(featured image) Merete Rasmussen, Expansion (Orange), 2025. Ceramic with Colored Slip, 17.5 x 11 x 15.75 in. *Courtesy of Scott Richards Contemporary Art
Cue the confetti, San Francisco — this week’s art happenings are pure creative gold! From vibrant neighborhood crawls and dreamy debuts to bold conversations on identity, memory, and myth, the city’s art scene is popping off in every corner. Whether you’re all about live performances by disabled artists, intricate abstractions, or late-night gallery crawls in the Mission, there’s something to stir every sense and spark every curiosity.
Ready to map out your weekend adventure? Keep scrolling for your curated guide to the can’t-miss shows and events lighting up the Bay from Thursday through Sunday. With featured artists, reception vibes, and all the cultural magic in between, it’s time to grab your crew, charge your phone (📸 content incoming!), and discover what makes SF’s creative spirit so undeniably electric.
Wednesday, Apr. 23rd
*Promo image courtesy of Golden Gate Stereoscopic Society
Internet Archive
Wed, Apr. 23rd 6-8PM
The Internet Archive hosts a 3D Photography Presentation by the Golden Gate Stereoscopic Society, featuring rare and restored stereo images of the American West by photographer Andrew J. Russell. Based on high-resolution scans from the Oakland Museum of California, this immersive slideshow celebrates the art of stereo photography.
*Banner courtesy of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
Wed, Apr. 23rd 7-10PM
Join SFMOMA’s Art Bash for an unforgettable evening of immersive art experiences, featuring a dinner with a live auction, followed by a vibrant museum-wide party with local artists and live music. The event raises over $2 million annually to support the museum’s educational and community programs.
Artwork: Rosalie Angelillo. *Courtesy of Art Battle San Francisco
Art Battle SF at The Great Northern
Wed, Apr. 23rd 7-10PM
Art Battle San Francisco returns to The Great Northern for an electrifying evening of live, high-speed art creation. Watch skilled artists compete, vote for your favorite, and bid on one-of-a-kind masterpieces during this unforgettable event. *Tickets $20-$25
Thursday, Apr. 24th
*Banner courtesy of AccessSFUSD: The Arc
AccessSFUSD: The Arc
Thu, Apr. 24th 10AM-12:30PM
Celebrate creativity at the AccessSFUSD Spring Art Show at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater, featuring visual art, laser-cut designs, live performances, and digital media by artists with disabilities. Presented by A.C.T. Education & Community Programs and AccessSFUSD: The Arc, this all-ages event offers a dynamic blend of exhibitions and a seated performance.
Artwork: Jessica Jane Charleston. *Courtesy of CULT / Aimee Friberg
CULT Aimee Friberg
Thu, Apr. 24th 5-7PM
CULT / Aimee Friberg presents “Nightsong,” a solo exhibition by London-based artist Jessica Jane Charleston, showcasing her exploration of the female form and interior life, inspired by mythology, dreams, and personal experiences. This is Charleston’s first U.S. solo show, marking a significant step in her artistic career. (Apr. 24th – Jul. 12th)
Artwork: Gianluca Franzese, Heat wave #2, 2023. Aluminum Leaf, Silver Leaf with Acrylic Glazes on Gesso Fabriano Paper, 30 in x 20 in. *Courtesy of Heron Arts
Heron Arts
Thu, Apr. 24th 5-8PM
Don’t miss the “Dazed” Closing Reception at Heron Arts—your last chance to experience this vibrant group show and meet the featured artists. Dazed showcases bold works by Alexis Arnold, Casey Gray, Daniel Chen, Gianluca Franzese, and Sophie Baker, exploring trippy abstraction, color finesse, and disorienting beauty.
Art by Kara Maria. *Banner courtesy of KALW Public Media
KALW Public Media
Thu, Apr. 24th 5-8PM
Join KALW for a special viewing and exhibition talk on “Recology: The Art of Recycling,” featuring artists Jane Kim and Kara Maria. This event offers a deep dive into the Recology Artist in Residence program, showcasing the creative works of artists focused on sustainability and ecological responsibility.
Artwork: Rafael Delacruz, Untitled, 2025. Palm Tree Ash, Oil, and Soft Chalk Pastel on Canvas, 24 x 88 in. *Courtesy of Altman Siegel
Altman Siegel
Thu, Apr. 24th 6-8PM
Altman Siegel presents “Montage,” Rafael Delacruz’s debut exhibition with the gallery, featuring new paintings and a 3D video sculpture that blur the lines between film and canvas. Delacruz’s bold, collage-like works distort perspective through vivid color, textured techniques, and dreamlike vignettes that challenge spatial perception. (Apr. 24th – May 31st)
Friday, Apr. 25th
Artworks: (left) Mattea Perrotta, Letters Never Sent, 2024. Oil Stick and Plaster on Canvas, 3 x 4.75 in. (right) Nick Gorham, Passage, 2025. Oil on Canvas. 10 x 13 in. *Courtesy of Et. al
Et. al
Fri, Apr. 25th 5-8PM
Et al. presents two solo exhibitions—”The Forgetting of Air” by Mattea Perrotta and “Sun Turn” by Nick Gorham—featuring Perrotta’s poetic abstractions shaped by global influences and Gorham’s fusion of landscape and introspective abstraction. Together, their works explore memory, environment, and emotional resonance through distinct visual languages. (Apr. 25th – May 31st)
Artwork: Lucia González Ippolito. *Courtesy of San Francisco State University’s Fine Arts Gallery
San Francisco State University Fine Arts Gallery
Fri, Apr. 25th 5-8PM
San Francisco State University (SFSU) Fine Arts Gallery presents the upcoming 2025 MFA Exhibition, “Autonomous Zones,” featuring new works by artists Daniela Tinoco, Eleanor Scholz, Lucia González Ippolito, and Joey Toro. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog with essays by Trisha Lagaso Goldberg. (Apr. 25th – May 15th)
*Poster courtesy of Dive Bar Art Crawl
Dive Bar Art Crawl Spring 2025
Fri, Apr. 25th 5PM-12AM
The Dive Bar Art Crawl returns to the Mission District, featuring local artists at eight bars, including Mission Bar, Benders, and Doc’s Clock. Enjoy art, music, and drink specials while supporting San Francisco’s vibrant creative community.
Artwork: Jang Lee, Magpie Tiger. *Courtesy of Ruth’s Table
Ruth’s Table
Fri, Apr. 25th 5:30-8PM
Ruth’s Table presents “ROOTED,” an exhibition showcasing 60 Bay Area-based Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander artists exploring themes of memory, migration, and identity through diverse media. Curated by Jun Yang, the show honors community, resilience, and the legacy of Ruth Asawa in a vibrant, intergenerational celebration of cultural expression. (Apr. 10th – Jun. 6th)
Artwork: Yasmin P. Khan, L’allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato. Charcoal, Paper and Acrylic on Canvas, 48 x 54 in. *Courtesy of the Artist
Manny’s
Fri, Apr. 25th 6-7:30PM
Join Manny’s for a special reception celebrating Yasmin P. Khan’s figurative paintings. Enjoy an evening of art, community, and conversation in the café as we highlight the artist’s work. (Apr. 25th – 30th)
Saturday, Apr. 26th
*Banner courtesy of Hunters Point Shipyard and Islais Creek
Hunters Point Shipyard and Islais Creek
Sat-Sun, Apr. 26-27th 11AM-6PM
Experience Shipyard Open Studios – Spring 2025 as over 100 artists open their studios at Hunters Point Shipyard and Islais Creek. Enjoy original artwork, live music, local food and drinks, family-friendly activities, and a special silent art auction at this vibrant and historic San Francisco art event. (Apr. 26th – 27th)
*Poster courtesy of Hayes Valley Art Works
Hayes Valley Art Works
Sat, Apr. 26th 12-4PM
Step into Spring at the Hayes Valley Art & Garden Walk—a lively neighborhood celebration filled with local art, live music, blooming gardens, and hands-on fun. Meet artists, explore hidden green spaces, and take home native seeds and creative inspiration. *Tickets $10-$20
Photo: André Bloodstone Singleton, performance at HOT! Festival, 2015. *Courtesy of San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC)
San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC)
Sat, Apr. 26th 2-3PM
Join artist André Bloodstone Singleton at the SFAC Main Gallery for “Take Care of Your Blessings, Fiercely,” a free memorial performance honoring Essex Hemphill, rooted in Black funerary traditions. Presented in conjunction with “Ceremonies: Ritual to Self,” the work explores mourning, remembrance, and healing through ritual and art.
Artwork: Marta Thoma Hall, Snake Woman, Sacagawea, 2024. Resin, Wood, Epoxy, Paint, 44 x 35 x 40 in. *Courtesy of Anglim/Trimble
Anglim/Trimble
Sat, Apr. 26th 3-5PM
Don’t miss the closing reception of Marta Thoma Hall’s “To See with Eyes Closed” at Anglim/Trimble, a moving exhibition of mixed media dreamscapes that explore grief, nature, and transformation through surreal hybrid forms. Join the artist for a special conversation with Jeremy Dean and Gabrielle Selz in the upstairs gallery at Minnesota Street Project.
*Banner courtesy of Casemore Gallery
Casemore Gallery
Sat, Apr. 26th 3-5PM
Join UC Berkeley Professor Emerita Katherine Sherwood and Lucy I. Zimmerman, NIAD’s Art Marketing & Partnerships Director and Curator of “INDEX, for a thoughtful conversation on disability and art at Casemore Gallery. The talk, held in conjunction with the closing reception of “INDEX,” explores the cultural impact of progressive studios like NIAD Art Center and the connections between disabled and non-disabled artists featured in the exhibition.
Artwork: Merete Rasmussen, Limitless Red, 2025. Ceramic with Colored Slip, 15 x 18.5 x 21.5 in. *Courtesy of Scott Richards Contemporary Art
Scott Richards Contemporary Art
Sat, Apr. 26th 4-6PM
Scott Richards Contemporary Art presents “Continuum,” the first San Francisco exhibition of ceramic sculptures by Merete Rasmussen. The showcase features Rasmussen’s dynamic, vibrant sculptures, characterized by seamless curves and bold colors, reflecting her mastery of organic and mathematical forms. (Apr. 24th – Jul. 12th)
*Poster courtesy of Cushion Works
Cushion Works
Sat, Apr. 26th 4-7PM
Cushion Works presents “Elderly Cartoonists Show Their Work,” a rare joint exhibition by underground comics icons Robert Crumb and Robert Armstrong, celebrating their decades-long friendship, music, and satirical art. Organized by Dan Nadel, the show features never-before-seen works and coincides with the release of “Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life,” the first biography of Crumb. (Apr. 26th – Jun. 14th)
*Poster courtesy of Upper Market Gallery
Upper Market Gallery
Sat, Apr. 26th 5-9PM
Upper Market Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Laina Terpstra, featuring new and earlier abstract works that explore the tension between architectural structure and fluid movement. Inspired by 17th-century Dutch painters, Terpstra’s paintings navigate a liminal space defined by sensation, light, and vibration. (Apr. 26th – May 4th)
*Poster courtesy of Lightspace Gallery x IAMA
Lightspace Gallery at IAMA
Sat, Apr. 26th 5:30-7:30PM
Lightspace presents “Untethered” by Jane Faye Leibowitz at the International Art Museum of America (IAMA), featuring oil paintings inspired by mythological winged women, nature, and the desire for freedom. The exhibition explores themes of transformation, movement, and personal liberation through symbolic, soaring figures. (Apr. 13th – May 11th)
Sunday, Apr. 27th
*Banner courtesy of Letterform Archive
Letterform Archive
Sun, Apr. 27th 11AM-6PM
Celebrate Letterform Archive’s tenth anniversary with “10 × 10 for 10,” featuring 100 staff picks that showcase the rich diversity of the collection. Explore centuries of graphic art, from ancient cuneiform to modern typography and contemporary artists’ books, all in one captivating exhibition. *Tickets $5-$10