installations and immersive environments, some pieces invite hands-on exploration while others inspire awe from a distance,” said Allison Roach, Director of Temporary Exhibitions. “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to experience the surprise, delight, and curiosity that Glow brings to all ages.”
Visiting the Exploratorium
🗓️ Exhibition dates: Nov. 20, 2025 – Jan. 25, 2026
🕜 Hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm, After Dark Thursdays (18+) from 6-10pm, Sundays from 10am-12pm (members only) and 12pm-5pm (general public)
📍 Location: Exploratorium, Pier 15, Embarcadero at Green St, San Francisco, CA 94111
🎟️ Tickets: Glow is included with general admission to the Exploratorium