(featured image) Anne Mei Poppe, Embrace, 2025. Acrylic, Oil Stick, and Sand on Linen Canvas in a Wooden Box Frame, 47 x 47 in. *Courtesy of Maybaum Gallery
San Francisco’s art scene is turning the volume all the way up this week, and trust us—you won’t want to miss a single beat. From immersive solo shows to sprawling group exhibitions, there’s something for every kind of art lover, whether you’re into abstract color explosions, intimate photography, or the poetry of city life after dark. Thursday kicks off with a whirlwind of openings across the city—think futuristic femme assemblage, handwoven summer hues, urban landscapes reimagined, and abstract works born from beautiful chaos. It’s the kind of night that could fill your camera roll and your soul in equal measure.
And just when you think you’ve had your fill, Friday through Saturday keeps the creative energy flowing with photography that whispers untold stories, vibrant cultural celebrations, outdoor markets brimming with local talent, and collaborative shows that spark conversations long after you leave. Whether you’re hunting for your next favorite gallery, craving live music alongside stunning visuals, or simply curious about what San Francisco’s most imaginative minds are up to, this lineup will keep you inspired all weekend. Scroll down for the full event details—you might need to start planning your art crawl now.
Wednesday, Aug. 6th
Artwork: Helen Berggruen. *Courtesy of Beggruen Gallery
Beggruen Gallery
Wed, Aug. 6th 3:30-5PM
Berggruen Gallery presents an artist talk and book signing with Helen Berggruen, celebrating her new publication “Small Worlds” and her vibrant, allegorical depictions of everyday life. She will be joined in conversation by Jeff Gunderson and Emily McVarish.
Thursday, Aug. 7th
*Posters courtesy of Hospitality House
Hospitality House
Thu, Aug. 7th 5-7PM
Hospitality House presents two powerful exhibitions: “The Elasticity of Emagination” by Angela Summers, featuring futuristic femme assemblage art, and “TEXTSCAPE,” a group show where language transforms into visual landscapes. Both exhibitions highlight bold creativity and community expression, featuring artists from the CAP program. (Aug. 7th – 27th)
Artwork: Simon Nicholas, Eakins Beach II. Oil on Canvas, 34 x 62 in. *Courtesy of Maybaum Gallery
Maybaum Gallery
Thu, Aug. 7th 5-7PM
Maybaum Gallery presents “Summer Selection,” a group exhibition featuring handwoven textiles, marble sculptures, and impasto paintings that capture the spirit of summer. The show brings together gallery and guest artists whose works evoke coastal landscapes, vibrant colors, and sun-soaked moments. (Jul. 16th – Sept. 3rd)
*Poster courtesy of Rebecca Camacho Presents
Rebecca Camacho Presents
Thu, Aug. 7th 5-7PM
Rebecca Camacho Presents presents “So the city can exist,” a group exhibition co-curated by Nick Makanna and MacKenzie Stevens, exploring the urban landscape as muse through architecture, infrastructure, and everyday life. Featuring a diverse lineup of artists, the show offers varied interpretations of city life alongside a reading room curated in collaboration with William Stout Architectural Books. (Aug. 7th – Sept. 13th)
Artwork: Mark S. Thomas. *Courtesy of Venus & Victory
Venus & Victory
Thu, Aug. 7th 5-9PM
Venus & Victory presents “Collaborating with Chaos” by Oakland-based abstract artist Mark S. Thomas, featuring vibrant acrylic and oil paintings that blend spontaneity with intention. Inspired by pareidolia and natural patterns, Thomas explores color, mood, and layered mark-making using both traditional and unconventional tools. (Aug. 7th – 31st)
*Poster courtesy of Hôtel Biron Wine Bar & Art Gallery
Hôtel Biron Wine Bar & Art Gallery
Thu, Aug. 7th 5PM-12AM
Hôtel Biron Wine Bar & Art Gallery presents its first major photography exhibition, featuring work by 11 local artists at their art and wine bar in San Francisco. Enjoy a night of visual storytelling, happy hour specials, and community celebration.
*Poster courtesy of Lian Yung
Adobe Books
Thu, Aug. 7th 6-9PM
“Lotus” is a deeply personal solo exhibition by Lian Yung at Adobe Bookshop’s Backroom Gallery, honoring her grandfather E. Lian Chan through intricate, symbolic works that trace his journey from FuZhou to America. The immersive show includes transformed space, delicate drawings, and a vinyl performance by Alex Turk.
Flyer image: Emily Fromm. *Flyer courtesy of Moth Belly Gallery
Moth Belly Gallery
Thu, Aug. 7th 6-9PM
Moth Belly Gallery presents “The City At Night,” a group exhibition featuring 10 Bay Area artists capturing San Francisco after dark through diverse styles and mediums. Opening during the SF First Thursday Art Walk, the show highlights works by Emily Fromm, Julian Demark, Alvar Jacomet, Christine Innes, Matthew Stansell, Hugo Kobayashi, John Keating, Dylan Clendenin, and E Dyer.
*Poster courtesy of The Birdcage
The Birdcage
Thu, Aug. 7th 6-9PM
The Birdcage presents “Special Offer,” a solo show by Chad Abbley exploring the tension between digital and physical realms through painting. Abbley’s work reflects on the value of materiality in a tech-saturated world, tracing the cyclical relationship between nature, computation, and human experience.
*Poster courtesy of 5 Olive Gallery
5 Olive Gallery
Thu, Aug. 7th 6-10PM
5 Olive Gallery presents “Solve,” the first of a two-part exhibition featuring first-year MFA students from UC Davis and SF State exploring transformation, myth, and connection through diverse media. Responding to a fractured world, the artists engage photography, ceramics, painting, and installation to reflect on alchemical and symbolic processes.
*Poster courtesy of Rosebud Gallery
Rosebud Gallery
Thu, Aug. 7th 6-10PM
Rosebud Gallery presents “The Themeless Art Show,” a boundary-pushing group exhibition in conjunction with the SF First Thursday Art Walk, featuring 65 artists embracing raw, unfiltered expression with no theme or rules. Set in the heart of the Tenderloin, the show celebrates chaos, creativity, and curiosity through a wide range of bold and diverse works. (Aug. 7th – 30th)
Friday, Aug. 8th
Photo: Holly Andres, The Spilt Milk, 2008. Chromogenic Print, 20 x 25 in. *Courtesy of Robert Koch Gallery
Robert Koch Gallery
Fri, Aug. 8th 11AM-5:30PM
Robert Koch Gallery presents “Narrative Implied,” a group exhibition featuring eleven artists whose photographs explore storytelling through both direct and subtle visual approaches. Emphasizing what is shown and what is left unsaid, the works invite viewers to interpret meaning through personal memory, emotion, and imagination. (Aug. 4th –30th)
*Banner courtesy of 41 Ross
41 Ross
Fri, Aug. 8th 5-9PM
41 Ross presents “Ember,” a new exhibition opening with an artist meet & greet, ghost story collecting, a short film screening, and a torn paper workshop. This interactive event blends art, storytelling, and community engagement in a unique cultural experience.
Artwork: Marco Razo, La Vieja Sirena, 2025. Mixed Media on Canvas, 58 x 58 in. *Courtesy of Manny’s
Manny’s
Fri, Aug. 8th 6-8PM
Manny’s presents their August art show, “Desde el ombligo de la luna,” by Marco Razo, featuring vibrant fresco “puzzle piece” paintings inspired by Mexican and Haitian popular art, literature, and cinema. Razo’s uniquely shaped works can be rearranged to form multiple compositions, reflecting a dynamic and deeply personal creative process.
*Poster courtesy of Park Life
Park Life
Fri, Aug. 8th 6-8PM
Park Life presents “Light Work,” a solo exhibition by Bay Area artist Rico Duenas showcasing his new works. (Aug. 8th – Sept. 8th)
Saturday, Aug. 9th
*Banner courtesy of Heron Arts
Heron Arts
Sat, Aug. 9th 12-5PM
Celebrate local creativity at Heron Arts’ Community Art Market, a vibrant one-day pop-up featuring over 20 local artists and makers offering ceramics, jewelry, prints, and original works at accessible prices. This lively event invites visitors to support San Francisco’s creative community, discover emerging talent, and connect directly with the artists shaping the city’s cultural landscape.
*Banner courtesy of Heron Arts
SF Public Library Chinese Center
Sat, Aug. 9th 1:30-4:30PM
SF Public Library Chinese Center presents “Ink & Strings,” a cultural celebration featuring Zheng Zejie’s Lingnan-style calligraphy and ink paintings alongside a live guzheng concert by students from the Fang Yi Guzheng Ensemble. Free and open to all ages, the event offers a vibrant experience of traditional Chinese art and music.
*Banner courtesy of Lightspace Gallery at International Art Museum of America (IAMA)
Lightspace Gallery at International Art Museum of America (IAMA)
Sat, Aug. 9th 2-4PM
Lightspace Gallery presents “Flow of Tradition,” a solo exhibition by Jojo Liu that blends traditional Chinese calligraphy with modern expression. Through graceful brushstrokes and nature-inspired forms, Liu reimagines a timeless art form for today’s world. (Aug. 1st – 31st)
Artwork: Carmela Beckman-Spector, Observation Wheel. Collage, 26 x 20 in. *Courtesy of SFWA Artists Gallery
SFWA Artists Gallery
Sat, Aug. 9th 2-4PM
SFWA Artists Gallery presents “The American Gaze,” a Bay Area group exhibition juried by multimedia artist and Sharon Art Studio instructor Theresa Currie. The Artist Salon features works by Deepa Parameswaren, Margaret Goeden, Zhanna Urodovskikh, Lily Yan, Victoria Bochat, Isabella King, and Cora Jew.
*Banner courtesy of The Fold Gallery & Cafe
The Fold Gallery & Cafe
Sat, Aug. 9th 2-9PM
The Fold Gallery & Cafe presents “The Art of Play,” a vibrant summer exhibition featuring Bay Area artists exploring creativity, whimsy, and imagination through art. This all-ages event includes live performances, a DJ set, and interactive fun in a 6000-square-foot space in San Francisco’s Mission District.
*Artwork image courtesy of Hugomento
Hugomento
Sat, Aug. 9th 3-5PM
Hugomento presents “Futatsu: Two Heads Are Better Than One,” a dual exhibition showcasing collaborative and individual mixed media works by San Francisco artists Carole Jeung and Hideo Yoshida. The show highlights their shared creativity through unique art and objects. (August/September 2025)
*Poster courtesy of CK Contemporary
CK Contemporary
Sat, Aug. 9th 5-8PM
CK Contemporary presents “Cenotes,” a solo exhibition by Anne Leone featuring realist figurative paintings inspired by the crystal-clear cenote pools of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Through masterful depictions of light, water, and the human form, Leone explores themes of nature, transformation, and our connection to the environment. (Aug. 9th – Sept. 7th)
Artworks: (left to right) Abi Joy Samuel, Be You But Not Too Much. Oil on Canvas, 39.4 x 31.5 in. Zachary Oldenkamp, A Song for Animals. Charcoal and Graphite on Paper, 7 x 10 in. *Courtesy of Ryan Graff Contemporary
Ryan Graff Contemporary
Sat, Aug. 9th 5-9PM
Ryan Graff Contemporary presents “Dialogues,” a dual exhibition featuring Abi Joy Samuel and Zachary Oldenkamp in a visual exchange exploring memory, identity, and intimacy amid political and personal uncertainty. Their collaborative work captures quiet moments shaped by history, emotion, and liminal states of being.
*Photo courtesy of Small Works
Small Works
Sat, Aug. 9th 7-9PM
Small Works celebrates its 13th anniversary with the official opening of their Summer Open exhibition, highlighting their evolution from a small platform to a vibrant creative hub. The event features artwork, community partnerships, and an afterparty with music by DJ’$ DW, Chungtech, and special guests.