Museums and Galleries

Lisa Hanawalt’s amusing “Birds Hungry for Worms” is on view in “Tiny Bubbles” in the Veterans Building. (Courtesy San Francisco Arts Commission)

SF galleries’ show boasts whimsy, dark comedy

Fantasy creatures, candy-colored dreamscapes and darkly comic depictions of life’s grimmer realities…

Lisa Hanawalt’s amusing “Birds Hungry for Worms” is on view in “Tiny Bubbles” in the Veterans Building. (Courtesy San Francisco Arts Commission)
From left, Mark Nassar, Drew Todd, Lavale-William Davis, Shane Zaldivar, Christopher Alvaro, AeJay Mitchell and Tim Huls appeared in the first reading of”The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot” at the Tenderloin Museum. (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)

Tenderloin Museum turns 2 with history-themed shows

The Tenderloin Museum celebrated its second anniversary Saturday with a community day…

From left, Mark Nassar, Drew Todd, Lavale-William Davis, Shane Zaldivar, Christopher Alvaro, AeJay Mitchell and Tim Huls appeared in the first reading of”The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot” at the Tenderloin Museum. (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)
A room of colorful posters from the era is a highlight of "The Summer of Love Experience" at the de Young Museum. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

de Young Museum show recalls seminal 1967 summer

The phrase “summer of love” seems to be everywhere in the Bay…

A room of colorful posters from the era is a highlight of "The Summer of Love Experience" at the de Young Museum. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
The composition of Richard Diebenkorn's 1964 graphite and ink "Untitled" is reminiscent of works by Henri Matisse in a show on view at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Richard Diebenkorn Foundation.)

Matisse and Diebenkorn — meeting of creative minds

Henri Matisse and Richard Diebenkorn never met, but Diebenkorn, the California postwar…

The composition of Richard Diebenkorn's 1964 graphite and ink "Untitled" is reminiscent of works by Henri Matisse in a show on view at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Richard Diebenkorn Foundation.)
“Houses by the Zaan at Zaandam” (1871) is among the dramatic and appealing works on view through May 29 in "Monet: The Early Years" at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

‘Monet: Early Years’ reveals a master in the making

Before he created his water-lily scenes and other Impressionist masterworks, Claude Monet…

“Houses by the Zaan at Zaandam” (1871) is among the dramatic and appealing works on view through May 29 in "Monet: The Early Years" at the Legion of Honor. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
A life-sized jade burial suit for a king is among the impressive items in “Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty.” (Courtesy Asian Art Museum)

Sexy pleasures among Han Dynasty ‘Tomb Treasures’

It’s a stretch, but the Asian Art Museum is flogging its fascinating…

A life-sized jade burial suit for a king is among the impressive items in “Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty.” (Courtesy Asian Art Museum)
“Community Memory,” a computer system used in Berkeley in 1973 is on view in “Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia.” (Courtesy BAMPFA)

Haight Ashbury meets Silicon Valley in ‘Hippie Modernism’

There’s no kitschy flower power in “Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia”…

“Community Memory,” a computer system used in Berkeley in 1973 is on view in “Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia.” (Courtesy BAMPFA)
Comedy is a big part of Cary Leibowitz’s art. (Courtesy Cary Leibowitz /Invisible-Exports)

Cary Leibowitz’s pink insecurities in full view at CJM

In a window front on San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Lane, next to…

Comedy is a big part of Cary Leibowitz’s art. (Courtesy Cary Leibowitz /Invisible-Exports)
“Girl With a Pointy Hood and White Schoolbag at the Curb, N.Y.C. (1957)” is among the early pictures by Diane Arbus on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Estate of Diane Arbus)

Welcome to Diane Arbus’ world

An exhibition of early works by influential and controversial 20th-century photographer Diane…

“Girl With a Pointy Hood and White Schoolbag at the Curb, N.Y.C. (1957)” is among the early pictures by Diane Arbus on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Estate of Diane Arbus)
Amy Chin’s large graphic novel illustrating her Chinese-American heritage is among the enlightening works on view in “Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion” at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)

In-depth exhibit details Chinese-American experience

The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco is the…

Amy Chin’s large graphic novel illustrating her Chinese-American heritage is among the enlightening works on view in “Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion” at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)
An 18th century painting from India depicting Hanuman leaping across the ocean is among the dozens of artworks spanning centuries on view at the Asian Art Museum in “The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe.” (Courtesy Museum Rietberg Zurich, photo by Rainer Wolfsberger)

‘Rama Epic’ artworks bring ancient poem to life

Venerated, colorful and adaptable to the spirit of any age, literature’s “Ramayana”…

An 18th century painting from India depicting Hanuman leaping across the ocean is among the dozens of artworks spanning centuries on view at the Asian Art Museum in “The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe.” (Courtesy Museum Rietberg Zurich, photo by Rainer Wolfsberger)
“Peasant Interior With Old Flute Player,” on view at the Legion of Honor, exemplifies the Le Nain brothers’ interest in everyday people. (Courtesy Kimball Art Museum)

‘Brothers Le Nain’ a rare chance to see major French masterworks

In a Paris studio in the early baroque period, three brothers signing…

“Peasant Interior With Old Flute Player,” on view at the Legion of Honor, exemplifies the Le Nain brothers’ interest in everyday people. (Courtesy Kimball Art Museum)
Anthony Hernandez offers an arresting image of Southern California car culture in “Automotive Landscapes #35, 1978.” (Courtesy Anthony Hernandez)

Photographer Anthony Hernandez gets his due at SFMOMA

Anthony Hernandez, who brought the landscape of Los Angeles, especially its poor…

Anthony Hernandez offers an arresting image of Southern California car culture in “Automotive Landscapes #35, 1978.” (Courtesy Anthony Hernandez)
Paintings of peasant life by French siblings Antoine, Louis and Mathieu Le Nain come to the Legion of Honor in "The Brothers Le Nain: Painters of 17th Century France." (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Fall 2016 Museums and Galleries Preview

Classical treasures and contemporary art stars share the spotlight. OPENING Anthony Hernandez:…

Paintings of peasant life by French siblings Antoine, Louis and Mathieu Le Nain come to the Legion of Honor in "The Brothers Le Nain: Painters of 17th Century France." (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
“Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed” at the California Academy of Sciences showcases findings made by divers using new technology that takes them 500 feet beneath the ocean's surface. (Courtesy Luiz Rocha)

Cal Academy’s ‘Twilight Zone’ takes viewers to unknown depth

The ocean is far easier to get to than space, yet scientists…

“Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed” at the California Academy of Sciences showcases findings made by divers using new technology that takes them 500 feet beneath the ocean's surface. (Courtesy Luiz Rocha)
“Incoming!,” the up-to-the-minute Morrison Planetarium show, delves into the past, present and future of the cosmos. (Courtesy California Academy of Sciences Visualization Studio)

Planetarium’s ‘Incoming’ shows fascinating impact of asteroids

With so much chaos on Earth, there’s never been a better time…

“Incoming!,” the up-to-the-minute Morrison Planetarium show, delves into the past, present and future of the cosmos. (Courtesy California Academy of Sciences Visualization Studio)
“Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas” is among the eye-catching works on view in “Ed Ruscha and the Great American West” at the de Young Museum. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

An American road trip inspired Ed Ruscha works

Painter and photographer Ed Ruscha is known for his gas-station pictures and…

“Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas” is among the eye-catching works on view in “Ed Ruscha and the Great American West” at the de Young Museum. (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Anselm Kiefer’s 1983 “Sulamith” is among the impressive works in “German Art After 1960” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Anselm Kiefer/SFMOMA)

SFMOMA’s ‘German Art After 1960’ captures a country’s evolving mood

In the 1960s and years beyond, Germany struggled with the horror of…

Anselm Kiefer’s 1983 “Sulamith” is among the impressive works in “German Art After 1960” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Anselm Kiefer/SFMOMA)
Film stills including an an image of Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Stanley Kubrick on the set of “Eyes Wide Shut” are on view at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. (Courtesy Manuel Harlan/Warner Bros.)

The genius of Stanley Kubrick

With “Dr. Strangelove,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “The Shining”…

Film stills including an an image of Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Stanley Kubrick on the set of “Eyes Wide Shut” are on view at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. (Courtesy Manuel Harlan/Warner Bros.)
A 15th century porcelain “cup with chicken design” from the Ming dynasty is among the antiquities from the National Palace Museum on view at the Asian Art Museum. (Courtesy National Palace Museum, Taipei)

‘Treasures’ collects 800 years of Chinese imperial art

“Priceless pork belly” is the catch phrase the Asian Art Museum has…

A 15th century porcelain “cup with chicken design” from the Ming dynasty is among the antiquities from the National Palace Museum on view at the Asian Art Museum. (Courtesy National Palace Museum, Taipei)