(featured image) Ana Monteiro, Vanishing Point, 2025. Oil on Linen, 31.5 x 23.6 in. *Courtesy of CK Contemporary
San Francisco, your art calendar just exploded—and we’re here for it! This week’s lineup is a full-blown creative celebration, and you’ve got front-row access. It all kicks off with Sheldon Greenberg’s layered abstractions at Modernism, then ramps up with a brush-slinging showdown at Art Battle San Francisco at Public Works. Thursday? It’s SoMa’s art trifecta — Berggruen Gallery, Crown Point Press, and Cushion Works all open their doors with vibrant exhibitions, conversations, and community moments. Plus, don’t miss Root Division’s legendary annual auction, or City Arts & Lectures where Richard Misrach and Rebecca Solnit reflect on trade, place, and the power of images.
And just when you think you’ve caught your breath…the weekend arrives. From the wild woven forms at Ruth’s Table to shadowy borderland stories at Red Poppy Art House, the city pulses with creative energy. The Drawing Room toasts seven years of community-powered art, while Saturday brings a citywide gallery crawl: CK Contemporary, Southern Exposure, YBCA, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Inclusions Gallery, Jettison Creative — and that’s just the beginning. Whether you’re sipping espresso at Ballast Coffee or sending “Love Letters to Aliens” in the Mission, there’s something for every kind of art lover. Scroll down for all the details, and start mapping out your week of art-hopping across San Francisco.
Tuesday, Oct. 21st
Artwork: Sheldon Greenberg, Pump the Brakes (After Degas), 2025. Acrylic and Screen Print on Canvas over Panel, 56 x 48 in. *Courtesy of Modernism
Modernism
Tue, Oct. 21st • 6-8PM
Modernism presents “Syncretic Overlays,” featuring seven paintings and nine works on paper by Sheldon Greenberg that reimagine iconic works from Old and Modern Masters through a contemporary lens. Using silkscreens, patterns, and layered abstraction, Greenberg reframes historic imagery to explore cultural resonance, personal meaning, and postmodern reinterpretation. (Aug. 22nd – Dec. 1st)
Wednesday, Oct. 22nd
*Banner courtesy of Art Battle San Francisco
Art Battle San Francisco at Public Works
Wed, Oct. 22nd • 7-10PM
Art Battle San Francisco returns to Public Works with a high-energy City Championship, where regular season winners and All-Stars compete in three live-painting rounds for a shot at the national title. Audience members vote for their favorites, bid on one-of-a-kind artworks, and experience an unforgettable evening of art, competition, and community. *Tickets $25
Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Artworks: (left to right) Jane Hammond, Bronze Age Gold Cup with Persian Carpet Flower, Wild Cucumber and Monkshood, 2025. Mixed Media, 38 x 50 in. Anna Valdez, Cockatiel with Houseplants, 2024. Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 40 x 35 in. *Courtesy of Berggruen Gallery
Berggruen Gallery
Thu, Oct. 23rd • 4:30-7PM
Berggruen Gallery presents “Chocolate Cosmos, String of Pearls” by Jane Hammond, a series of vibrant mixed-media botanical assemblages that reimagine flora, fauna, and material culture to reflect on ecology, language, and the fragility of the natural world. The gallery will host an artist discussion with Hammond at 4:30PM, followed by an Opening from 5-7PM. Showing alongside, “Interiors” features paintings and works on paper by artists including Richard Diebenkorn, Lucy Williams, Anna Valdez, and others, exploring domestic and architectural spaces through light, memory, and form. (Oct. 23rd – Jan. 8th, 2026)
*Photo courtesy of Crown Point Press
Crown Point Press x Goethe-Institut x SFAI Archive x Berggruen Gallery
Thu, Oct. 23rd • 5-7PM
Join Crown Point Press and neighbors on Hawthorne Street for a Fall Open House, featuring exhibitions, studio tours, and light refreshments. Explore “Autumn: The Rhythm of Everyday Life” at Crown Point Press, “Black in Berlin” at the Goethe-Institut, “6 Gallery: The Space and Freedom” at the SFAI Archive, and “Jane Hammond: Chocolate Cosmos, String of Pearls” at Berggruen Gallery.
Graphic by Little Shiva dot com. Headshots by Lydia Daniller. *Courtesy of Annie Sprinkle / Cushion Works
Cushion Works
Thu, Oct. 23rd • 6-8PM
Cushion Works presents “Bazoombas in Love,” a deeply personal and celebratory exhibition by longtime collaborators and life partners Beth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle. Blending humor, eroticism, and resilience, the show reflects on art, illness, and intimacy through new works, archival materials, and participatory events that honor the body, love, and creative survival. (Oct. 24th – Jan. 24th, 2026)
*Banner courtesy of Root Division
Root Division
Thu, Oct. 23rd • 7-10PM
Root Division’s 24th Annual Art Auction returns with one of San Francisco’s most anticipated nights for art and community. Featuring over 160 works by established and emerging Bay Area artists, the event blends live and silent auctions — led by esteemed Bonhams Auctioneer Aaron Bastian — with an atmosphere of creativity, connection, and purpose. All proceeds fuel Root Division’s mission to support local artists and provide free art education for Bay Area youth. Tickets $100+
Photo: Richard Misrach, Cargo. *Courtesy of City Arts & Lectures
City Arts & Lectures at Sydney Goldstein Theatre
Thu, Oct. 23rd • 7:30PM
City Arts & Lectures presents photographer Richard Misrach and writer Rebecca Solnit in conversation about Cargo, Misrach’s new book documenting global trade and its environmental impact through images of the Port of Oakland. The event offers a reflective dialogue on art, industry, and the ecological consequences of commerce.
Friday, Oct. 24th
Artwork: Jill Stanton, Song, 2024. Pacific Kelp and Driftwood, 9.5 x 5 x 3.5 in. *Courtesy of Ruth’s Table
Ruth’s Table
Fri, Oct. 24th • 5-8PM
Ruth’s Table celebrates its 15th year with “Baskets on the Edge,” a group exhibition by the Bay Area Basket Makers (BABM) that reimagines the basket as both sculpture and contemporary art. Featuring inventive works made from materials like kelp, pine needles, and recycled plastic, the show honors craft, community, and the evolution of tradition. (Oct. 24th – Dec. 19th)
*Poster courtesy of The Drawing Room
The Drawing Room
Fri, Oct. 24th • 6-8PM
The Drawing Room celebrates seven years with “Creating Space for Art,” an artist panel exploring how community art spaces shape creative practice and connection. The celebration continues with a LitQuake Lit Crawl event and afterparty, highlighting the gallery’s role as a vibrant hub for art and literature in San Francisco.
*Banner courtesy of Kearny Street Workshop
Kearny Street Workshop at Arc Gallery & Studios
Fri, Oct. 24th • 6-9PM
Kearny Street Workshop presents the “APAture 2025 Visual Arts Showcase: (Un)Becoming,” co-presented by ARTogether and the Asian American Women Artists Association at Arc Gallery & Studios. Featuring Palestinian artist Asma Ghanem alongside emerging Bay Area painters, sculptors, and multimedia artists, the exhibition explores transformation, identity, and collective growth through art. (Oct. 18th – Nov. 8th)
*Photo courtesy of Asian Art Museum
Asian Art Museum
Fri, Oct. 24th • 7-11PM
“Rave Into the Future: Art In Motion” opens at the Asian Art Museum with a vibrant night of performances, DJ sets, and dancing featuring exhibiting artists Morehshin Allahyari, Yasmine Nasser Diaz, Sahar Khoury, Joe Namy, and Maryam Yousif. Transforming the galleries with music, movement, and interactive activations, the celebration invites guests to dance, create, and connect throughout the evening. (Oct. 24th – Jan. 12th, 2026) *Tickets $30
*Banner courtesy of ShadowLight Productions
ShadowLight Productions at Red Poppy Art House
Fri, Oct. 24th • 7:30-9:30PM
ShadowLight Productions presents “Ghosts of the River (2009),” a cinematic shadow theater film written by Octavio Solis that blends puppetry, live actors, and projected imagery to tell ghost stories from the U.S.–Mexico borderlands. The screening at Red Poppy Art House will be followed by an artist talk with Larry Reed and original collaborators, offering insight into the work’s layered exploration of migration, memory, and visual storytelling.
Saturday, Oct. 25th
*Courtesy of Letterform Archive
Letterform Archive
Sat, Oct. 25th & Sun, Oct. 26th • 9AM-4PM
Letterform Archive presents “The Art of Type Selection,” a two-day in-person workshop exploring the evolving landscape of typography and design. As the number of available typefaces, formats, and licensing options expands, designers face both greater challenges and creative freedom. Through guided instruction and hands-on exercises, participants will develop smarter selection criteria, uncover the relationships between form and function, and learn strategies to navigate contemporary type resources. The program invites attendees to break free from overused fonts and rediscover the joy of choosing type with intention and insight. (Oct. 25th – 26th, 2025) *Tickets $540
*Courtesy of Oxide Collective
Oxide Collective Pop-up Gallery
Sat, Oct. 25th • 11AM-6PM
The Oxide Collective presents “The 2025 Show,” an annual month-long exhibition highlighting female-identifying artists from the Bay Area. Transforming a vacant retail space (located at 2751 21st St., SF) into a dynamic gallery setting, the show features new works by Jaime Lovejoy, Erin Hupp, Ayça O Kiliçoğlu, Hannah Franco, Taylor Smalls, Sasinun Zohm, and Jessie Laura. Through painting, ceramics, mixed media, and installation, the group exhibition celebrates creative resilience, transformation, and community within shifting urban landscapes. (Oct. 1st – Oct. 26th, 2025. Final weekend: Thurs–Sun, Oct. 23–26, 11–6.)
Installation view of Bay Area Then. Photo by Charlie Villyard. *Courtesy of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Sat, Oct. 25th • 12-2PM
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) presents the Bay Area Then Artist and Curator Panel, a candid conversation with artists Arnold Kemp, Alicia McCarthy, and Rigo 23 moderated by curator Eungie Joo, exploring their practices and what it means to create in a time of consequence. The discussion concludes with a guided tour of “Bay Area Then” alongside the curator and artists. *Tickets $10
*Poster courtesy of Ingleside Gallery
Ingleside Gallery at Ballast Coffee
Sat, Oct. 25th • 1-3PM
Ingleside Gallery presents “Organic Architecture” at Ballast Coffee, featuring Bay Area artists Ray Gonzalez and Alvar Jacomet, whose works explore the harmony between natural and built environments through texture, form, and light. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the organic interplay between structure and nature in contemporary art. (Sept. 30th – Nov. 21st)
*Poster courtesy of Inclusions Gallery
Inclusions Gallery
Sat, Oct. 25th • 5-7PM
Inclusions Gallery presents “Urban Echoes: Stories from City and Sky,” featuring new works by San Francisco artists Leila Noorani and Aaron Zube. The exhibition explores narrative scenes that capture the spirit of the city and its surrounding landscapes. (Oct. 18th – Nov. 22nd)
Artwork: Ana Monteiro. *Courtesy of CK Contemporary
CK Contemporary
Sat, Oct. 25th • 5-8PM
CK Contemporary presents “Once Upon a Time,” the first U.S. solo exhibition by Portuguese figurative painter Ana Monteiro, whose portraits explore themes of the Self through symbolism and magical realism. Her work bridges personal memory and collective consciousness, weaving references to art history, literature, allegory, and myth.
*Banner courtesy of Jettison Creative
Jettison Creative
Sat, Oct. 25th • 5-8PM
“Not Even Scared” at Jettison Creative brings together Bay Area women photographers confronting fear, decay, and mortality through haunting visual narratives. Curated by Claire Maen, the exhibition includes an artist talk at 6:30PM with Janet Delaney and Susan Felter—costumes encouraged. (Oct. 25th – Nov. 30th)
*Poster courtesy of Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Sat, Oct. 25th • 5-8PM
Manilatown Heritage Foundation presents the “I-Hotel Mandala” Opening Reception with artist Nancy Hom, unveiling a six-foot floor mandala in honor of the 20th anniversary of the International Hotel Manilatown Center. The installation incorporates photos and cultural symbols that reflect the I-Hotel’s legacy as a hub for community, resilience, and Filipino heritage. (Oct. 25th – Nov. 30th)
*Poster courtesy of Southern Exposure
Southern Exposure
Sat, Oct. 25th • 5-8PM
Southern Exposure presents “Love Letters to Aliens,” curated by Sholeh Asgary, an exhibition and event series exploring the concept of the “alien” from immigrants to extraterrestrials through sculpture, drawing, video, performance, and grief work. Partnering with immigrant rights and prison abolition groups, the show examines survival, celebration, and visibility at the edges of borders, bodies, and histories. (Oct. 25th – Feb. 7th, 2026)
*Poster courtesy of StartOut San Francisco
StartOut San Francisco at Rosebud Gallery
Sat, Oct. 25th • 6-9PM
StartOut SF hosts “ArtOut,” its first-ever art show at Rosebud Gallery, bringing together queer local artists with the city’s tech and investment community through art, live music, and connection. The evening continues with an afterparty at queer-owned wine bar Robberbaron, celebrating creativity, community, and inclusivity. *Tickets $20
*Banner courtesy of Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco (CCCSF)
Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco (CCCSF)
Sat, Oct. 25th • 6-11PM
Kicking off its 60th Anniversary Festival, the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco (CCCSF) presents “A Radical Retrospective,” reimagining 1965 through art, activism, DJs, burlesque, cocktails, and immersive retro experiences. This special celebration also debuts CCC’s new gallery and design store, honoring six decades of cultural resilience and community power. (Oct. 25th – Nov. 1st) *Tickets $25
Sunday, Oct. 26th
*Poster courtesy of Wall Box Gallery
Wall Box Gallery
Sun, Oct. 26th • 1-3PM
Wall Box Gallery presents “Slow Ride,” a photography exhibition by Seth Plotnick capturing San Francisco’s streets with raw, unfiltered honesty. The opening reception invites visitors to pause, reflect, and experience the city’s beauty in motion, with the artist in attendance.
Beyond SF (Bay Area Picks)
*Poster courtesy of 120710 Gallery
*120710 Gallery – Berkeley
Sat, Oct. 25th • 12-4PM
“Mythology of Tomorrow,” curated by Hugh Leeman at 120710.art, concludes with artist talks at 2PM and a meditation led by Scott Snibbe. The exhibition unites renowned and emerging new media artists to explore 21st-century themes of AI ethics, surveillance, patriarchy, and evolving social constructs.
Artworks: (left to right) Solange Roberdeau, Bora, 2023, 21K Moon Gold Leaf, Sumi Ink, Graphite, Acrylic, Gouache, Kozo Paper on Canvas, 31 ⅝ x 25 ½ x 2 in. *Courtesy of Municipal Bonds. Grace Potter, Fog Diviner, 2025. Stoneware with Local Clay Slip, 27 x 16 x 16 in. *Courtesy of the Artist. Pegan Brooke, S-339, 2022. Oil on Canvas, 66 x 52 in. *Courtesy of re.riddle
*Bolinas Museum – Bolinas
Sat, Oct. 25th • 1-3PM
The Bolinas Museum presents “SUSURRATIONS,” curated by Noelle Hiam and Jessica Shaefer, featuring Pegan Brooke, Grace Potter, and Solange Roberdeau, whose works transform natural elements into meditative reflections on place and perception. Alongside, “Frantiska Terebova: Early Artist of the Mesa,” curated by Elia Haworth, honors the Czech-born sculptor whose driftwood works and handmade home embody Bolinas’ enduring creative spirit. (Oct. 25th – Jan. 4th, 2026)
Artwork: David Duncan Livingston. *Courtesy of *Poet and/the Bench
*Poet and/the Bench – Mill Valley
Sat, Oct. 25th • 4-7PM
Poet and/the Bench presents “Free Bird,” by photographer and ceramic artist David Duncan Livingston, showcasing intuitive porcelain sculptures he calls “sculptural sketching.” The collection captures movement, emotion, and freedom through expressive, imperfect forms inspired by flight and the creative process. (Oct. 25th – Jan. 31st, 2026)
*Poster courtesy of StartOut San Francisco
*Sausalito Center For The Arts – Sausalito
Sat, Oct. 25th • 5-7:30PM
The Sausalito Center for the Arts presents the “SCA Open,” a major juried exhibition featuring work selected from 1,482 submissions by 590 Bay Area artists. Spanning painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and digital art, the show highlights both established and emerging voices, celebrating the region’s creativity and innovation. (Oct. 17th – Nov. 16th)
*Photo courtesy of Djerassi Resident Artists Program
*Djerassi Resident Artists Program – Woodside
Sun, Oct. 26th • 10AM-3PM
“Navigation III: LINGERING” at Djerassi Resident Artists Program offers an immersive day of performances, installations, and conversations led by artist Alex H Nichols, exploring the art of slowing down through the theme of “lingering.” Blending food, nature, and art, the one-day event invites guests to pause, reflect, and experience time as presence rather than passage.
*Photo courtesy of Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)
*Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) – Oakland
Sun, Oct. 26th • 11AM-4PM
OMCA’s 31st Annual Día de los Muertos Community Celebration fills the museum campus with color, music, and meaning—honoring ancestors through art, dance, food, and community. From the lively opening procession to beautifully crafted ofrendas and a bustling mercado of local artisans, the day invites everyone to celebrate life, memory, and connection. *Tickets are sold out; limited tickets will be available at the door