Museums and Galleries

Webcams offer live views of California Academy of Sciences’ African penguins. (Courtesy photo)

Cal Academy brings natural world inside

At-home programs include new virtual NightLife festivities

Webcams offer live views of California Academy of Sciences’ African penguins. (Courtesy photo)
Stanford University is closing Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Gallery galleries to the public, but the outdoor sculpture garden will remain open. (Courtesy photo)

Stanford closes art galleries due to coronavirus threat

Walt Disney Family Museum, Omni Concerts programs also affected

Stanford University is closing Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Gallery galleries to the public, but the outdoor sculpture garden will remain open. (Courtesy photo)
Due to public health threats, Stanford University is canceling some programs at Cantor Arts Center, though the museum, and the Anderson Collection, will remain open. (Courtesy photo)

Coronavirus threat postpones Stanford museum programs, Ocean film fest

Officials take precaution as public health concerns mount

Due to public health threats, Stanford University is canceling some programs at Cantor Arts Center, though the museum, and the Anderson Collection, will remain open. (Courtesy photo)
Orange, yellow and purple are used to excellent effect in a “Three Sixes” quilt from 1999. (Courtesy Eli Leon Bequest)

Berkeley Art Museum shows Rosie Lee Tompkins’ brilliant quilts

Innovator brought new dimension to textile artistry

Orange, yellow and purple are used to excellent effect in a “Three Sixes” quilt from 1999. (Courtesy Eli Leon Bequest)
Dawoud Bey’s 2012 “The Birmingham Project” includes “Mary Parker and Caela Cowan, Birmingham, AL.” (Courtesy the artist, Rennie Collection)

Black like Bey

SFMOMA showcases photographer Dawoud Bey’s beautiful, sociopolitical images

Dawoud Bey’s 2012 “The Birmingham Project” includes “Mary Parker and Caela Cowan, Birmingham, AL.” (Courtesy the artist, Rennie Collection)
“Showing their Levi’s postcard from California Rodeo Salinas” is part of a Contemporary Jewish Museum exhibit about the famed blue jean company opening Feb. 13. (Courtesy Levi Strauss & Co. Archives)

Winter 2020 Arts Preview: Museums

Art and science centers show photography, sculpture, installations, painting and more

“Showing their Levi’s postcard from California Rodeo Salinas” is part of a Contemporary Jewish Museum exhibit about the famed blue jean company opening Feb. 13. (Courtesy Levi Strauss & Co. Archives)
A 15th- to 16th-century wood figure of the Buddhist deity Vajrabhairava (“Destroyer of Death”) is a highlight of “Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment” on view through May 3 at the Asian Art Museum. Courtesy Travis Fullerton/Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Asian Art Museum’s ‘Awaken’ offers a journey toward enlightenment

Ancient, contemporary Buddhist works on view

A 15th- to 16th-century wood figure of the Buddhist deity Vajrabhairava (“Destroyer of Death”) is a highlight of “Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment” on view through May 3 at the Asian Art Museum. Courtesy Travis Fullerton/Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Street artist JR’s huge digital mural on the first floor of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, on view for free, is fascinating. (Leslie Katz/S.F.)

JR’s mural mesmerizes at SFMOMA

‘Chronicles of San Francisco’ showcases 1,206 people

Street artist JR’s huge digital mural on the first floor of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, on view for free, is fascinating. (Leslie Katz/S.F.)
Curators Elizabeth Mitchell, left, and Aleesa Alexander discuss “The Baayfalls 2017,” a painting by Jordan Casteel in “Returning the Gaze” at Cantor Arts Center through Feb. 2. (Caroline Ghisolfi/ Special to S.F. Examiner)

Stories from Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center

Three exhibitions showcase American life, past and present

Curators Elizabeth Mitchell, left, and Aleesa Alexander discuss “The Baayfalls 2017,” a painting by Jordan Casteel in “Returning the Gaze” at Cantor Arts Center through Feb. 2. (Caroline Ghisolfi/ Special to S.F. Examiner)
A bronze Buddha dated 338 from China’s Hebei province is among 15 objects on view in “Masterworks,” an exhibition on the Asian Art Museum’s refurbished third floor. (Courtesy Asian Art Museum/Avery Brundage Collection)

Asian Art Museum reintroduces 15 ‘Masterworks’

Redesigned galleries offer taste of what’s to come when $100 million expansion is completed

A bronze Buddha dated 338 from China’s Hebei province is among 15 objects on view in “Masterworks,” an exhibition on the Asian Art Museum’s refurbished third floor. (Courtesy Asian Art Museum/Avery Brundage Collection)
Marlon Mullen reimagines magazine covers in his paintings; an untitled 2017 piece is pictured. (Photo courtesy Glen Cheriton, JKA Photography/Marion Mullen)

Bold new work from SECA Award winners

Biennial SFMOMA exhibition showcases Bay Area artists

  • Nov 26, 2019
Marlon Mullen reimagines magazine covers in his paintings; an untitled 2017 piece is pictured. (Photo courtesy Glen Cheriton, JKA Photography/Marion Mullen)
Faith Ringgold’s 1967 “The Flag Is Bleeding” is from “American People Series #18.” (Courtesy Faith Ringgold/Artists Rights Society)

‘Soul of a Nation’ explodes with Black Power

Overdue de Young exhibition remains relevant in 21st century

Faith Ringgold’s 1967 “The Flag Is Bleeding” is from “American People Series #18.” (Courtesy Faith Ringgold/Artists Rights Society)
‘Soft Power’ showcases world-changing art

‘Soft Power’ showcases world-changing art

SFMOMA exhibition inspires visitors to take political action

‘Soft Power’ showcases world-changing art
“On the Thames” (ca. 1876) is among the masterworks in “James Tissot: Fashion & Faith” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Hepworth Wakefield Museum/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Resplendent James Tissot works at Legion of Honor

‘Fashion & Faith’ covers 19th century painter’s illustrious career

  • Oct 15, 2019
“On the Thames” (ca. 1876) is among the masterworks in “James Tissot: Fashion & Faith” at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Hepworth Wakefield Museum/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Herb Robinson’s 1973 photograph “Brother and Sister” is among the works in “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power,” opening Nov. 9 at the deYoung Museum. (Courtesy Herb Robinson/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Fine Arts Museums expand free Saturday entry to all Bay Area residents

Program continues efforts to support, engage community

Herb Robinson’s 1973 photograph “Brother and Sister” is among the works in “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power,” opening Nov. 9 at the deYoung Museum. (Courtesy Herb Robinson/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
“The Bay” is an eye-catching 40- by-20-foot mosaic mural by Mission-based Precita Eyes Muralists Association. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Chase Center’s fine art extravaganza

Sculptures, murals and more in Thrive City

“The Bay” is an eye-catching 40- by-20-foot mosaic mural by Mission-based Precita Eyes Muralists Association. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Kiluanji Kia Henda’s “The Last Journey of the Dictator Mussunda N’zombo Before the Great Extinction Act I, 2017” is part of “Africa State of Mind” at the Museum of the African Diasopora. (Courtesy MOAD)

Fall 2019 Arts Preview: Museums

Exhibitions feature renowned and emerging artists, past and present

Kiluanji Kia Henda’s “The Last Journey of the Dictator Mussunda N’zombo Before the Great Extinction Act I, 2017” is part of “Africa State of Mind” at the Museum of the African Diasopora. (Courtesy MOAD)
“Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped” compiles unorthodox works from the artist’s long career. (Photo by Gary Zvonkovic)

Annabeth Rosen’s wild things at Contemporary Jewish Museum

‘Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped’ collects ceramicist’s singular works

“Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped” compiles unorthodox works from the artist’s long career. (Photo by Gary Zvonkovic)
Labor of Love’s Natasha and Ali pose with “Resurrection,” their metal and resin butterfly, on view in Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ exhibition “Art of Peace.” (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)

Weapons transform into eye-catching ‘Art of Peace’

YBCA exhibition aims to heal, end gun violence

Labor of Love’s Natasha and Ali pose with “Resurrection,” their metal and resin butterfly, on view in Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ exhibition “Art of Peace.” (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)
“Piazza Grande in Burano,” shot in Venice in 1957 by Piergiorgio Branzi, is part of “NeoRealismo: The New Image in Italy, 1932-1960.” (Courtesy Fondazione Forma/Contrasto Galleria Milano)

Post-World War II Italy in vivid black-and-white

‘NeoRealismo’ showcases images from 1932 to 1960

“Piazza Grande in Burano,” shot in Venice in 1957 by Piergiorgio Branzi, is part of “NeoRealismo: The New Image in Italy, 1932-1960.” (Courtesy Fondazione Forma/Contrasto Galleria Milano)