(featured image) GaHee Park, Rest in Bloom, 2025. Oil on Canvas, 15 x 18 in. *Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery
SF is serving major art energy this week, and you’re invited to the party! From goddess-inspired iconography at Museo Italo Americano to Native resilience and material magic at Jessica Silverman, the city’s art scene is bursting with bold ideas and boundary-pushing beauty. Fort Mason lights up Thursday night with a full-on art walk (think: live music, murals, and shadow puppets), while places like Climate Control SF and Strike-Slip Gallery dive deep into sound, identity, and heritage. It’s a sensory feast—and that’s just the first night.
The weekend keeps the momentum going with must-see shows at Recology, CULT Aimee Friberg, and Telematic Media Arts (hello, AI pets and emotional tech!). Saturday’s lineup is stacked: from SFWA’s 100-year celebration to Root Division’s emerging artist spotlight and Fraenkel Gallery’s powerful photo pairings. Cap it all off Sunday with the Noe Valley Art Festival and Avenue 12’s vibrant homage to Matisse, Diebenkorn, and beyond. Wherever you land, you’ll find art that surprises, moves, and connects. Read on for more info!
Thursday, Sept. 11th
*Courtesy of Museo Italo Americano
Museo Italo Americano
Thu, Sept. 11th 4-8PM
Museo Italo Americano presents “Unfolding Female” by Lorenzo (Larry) Brucia and Tricia Grame, an exhibition exploring the symbolic link between the Virgin Mary and ancient fertility goddesses to honor feminine strength, compassion, and spirituality. The show also features Bufano’s Crucifix and Brucia’s Saint Francis of Assisi – Emotions of the Man. (Sept. 11th – 14th). *Tickets $10 for non-members.
Artwork: Alison Elizabeth Taylor, Rainbow Fluorite and Bishop’s Cap, 2025. Marquetry Hybrid: Wood Veneer, Shellac, Acrylic, Oil Paint, Sawdust, Glitter, and Mica, 25 x 33 in. *Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery
Jessica Silverman Gallery
Thu, Sept. 11th 5-7PM
Jessica Silverman presents Andrea Carlson’s first solo show “The Lasting,” which reframes myths of Native extinction into narratives of resilience through monumental paintings, works on paper, and sculpture, alongside the group exhibition “Her Dark Materials,” where five artists explore materiality and perception through inventive uses of clay, wood, oil, and pastels. Together, the exhibitions highlight powerful reimaginings of history, identity, and artistic process. (Sept. 11th – Oct. 25th)
Artwork: Mike Henderson, Beyond Time, 2025. Oil on Canvas, 72 x 60 in. *Courtesy of Haines Gallery
Haines Gallery
Thu, Sept. 11th 5-7:30PM
Haines Gallery presents “Mike Henderson: Truth, Love, and Curiosity,” featuring new abstract paintings, earlier works, and experimental 16mm films by the celebrated Bay Area artist. The opening reception during the Fort Mason Art Walk includes a live performance by Henderson’s band, Cabin Fever. (Sept. 11th – Oct. 25th)
![Photograph by Ishan Clemenco, Calipers - [Atomic Field: Hiroshima Nagasaki 1945/2025], showing a jet’s white contrail cutting through a clear blue sky, on view at Climate Control SF, featured in the SF Art Guide.](https://i0.wp.com/artguidesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Climate-Control-SF-Ishan-Clemenco-Sept-11-2025-SF-Art-Guide.jpg?resize=800%2C353&ssl=1)
Photo: Ishan Clemenco, Calipers – [Atomic Field: Hiroshima Nagasaki 1945/2025]. *Courtesy of Climate Control SF
Climate Control SF
Thu, Sept. 11th 5-8PM
Climate Control SF presents “Calipers,” a solo exhibition by Ishan Clemenco, exploring his translation of minimalist music principles into sculptural and site-specific works. Drawing on decades of international study and travel, Clemenco transforms concepts of intonation and extended duration into immersive visual and spatial experiences. (Sept. 11th – Nov. 1st)
*Photo courtesy of Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture
Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture
Thu, Sept. 11th 5-8:30PM
Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture hosts a free art walk featuring exhibitions, artist talks, live music, and interactive activities across multiple venues, including Fort Mason Art, Haines Gallery, Arion Press, Museo Italo Americano, and more. The event highlights murals, shadow puppetry, musical performances, and public art projects, offering a dynamic evening celebrating creativity and community.
*Poster courtesy of Andy Antezana / Strike-Slip Gallery
Strike-Slip Gallery
Thu, Sept. 11th 5-9PM
Strike-Slip Gallery presents “La Raíz,” a group exhibition curated by Andy Antezana celebrating Latine pride and identity through the work of five Latine-American artists exploring heritage, reclamation, and the evolving Latine-American experience. (Sept. 6th – Oct. 30th)
*Banner courtesy of Valencia LIVE!
Valencia LIVE!
Thu, Sept. 11th 5-10PM
Valencia LIVE! transforms Valencia Street into a vibrant, all-ages celebration of music, art, and community, with live performances, interactive art, and playful street happenings. Discover local businesses, enjoy delicious bites, snag exclusive deals, and experience the lively spirit of the American Indian Cultural District. (May – Oct. 2025)
Friday, Sept. 12th
Artworks: (left to right) Michael Hall, Song Cycle; Helia Pouyanfar, Addendum; Elizabeth Estrada, Entropy. *Courtesy of Recology San Francisco
Recology San Francisco
Fri, Sept. 12th 5-8PM & Sat, Sept. 13th 12-3PM
Recology San Francisco presents its Artists-in-Residence exhibition featuring new work by Michael Hall, Helia Pouyanfar, and UC Berkeley undergraduate Elizabeth Estrada, with sculpture, assemblage, and installation exploring themes of perception, displacement, and transformation using materials sourced from the waste stream. Join the artist talks on Tuesday, Sept. 16th, 5-7:30 PM—Elizabeth Estrada at 6PM (401 Tunnel), Michael Hall at 6:30PM (503 Tunnel), and Helia Pouyanfar at 7PM (503 Tunnel)—for a deeper look into their creative processes and use of reclaimed materials.
*Courtesy of CULT Aimee Friberg
CULT Aimee Friberg
Fri, Sept. 12th 6-8PM
CULT Aimee Friberg presents “REFUGEES R US,” a solo exhibition by Bosnian-born, San Francisco–based artist Jasko Begovic. The show features collaborative installations, performances, and interactive art exploring immigration, home, and identity, inviting empathy and connection through creative engagement. (Sept. 9th – Nov. 4th)
Image credit: PET, Arvida Bystom, 2025. *Poster by Anton Synytsia / courtesy of Telematic Media Arts
Telematic Media Arts x Gray Area
Fri, Sept. 12th 6-9PM
Telematic Media Arts presents “PET (Projected Emotional Technologies)” a solo exhibition by Swedish artist Arvida Byström, curated by Alice Scope and co-presented by Gray Area as part of Gray Area Festival 2025: TO THE MAXX! The show examines AI companionship through anthropomorphized digital avatars—animal-coded, face-swapped, and shaped by datasets reflecting male desire—exploring desire, emotional labor, and the uncanny intimacy of automated relationships. (Sept. 12th – Nov. 8th)
*Poster courtesy of Upper Market Gallery
Upper Market Gallery
Fri, Sept. 12th 6-9PM
Upper Market Gallery presents “Waves of Remembrance” by Sarah McCarthy Grimm, an interdisciplinary exhibition of abstract paintings, collages, prints, and landscape photographs that transform personal experiences into spaces for contemplation.
*Poster courtesy of Saint Joseph’s Arts Society
Saint Joseph’s Arts Society
Fri, Sept. 12th 7-10PM
Saint Joseph’s Arts Society presents “The Other Art World: A History of Art in 15 Minutes” by La Pocha Nostra, a live performance that reimagines overlooked art histories through archetypal figures, gestures, and symbols. The evening also features pianists from the Flower Piano Festival, blending performance, music, and exhibition in a dynamic, thought-provoking celebration. *Tickets $15 (Sept. 12th – Oct. 12th)
Saturday, Sept. 13th
*Artwork image courtesy of SFWA Artists Gallery
SFWA Artists Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 1-6PM
Join SFWA Artists Gallery for its Centennial Celebration, marking 100 years of supporting women and diverse artists. Meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, experience artists-in-action demonstrations, take part in a silent auction, and engage with the community, all alongside exhibitions of jewelry, sculpture, and ceramics, as SFWA continues to nurture creativity and connection.
Photos: (left to right) Peter Hujar, Lynn Davis, 1981. Katy Grannan Aero, Agate Beach, CA, 2025. Pigment Print, 37-1/2 x 50 in, Edition of 3. *Courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery
Fraenkel Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 2-4PM
Fraenkel Gallery presents “The Gracie Mansion Show Revisited,” a recreation of Peter Hujar’s iconic solo exhibition featuring 70 photographs of portraits, nudes, landscapes, and more alongside Katy Grannan’s “Mad River,” which captures the independent-spirited residents of Humboldt County. Both exhibitions explore intimacy, place, and human connection to the environment. (Sept. 4th – Oct. 25th)
*Photo courtesy of Maybaum Gallery
Maybaum Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 2-4PM
Maybaum Gallery presents “Tipping the Scales,” a solo exhibition by Australian artist Belinda Fox, exploring growth, resilience, and the strength of nature through layered paintings and botanical imagery. Her work blends personal and global concerns, balancing intimacy, beauty, and reflection on fragility amid an uncertain world. (Aug. 27th – Oct. 15th)
Photo: Edward Burtynsky, Dry Tailings #1, Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2004. Pigment Ink Print, 36 x 72 in. / 48 x 96 in. / 58.5 x 117 in. *Courtesy of Robert Koch Gallery
Robert Koch Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 2-4PM
Robert Koch Gallery presents “Edward Burtynsky: Transformation,” showcasing monumental photographs that document landscapes reshaped by human activity, from mining and manufacturing to climate-driven environmental changes. The exhibition highlights the profound impact of industry and development on the planet, inviting reflection on our relationship with the Earth. (Sept. 13th – Nov. 29th)
*Photo courtesy of CHUNG 24 Gallery
CHUNG 24 Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 2-5PM
CHUNG 24 Gallery presents the closing reception of Barbara Boissevain and Charlotta Hauksdóttir’s “As Above, So Below,” offering a final chance to experience the exhibition at their San Francisco space.
Artwork: Brea Souders, Blue Woman #6, 2024. Archival Pigment Print, 16 x 20 in, Edition of 3 +1AP. *Courtesy of EUQINOM Gallery
EUQINOM Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 3-5PM
EUQINOM Gallery presents “Blue Women,” Brea Souders’ first solo exhibition with the gallery, exploring the interplay of technology, identity, and image through rephotographed storefront posters and AI-mediated projects. The works trace fading beauty, digital manipulation, and human–machine intimacy, revealing how desire, memory, and meaning persist across time, space, and artificial interfaces. (Sept. 13th – Nov. 1st)
Artwork: Steven Alexander, Arcade 11, 2021. Oil and Acrylic on Linen, 16 x 14 in. *Courtesy of K. Imperial Fine Art
K. Imperial Fine Art
Sat, Sept. 13th 3-5PM
K. Imperial Fine Art presents “A Matter of Form,” a group exhibition featuring Susan English, Mel Prest, Steven Alexander, and Shingo Francis. Through distinct approaches to abstraction and color field painting, the artists explore surface, perception, and the sensory impact of color. (Sept. 9th – Oct. 18th)
Artworks: (left to right) John Santoro, The Sprites of Spring, 2025. Oil on Canvas, 36 x 36 in. Catherine Maize, Tabletop Vases with Lemon, 2025. Oil on Panel, 6 x 6 in. *Courtesy of Paul Thiebaud Gallery
Paul Thiebaud Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 3-5PM
Paul Thiebaud Gallery presents “Mud Time and the Sprites of Spring” by John Santoro and Recent Paintings by Catherine Maize. Santoro’s gestural abstractions capture the drama of extreme weather, while Maize’s contemplative still-lifes and landscapes reveal subtle explorations of light, form, and compositional balance—don’t miss the gallery talk at 3:30PM. (Sept. 13th – Nov. 8th)
Artworks: (left to right) Enrique Chagoya, Encounter at the Border of Language (detail), 2024. Acrylic and Water-Mixable Oil on Handmade Amate Paper Mounted on Canvas, 60 x 80 in. Colette Standish, Reveal, 2025. Superimposed Photo Print on Textured Archival Watercolor Paper, 22 x 30 in. *Courtesy of Anglim/Trimble
Anglim/Trimble at Minnesota Street Project
Sat, Sept. 13th 4-6PM
Anglim/Trimble presents “Déjà Vu” by Enrique Chagoya, a survey of paintings, prints, and drawings from 2004–2025 that reimagine history with satirical imagery drawn from pop culture, politics, and Mesoamerican traditions. Complementing the show is Colette Standish’s “Dreamscape of the Erotized Body,” which explores erotic desire through prints and video merging the subconscious dream world with conscious experience. Both exhibitions are on view in Room 209 at Minnesota Street Project. (Sept. 13th – Oct. 25th)
Artwork: Nina Katz, Waiting. Acrylic on Wood, 65 x 90 in. *Courtesy of Jack Fischer Gallery
Jack Fischer Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 4-6PM
Jack Fischer Gallery presents “Figures & Fragments,” an exhibition by Nina Katz featuring intimate and visceral portraits that reveal her subjects’ quirks, personality, and hidden traits. Blending abstraction and realism, Katz’s work interprets culture, psychology, and societal context, with her still-life paintings reflecting the same depth and character. (Sept. 13th – Nov. 15th)
*Poster courtesy of Bane Gallery
Bane Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 4-9PM
Bane Gallery presents “They Look Better in Person,” featuring new material explorations by artist Josh Warren. The exhibition debuts with an opening reception at the gallery.
*Banner courtesy of Edge on the Square
Edge on the Square
Sat, Sept. 13th 4-10PM
Edge on the Square presents “SUPER FLEX,” a vibrant contemporary art festival transforming San Francisco’s Chinatown with Asian-American and BIPOC artists exploring alter egos, power, and imagination. The event celebrates solidarity, freedom, and joy through immersive street-wide art experiences.
*Poster courtesy of Inclusions Gallery
Inclusions Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 5-7PM
Inclusions Gallery presents “Assembly Required,” a group exhibition featuring Michelle Gregor, Françoise LeClerc, Rich Nyhagen, and Daniel Stingle, exploring texture, layering, and the transformation of materials. The artists’ work reflects a non-linear, hands-on approach, revealing traces of past forms while building, altering, and reimagining objects in new ways. (Sept. 6th – Oct. 12th)
Artwork: Mercy Hawkins, Untitled, 2025. Paint on Yupo Paper with Thread. *Courtesy of Marrow Gallery
Marrow Gallery
Sat, Sept. 13th 5-8PM
Marrow Gallery presents “Face the Music,” a solo exhibition by Mercy Hawkins featuring large watercolor and hybrid sculptural paintings that explore the body’s rhythms, breath, and connection to the natural world. Through her work, Hawkins invites viewers to engage with intuitive, sensory experiences that reflect harmony with the environment and the urgency of our planet’s ongoing crises. (Aug. 27th – Sept. 27th)
Artworks: (left to right) Carlos Agredano, Parasol, 2023. Parasol, 81 x 71 in. Najah Alboushi, Saffron Portal, 2022. Borosilicate Glass and Flocking, 10 x 13 x 2 in. *Courtesy of Slash Art
Slash Art
Sat, Sept. 13th 5-8PM
Slash Art presents “Like a City,” a group exhibition curated by Sophie Appel that reflects on the blurred line between fiction and reality in Los Angeles through works by artists including Carlos Agredano, Anais Franco, and Amalia Irons in the main gallery. In /room/, Najah Alboushi’s “Thresholds Between Worlds” features glass and Tatreez sculptures merging the architecture and plant life of Oakland and Damascus. (Sept. 13th – Dec. 13th)
*Banner courtesy of Root Division
Root Division
Sat, Sept. 13th 6-8PM
Root Division presents “Introductions 2025,” a signature exhibition showcasing twelve emerging Bay Area artists without gallery representation across diverse media, including video, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, painting, and installation. Selected through a rigorous juried process, the show offers a vibrant snapshot of the region’s creative landscape. (Aug. 13th – Sept. 20th)
Sunday, Sept. 14th
*Poster courtesy of Friends of Noe Valley
Friends of Noe Valley
Sun, Sept. 14th 10AM-4PM
Friends of Noe Valley presents the Noe Valley Art Festival, a free community celebration featuring paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and multimedia art alongside live music and activities for kids. Explore works by local artists and enjoy performances by the Liberty Street Band and guitarist Dave Kessler in the lively Town Square.
Artwork: William Otton, Diebenkorn and Matisse Meet in the Middle. Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40 in. *Courtesy of Avenue 12 Gallery
Avenue 12 Gallery
Sun, Sept. 14th 2-5PM
Avenue 12 Gallery presents William Otton’s “Essence of Truth,” featuring modern paintings that blend vibrant color, symmetry, and playful references to masters like Matisse, Diebenkorn, Monet, Picasso, and Hopper, with artist remarks at 3PM. His work balances formal structure and whimsy, inviting viewers to experience joy and reflection through layered dialogues and newly imagined vistas.
*Courtesy of Cartoon Art Museum
Cartoon Art Museum
Sun, Sept. 14th 4-6PM
The Cartoon Art Museum presents Wahab Algarmi in its Emerging Artist Showcase, featuring selections from his middle-grade graphic novel Almost Sunset. Algarmi’s work explores family, faith, and everyday life with humor and heart, highlighting new voices in contemporary comics. (May 10th – Sept. 14th)