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SF Art Guide: Apr. 16th – 20th, 2025

(featured image) Joanna Blume, Dutch Windmill Tulip Garden. Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 24 in. *Courtesy of HUNT & GATHER

Whether you’re a gallery-hopping regular or just looking to add a little creative spark to your week, we’ve got you covered. From underground art happenings to can’t-miss exhibitions, this is your up-to-the-minute guide to what’s lighting up SF’s art scene from April 16–20th. We’re always adding fresh finds, so check back often!

Thursday, Apr. 17th

Promotional poster for Meet the Artists: Stephen Namara & Tom Seligman event at The Drawing Room: Annex in San Francisco, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Poster courtesy of The Drawing Room: ANNEX

The Drawing Room: ANNEX

Thu, Apr. 17th 5-7PM

Meet the Artists: Stephen Namara & Tom Seligman at The Drawing Room: Annex for a casual evening of one-on-one conversations with the artists. This interactive event offers a memorable opportunity to connect and gain insights into their creative processes.

Promotional banner for Clement Street Artwalk in San Francisco, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Banner courtesy of Clement Street Artwalk

Clement Street Artwalk

Thu, Apr. 17th 5-8PM

Celebrate art, music, and community at the Third Thursday Clement Street Artwalk—stroll the street, discover local talent, and support neighborhood businesses.

Promotional banner for the San Francisco Art Fair at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, April 17-20, 2025, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Banner courtesy of San Francisco Art Fair

San Francisco Art Fair Opening Night

Thu, Apr. 17th 6-9PM

Experience the excitement of San Francisco Art Fair’s Opening Night, presented by RBC Wealth Management. This premier art event brings together 85 top galleries and dynamic programming at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, celebrating the Bay Area’s vibrant arts scene.

The fair continues through the weekend, offering unparalleled access to contemporary works and a chance to meet influential artists, collectors, and curators. Don’t miss out on this incredible celebration of creativity, with exhibitions, talks, and events highlighting the best of the art world. (Apr. 17th – 20th) *Fair Pass $35-$65

Friday, Apr. 18th

Promotional image for Hospitality House's "Holding Ground" exhibition at KQED in San Francisco, featuring a Superman artwork, as seen in the SF Art Guide.

*Artwork image courtesy of KQED

Hospitality House x KQED

Fri, Apr. 18th 4-6PM

Hospitality House’s Community Arts Program presents “Holding Ground,” a group exhibition at KQED featuring local artists exploring themes of home, identity, and resistance in a city shaped by displacement. This free exhibition serves as a lead-up to the 40th anniversary of Hospitality House’s annual THHE Auction 2025, celebrating the power of art to reclaim space and nurture hope. (Mar. 29th – Apr. 17th)

Sonia Gill's "Breakfast," a mixed media collage artwork featuring a figure in blue clothing with purple and orange head examining what appears to be fish or food in a bowl, featured in the SF Art Guide.

Artwork: Sonia Gill, Breakfast, 2024. Mixed Media, 10 x 10 in. *Courtesy of the Artist

Birdhouse Gallery

Fri, Apr. 18th 4-8PM

Celebrate the closing reception of “A Time & A Place” at Birdhouse Gallery—a solo exhibition by Sonia Gill featuring striking paper paintings, live music, tasty treats, and vibrant conversation.

Promotional banner for "NEW SUNS: Resist & Rejoice," a benefit art auction at Southern Exposure in San Francisco, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Banner courtesy of Southern Exposure

Southern Exposure

Fri, Apr. 18th 6PM

Southern Exposure presents “NEW SUNS: Resist & Rejoice,” a benefit art auction celebrating the resilience of the Bay Area arts community with over 130 works by local artists. This annual fundraiser supports SoEx’s vital mission to uphold experimental art and community dialogue in the face of growing challenges—join the celebration in-person or online to bid, connect, and support. (Mar. 29th – Apr. 17th)

Yunfei Rei's "When One Shadow Touches Another," an abstract artwork showcasing radiating lines, flowing purple and gold watercolor, and black wave-like patterns evoking magnetic fields., featured in the SF Art Guide.

Artwork: Yunfei Rei, When One Shadow Touches Another. *Courtesy of Jonathan Carver Moore

Jonathan Carver Moore

Fri, Apr. 18th 6:30-8:30PM

Jonathan Carver Moore presents “Latitude Unknown,” a solo exhibition by Yunfei Ren exploring migration as an ongoing transformation through poetic, atmospheric paintings. The works evoke the shifting perceptions of voyagers, blending past and present across sunlit coasts, stars, and sea. (Apr. 18th – May 31st)

Visitors explore art installations inside and outside Hotel Del Sol, a retro-style yellow hotel, during StartUp Art Fair in San Francisco, with the city’s skyline visible in the background, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Photo courtesy of StartUp Art Fair

Startup Art Fair Opening Night

Fri, Apr. 18th 7-10PM

The Startup Art Fair kicks off with an exciting Opening Night Celebration at Hotel Del Sol, featuring live music, performances, and incredible art (included with general admission). Over the weekend, discover over 70 emerging artists, interactive installations, and performances, all while enjoying food, cocktails, and music in a vibrant setting. (Apr. 18th – 20th) *Fair Pass $20-$75. Use our special promo code “SFART50” for 50% off passes!

Diverse group of people posing at a gallery opening in front of a colorful oversized fabric flower installation, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Photo courtesy of SF Art Guide

SF Art Guide Meetup at Startup Art Fair

Fri, Apr. 18th 7-10PM

Join SF Art Guide for a casual meetup at Startup Art Fair’s Opening Night at Hotel del Sol—where over 60 artists transform hotel rooms into gallery spaces. Expect live performances, immersive installations, cocktails, and good vibes as you explore art and connect with fellow creatives. *Use promo code “SFART50” for 50% off passes!

Saturday, Apr. 19th

Street art workshop outside Voss Gallery with diverse group examining prints on folding tables, colorful murals visible on building wall behind participants, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Photo courtesy of Voss Gallery

Voss Gallery

Sat, Apr. 19th 1-3:30PM

Join acclaimed street artist Jeremy Novy at Voss Gallery for a hands-on Make & Take Stencil Workshop, where you’ll learn the history and techniques of stenciling. Create and take home your own stencil while exploring its impact on activism and art history. *Tickets $100

Promotional poster for "Brave New World," a pop-up exhibit at The Nave in California College of the Arts, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Poster courtesy of California College of the Arts (CCA)

The Nave at California College of the Arts (CCA)

Sat, Apr. 19th 1-4PM

Celebrate the opening reception of “Brave New World,” a pop-up exhibit at California College of the Arts, featuring works from emerging artists exploring themes of authenticity, self-expression, and meaning in a manufactured society. Curated by Caitilin Damacion, the event includes live music, refreshments, and a meet-and-greet with the artists.

Promotional banner for the "Botanica"– an Earth Day celebration and artist reception at Hunt & Gather in San Francisco, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Banner courtesy of HUNT & GATHER

HUNT & GATHER

Sat, Apr. 19th 1-4PM

HUNT & GATHER presents “BOTANICA” – an Earth Day celebration and artist reception featuring artist talks, DIY rock painting, and wildflower bouquets. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and art while connecting with the creators behind Magical Gardens of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco + Beyond. (Apr. 21st – May 31st)

Alec Soth's "Anatomy Figure," a print depicting a side view of a white anatomical sculpture of a male figure with exposed musculature, standing on a round base atop books, featured in the SF Art Guide.

Artwork: Alec Soth, Anatomy Figure, 2023. Pigment Print, 56 x 46 in, Edition of 9 + 4 APs. *Courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery

Fraenkel Gallery

Sat, Apr. 19th 2-4PM

Fraenkel Gallery presents “Alec Soth: Advice for Young Artists,” an exhibition exploring the cultivation of creativity through playful photographs made at undergraduate art programs. The show also features Soth’s handwritten notes and reflections on the challenges of artistic practice. (Apr. 17th – May 23rd)

Promotional poster for "Above Ground Pool" group exhibition at Bane Gallery in San Francisco, featured in the SF Art Guide.

*Poster courtesy of Bane Gallery

Bane Gallery

Sat, Apr. 19th 6-9PM

Bane Gallery presents “Above Ground Pool,” a group exhibition featuring San Francisco artists Alan Miknis, Austen Zombres, Nicole Hayden, and Dylan Clendenin. The show highlights diverse local talent in a dynamic contemporary presentation. (Apr. 19th – May 17th)

Clockwise from top left: Collage of five political artworks from the "ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN" exhibition at Telematic Media Arts, showcasing bold imagery of white supremacy, protest, and resistance by Nic[o] Brierre Aziz, Doug Hall, Nicólas González-Medina, Kal Spelletich, and Christy Chan, featured in the SF Art Guide.

Artworks: (Clockwise from the top): Nic[o] Brierre Aziz, Doug Hall, Nicólas González-Medina, Kal Spelletich, Christy Chan. *Courtesy of Telematic Media Arts

Telematic Media Arts

Sat, Apr. 19th 6-9PM

Telematic Media Arts presents “ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN,” a group exhibition confronting demagoguery, white supremacy, and political resistance through powerful works by Nic[o] Brierre Aziz, Christy Chan, Nicólas González-Medina, Doug Hall, and Kal Spelletich. Framing the re-election of Dnald Trmp as an authoritarian crisis, the show explores America’s historical and ongoing struggles with power, racism, and protest. (Apr. 19th – May 17th)

Minimalist monochrome artwork by Sarah Chess showcasing a silhouetted abstract flower with star-like antennae, featured in the SF Art Guide.

Artwork: Sarah Chess, Starburst. Graphite on Rives BFK, 30 x 22 in. *Courtesy of Upper Market Gallery

Upper Market Gallery

Sat, Apr. 19th 6-9PM

Upper Market Gallery hosts a final celebration for “OVERGROWTH,” featuring artists Sarah Chess and Natalie Klapper. Don’t miss this closing night gathering with art, community, and good vibes.

Black-and-white photo of a 1960s protest with a young woman holding a sign reading “WOMEN: ARISE NOW, AROUSE LATER,” surrounded by a diverse crowd in suits and coats. Photographed by Elizabeth Sunflower, featured in the SF Art Guide.

Photo: Elizabeth Sunflower, Arousal. *Courtesy of SF Camerawork

SF Camerawork

Sat, Apr. 19th 7-9PM

SF Camerawork hosts the closing reception for “A Strange Vibration,” featuring a compelling panel discussion on “Image as Activism” with artists and community leaders. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on art, activism, and the exhibition’s powerful themes.

Promotional poster for Kundan Baidwan's "Dot Delectus" at Hôtel Biron in San Francisco, featured in the SF Art Guide.

Artwork: Kundan Baidwan. *Poster courtesy of Hôtel Biron

Hôtel Biron Wine Bar & Gallery

Sat, Apr. 19th 7PM-12AM

Hôtel Biron Wine Bar & Gallery presents “Dot Delectus,” a solo exhibition by local artist Kundan Baidwan, featuring meditative dot-based paintings that explore rhythm, form, and pattern. Enjoy an evening of art, wine, community, and a raffle supporting the artist.

Sunday, Apr. 20th

Promotional poster for Living Room Light Exchange's event at The Spacement featuring Andrew Sungtaek, Heesoo Kwon, and Whitney Humphreys, as seen in the SF Art Guide.

*Poster courtesy of Living Room Light Exchange

Living Room Light Exchange at The Spacement

Sun, Apr. 20th 6PM

Join Living Room Light Exchange at The Spacement for their April Exchange—an intimate evening of artist talks with Andrew Sungtaek, Heesoo Kwon, and Whitney Humphreys, whose multimedia practices explore identity, memory, gender, and spirituality through technology, sculpture, and research-based art.

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