(featured image) Gilles Marrey, Purple Cythere Road. Oil on Canvas, 51 x 51 in. *Courtesy of Caldwell Snyder Gallery
San Francisco’s art scene is lighting up this week—from sonic experiments at Catharine Clark Gallery to a multi-sensory eco-journey with The Lab and Cushion Works. At the Wattis Institute, Makeda Best is opening up conversations around labor and photography, while UCSF’s Serenity exhibition and Marin Open Studios cast a glow of reflection and resilience. You’ll find dreamy paintings at Altman Siegel, bold graphic storytelling at Haight Street Art Center, and a wild fusion of sound and visuals at Gray Area. Over at Fort Mason, it’s a full-blown celebration, with the San Francisco Fall Show and the festive Night Market bringing together design, art, and community.
And the weekend? Let’s just say it’s stacked. Nelson Duni, Upper Market Gallery, Small Works Projects, Lightspace Gallery, and The Drawing Room ANNEX are all stepping into the spotlight. Meanwhile, di Rosa and ATAK Gallery are offering up powerful solo shows, ArtSpan is going big with Open Studios in Bayview and Hunters Point, and The Loom is hosting a full-scale creative blowout in Oakland. Whether you’re gallery-hopping in the Mission or museum-crushing in San José, scroll down to find out what’s happening—and where to be—this week in SF art.
Wednesday, Oct. 15th
*Poster courtesy of The Wattis Institute
The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts x CCA’s Visual and Critical Studies Department
Wed, Oct. 15th • 5-6PM
The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, in collaboration with CCA’s Visual and Critical Studies Department, hosts “Makeda Best on Labor’s Picture,” a lecture exploring the intersections of American labor, photography, and curatorial practice. Preceded by a group text discussion, the free public event features Makeda Best, Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Oakland Museum of California, and will be followed by a reception.
*Banner courtesy of Marin Open Studios
UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health x Marin Open Studios
Wed, Oct. 15th • 5-7PM
The UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and Marin Open Studios present “Serenity: Light,” the 18th annual Serenity Art Exhibition featuring solo and joint exhibits by Anne Gustafson, Janey Fritsche, Pat Doherty, Donna Loftus, Wendy Goldberg, and Stephanie Thwaites. This collaborative exhibition highlights themes of light, reflection, and resilience through diverse artistic practices. (Oct. 6th – Mar. 27th, 2026)
*Poster courtesy of San Francisco Opera Orchestra
San Francisco Opera Orchestra x Boxblur at Catharine Clark Gallery
Wed, Oct. 15th • 6:30-8PM & Fri, Oct. 17th • 7:30-9PM
The San Francisco Opera Orchestra and BOXBLUR present “Still Life, After Life: Women Disrupting Tradition in Art and Music” at Catharine Clark Gallery, blending chamber music and contemporary art in dialogue. Featuring works by Jesse Montgomery, Missy Mazzoli, Caroline Shaw, and others, the performances respond to exhibitions by Nanci Amaka, Lenka Clayton, and Katherine Vetne, exploring women’s labor, domesticity, and creative transformation, with wine and a VIP champagne tour with the artists and musicians. *Tickets: $30 (Oct. 15th & 17th)
Thursday, Oct. 16th
*Banner courtesy of The San Francisco Fall Show
The San Francisco Fall Show at Fort Mason Center
Thu, Oct. 16 – Sat, Oct. 18 • 10:30AM-7PM & Sun, Oct. 19 • 11AM-5PM
The San Francisco Fall Show 2025 at Fort Mason Center is the West Coast’s premier art, antiques, and design fair, featuring renowned dealers from around the globe. Alongside the exhibition, visitors can experience special programming, lectures, and tours celebrating art, history, and design excellence. *Tickets $20+ (Oct. 16th – 19th)
Flyer art by @luchi.soledad_ *Courtesy of Subset / Gray Area
Gray Area
Thu, Oct. 16th • 7-10PM
“Bring Your Own Beamer (BYOB)” returns to Gray Area for a one-night pop-up projector show featuring experimental projection-based art, generative visuals, and interactive installations by Bay Area artists. Conceived by digital artist Rafaël Rozendaal, the event invites participants to transform the space with light, color, and technology—offering a sliding-scale admission and open call for creators to join the immersive showcase. *Tickets $15+ sliding scale
Friday, Oct. 17th
Artwork: Shinpei Kusanagi, Grow Old, 2025. Acrylic on Canvas, 23 ⅞ x 19 ¾ in. *Courtesy of Altman Siegel
Altman Siegel
Fri, Oct. 17th • 10AM-6PM
Altman Siegel presents “It is not far to the sea,” a new exhibition of paintings by Shinpei Kusanagi that meditate on memory, loss, and the passage of time through poetic, dreamlike imagery. Drawing on personal grief and the natural world, Kusanagi creates works that evoke both fragility and resilience, extending his practice shown internationally in major museums and collections. (Oct. 17th – Nov. 22nd)
Photo: Jane Ivory, Sunset Light No. 1, 2021. Archival Pigment Print. *Courtesy of the Artist / Nelson Duni
Nelson Duni at 35 Bartlett St.
Fri, Oct. 17th • 4-8PM
Nelson Duni launches its inaugural group exhibition, “This Must Be the Place,” bringing together sculpture, painting, photography, drawing, and new media to reflect San Francisco’s vibrant and evolving creative spirit. Featuring artists like Jerry Ross Barrish, Gary Bukovnik, and Paul Madonna, the show explores diverse perspectives across disciplines while introducing the gallery’s first roster of artists. (Oct. 17th – Nov. 14th)
*Poster courtesy of Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture
Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture x West Coast Craft x Off the Grid
Fri, Oct. 17th • 5-10PM
The Fort Mason Night Market returns for a festive evening of local shopping, food, live music, and art along San Francisco’s scenic waterfront. Featuring vendors curated by West Coast Craft, bites from Off the Grid, and performances by Stern Grove Festival artists, the event offers community fun with a Halloween costume contest, art installations, and family-friendly fall celebrations under the stars.
*Poster courtesy of Haight Street Art Center
Haight Street Art Center
Fri, Oct. 17th • 6-9PM
The Haight Street Art Center presents “Hiding Places: Jermaine Rogers—Posters, Serigraphs, and Assorted Works,” a major retrospective featuring more than 125 rare gig posters, prints, and sculptures by the acclaimed Houston artist. Showcasing Rogers’ bold visual language and sharp social commentary, the exhibition highlights both his iconic rock imagery and deeply personal explorations of the human condition. (Oct. 16th – Dec. 14th)
*Poster courtesy of Slip Gallery
Slip Gallery at Clay By The Bay Pottery Studios
Fri, Oct. 17th 6-9PM
Slip Gallery presents “Freaky Forms,” a Halloween-themed ceramic art exhibition and costume party at Clay by the Bay Pottery Studios. Explore eerie and imaginative works, enjoy wine and cheese, and compete for prizes in a night of community, creativity, and spooky fun.
*Poster courtesy of Upper Market Gallery
Upper Market Gallery
Fri, Oct. 17th • 6-10PM
Upper Market Gallery presents “Passing Through,” a group exhibition featuring artists Claire Carreras, Hana Coughlin, Sean Coughlin, Charles Gonzalez, and Johnny Venetti, with music by DJ SuperChill enriching this celebration of creativity and connection. (Oct. 17th – 26th)
*Photo courtesy of The Lab
The Lab at Cushion Works
Fri, Oct. 17th • 6-7:30PM
Join artists Beth and Annie, along with collaborator Amanda Starbuck, for “An Ecosexual Walking Tour in Search of the Elusive Boobie Bird“—a witty, eco-sensual journey through San Francisco’s urban landscape. Starting at The Lab and winding toward 465 Collective and Cushion Works, the tour blends performance, environmental curiosity, and humor in connection with their upcoming exhibition “Bazoombas in Love.”
*Poster courtesy of The Drawing Room: ANNEX
The Drawing Room ANNEX
Fri, Oct. 17th • 7-10PM
The Drawing Room ANNEX presents “Reserved Seating,” a special communal table art event celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Art is Light exhibition. Featuring live music, interactive art-making, drinks, bites, and a curator-led tour, the evening also highlights the gallery’s seven-year retrospective spanning 70 shows across seven spaces and its enduring support of San Francisco’s creative community. *Tickets $35
Saturday, Oct. 18th
Artwork: Victoria Veedell, Midsummer, 2025. Oil on Canvas, 60 x 60 in. *Courtesy of the Artist
ArtSpan x SF Open Studios Weekend 5
Sat-Sun, Oct. 18th-19th • 11AM-5PM
ArtSpan SF Open Studios wraps up with Weekend 5, spotlighting artists across Bayview and Hunters Point. Explore studio spaces, meet local creators, and celebrate the city’s thriving arts community in these historic and culturally rich neighborhoods. (Oct. 18th – 19th)
*Banner courtesy of Harvey Milk Photo Center
Harvey Milk Photo Center
Sat, Oct. 18th • 11AM-5PM & Sun, Oct. 19th • 10AM-4PM
The San Francisco Photo Book Fair at Harvey Milk Photo Center is a free, multi-day celebration of image-based bookmaking featuring over 40 independent exhibitors from across the Bay Area and beyond. The event invites visitors of all ages to explore photography books, connect with artists, and experience the creative community around photobook publishing. (Oct. 18th – 19th)
*Banner courtesy of Hunters Point Shipyard
Hunters Point Shipyard
Sat-Sun, Oct. 18th-19th • 11AM-6PM
Hunters Point Shipyard Open Studios invites visitors to explore over 130 artist studios across one of the country’s largest historic artist communities. The event features original artwork for sale, live music, food vendors, a beer garden, family-friendly activities, and a silent art auction, creating a full weekend of art, history, and community. (Oct. 18th – 19th)
Artwork: Alexandra Cicorschi. *Courtesy of Arcana
Arcana
Sat, Oct. 18th • 4-7PM
Arcana presents “An Ocean Away,” a solo exhibition by Alexandra Cicorschi inspired by Dexandro Montalvo’s modern dance piece Ocean. The show features artworks based on the performance’s choreography, with dance pieces at the opening reception creating a dialogue between visual art and movement.
*Poster courtesy of di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art SF
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art SF
Sat, Oct. 18th • 5-7PM
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art SF presents “Jim Melchert: Where the Boundaries Are,” the first major retrospective of the late artist’s six-decade career. Curated by Griff Williams, the exhibition features over 60 works tracing Melchert’s lasting influence on Bay Area art and ceramics. (Oct. 18th – Jan. 3rd, 2026)
Photography: Andrew Owen. *Courtesy of Andrew Owen
Small Works Projects Gallery
Sat, Oct. 18th • 5-8PM
Small Works Projects Gallery presents “In Light Years,” a photography exhibition by Andrew Owen featuring 16 large-format landscapes that trace California’s ecological transformations through cycles of megafires and floods. Blending environmental documentation with mythic imagery, Owen reimagines the climate crisis through poetic and expansive visual narratives. (Oct. 18th – Dec. 13th)
Artwork: Ana iS. *Banner courtesy of International Art Museum of America (IAMA) x Lightspace Gallery
Lightspace Gallery at International Art Museum of America (IAMA)
Sat, Oct. 18th • 5:30-7:30PM
Lightspace Gallery at IAMA presents “Lyrical Paintings of Musical Mindsets by Ana iS,” a vibrant exhibition translating songs into expressive visual art through color, texture, and form. Visitors can meet the artist, experience the multisensory connection between music and painting, and engage with works that blend rhythm, emotion, and visual storytelling. (Oct. 8th – Nov. 15th)
*Banner courtesy of Punk Majesty
Punk Majesty Showroom
Sat, Oct. 18th • 6-9:30PM
Punk Majesty concludes its “Underground Art Show #4” with a closing party celebrating punk art, fashion, and rock history in an immersive San Francisco experience. Featuring over a dozen artists, vintage fashion, and rare rock photography, the event embodies the creativity, community, and rebellious spirit of the city’s underground scene.
*Banner courtesy of ATAK Gallery
ATAK Gallery
Sat, Oct. 18th • 7-11:30PM
ATAK Gallery presents “Live Wire,” a solo exhibition by Britton McFetridge featuring over 150 hand-painted, delft-style ceramic works inspired by tattoo traditions. The show explores permanence and impermanence through plates, tiles, and sculptural pieces, marking the world’s largest tattoo ceramic exhibition. (Oct. 8th – Nov. 15th)
Beyond SF (Bay Area Picks)
Artwork: ektor garcia, maripalumino (detail), 2021. Cast Aluminum, Cast Bronze, Crocheted Copper Wire, 25 x 18 ½ x 9 in. *Courtesy the artist and Rebecca Camacho Presents. Photo by Robert Divers Herrick
*San José Museum of Art – San José
Fri, Oct. 17th • 6-9PM
The San José Museum of Art presents “ektor garcia: loose ends,” the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in his home state, featuring intricately handmade sculptures that blend craft traditions with a DIY punk aesthetic. The opening celebration includes music by DJ Valdespín, a member reception, and an immersive installation reimagining garcia’s evolving works in copper, metal, glass, and fiber. *Tickets $5 after 5PM; Free for members (Oct. 17th – Jun. 7th, 2026)
*Photo courtesy of Berkeley Art Center
*Berkeley Art Center – Berkeley
Sat, Oct. 18th • 1-4PM
Celebrate “PULLEY: A Collaborative Exhibition with NIAD Art Center” at the Berkeley Art Center with an afternoon of art, food, and conversation under the oaks. Enjoy a community potluck from 1-3PM followed by an artist talk with Christopher Robin Duncan and Shawn Sanders, moderated by Lucy Zimmerman—free and open to all.
*Banner courtesy of Burning Man x The Loom
*The Loom – Oakland
Sat, Oct. 18th • 2PM-12AM
Burning Man Decompression 2025 comes to Oakland at The Loom, transforming the space into a vibrant hub of art, music, and community. The event features large-scale art installations, live performances, workshops, a silent disco, interactive theme camps, mutant vehicles, family-friendly activities, and food and drink vendors—all celebrating creativity and connection inspired by Burning Man culture. *Tickets $45+
*Courtesy of Gray Loft Gallery
*Gray Loft Gallery – Oakland
Sat, Oct. 18th • 3-5PM
Gray Loft Gallery invites you to enjoy award-winning Cote West wines while exploring “ALIGNED,” a vibrant group exhibition by six Bay Area artists. Sip, savor, and experience how art and wine come together in Jingletown’s creative heart.
Artworks: (left to right) Christopher Robin Duncan, 12 Symbols – Pale Moon (12 Month Exposure), 2022. Acrylic, Thread and Direct Sunlight on Fabric, 66 x 54 in. Courtney Sennish, Four Times, 2025. Aquatint Etching, 15 x 11 in. Edition of 10. *Courtesy of Morgann Trumbull Projects
*Morgann Trumbull Projects – San José
Sat, Oct. 18th • 3-6PM
Morgann Trumbull Projects presents “Ceremony” and “10 Shadows,” two concurrent pop-up exhibitions in San José that explore time, ritual, and transformation through material and process. Ceremony features six artists—Windy Chien, Christopher Robin Duncan, Mark Fox, Nathan Lynch, Joshua Moreno, and Rachelle Reichert—whose works engage with elemental forces such as light, salt, and shadow, while Courtney Sennish: 10 Shadows offers monochromatic copperplate etchings that translate architectural forms into quiet studies of impermanence and perception. (Oct. 18th – Nov. 22nd)
Design by Jess Giambroni. *Poster courtesy of Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA)
*Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) – San Rafael
Sat, Oct. 18th • 5-9:30PM
MarinMOCA presents “ART FWD: 5x5x5,” a dynamic celebration of Bay Area creativity featuring 155 interconnected artists selected through a ripple of inspiration led by five renowned curators. The series kicks off with an energetic Opening Night of art, music, and community, followed by intimate Artist’s Table gatherings that deepen connections with the region’s leading creatives. (Oct. 18th – Dec. 28th) *Tickets $75+