Visual Arts

“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.)
Joseph Kosuth’s “W.F.T.” on the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is one of the stops on the Illuminate SF Light Art Trail. (Courtesy San Francisco Travel Association)

Dramatic public art lights up The City

Travel bureau’s Light Art Trail a fun winter diversion

Joseph Kosuth’s “W.F.T.” on the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is one of the stops on the Illuminate SF Light Art Trail. (Courtesy San Francisco Travel Association)
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)
“Signal,” a sculpture by Tom Loughlin made from pieces of the eastern span of the demolished Bay Bridge, was unveiled on Treasure Island Sept. 22. (Courtesy Tom Loughlin)

Old Bay Bridge parts recycled in public art piece

‘Signal,’ a 25-foot steel ring, installed on Treasure Island

“Signal,” a sculpture by Tom Loughlin made from pieces of the eastern span of the demolished Bay Bridge, was unveiled on Treasure Island Sept. 22. (Courtesy Tom Loughlin)
“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)
“Aquilone” is among Lino Tagliapietra’s recent sculptures in “Radiance.” (Courtesy the artist and Montague Gallery, photo by Russell Johnson)

Gorgeous glass

Lino Tagliapietra master works on view in S.F. gallery show

“Aquilone” is among Lino Tagliapietra’s recent sculptures in “Radiance.” (Courtesy the artist and Montague Gallery, photo by Russell Johnson)
Gina M. Contreras’ 2019 “Sola Chola” is on view in her solo show at Park Life Gallery. (Courtesy Park Life Gallery)

Gina M. Contreras’ self portraits left bare

San Francisco artist shows strength and vulnerability in solo show

  • Aug 9, 2019
Gina M. Contreras’ 2019 “Sola Chola” is on view in her solo show at Park Life Gallery. (Courtesy Park Life Gallery)
“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)
Works by San Francisco artist Nancy Hom are on view in “Building the Building,” SOMArts’ 40th anniversary show. (Courtesy Alora King Villa LeMalu)

‘Building the Building’ a snapshot of SOMArts’ four-decade history

Cultural center celebrates socially-engaged art

Works by San Francisco artist Nancy Hom are on view in “Building the Building,” SOMArts’ 40th anniversary show. (Courtesy Alora King Villa LeMalu)
Lin Evola, whose 13-foot “Renaissance Peace Angel” is in New York City, has begun work on a Bay Area project. (Courtesy photo)

Lin Evola aims to turn a million weapons into a monument

Peace Angels Project founder plans for big Bay Area artwork

Lin Evola, whose 13-foot “Renaissance Peace Angel” is in New York City, has begun work on a Bay Area project. (Courtesy photo)
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)
Emiliano Lopez, left, and Gregory Sale pose in front of Lopez’s art work in “Future IDs at Alcatraz.” (Courtesy Steven Lopez)

‘Future IDs at Alcatraz’ reveals a road to reintegration

Exhibit explores many stages of rehabilitation

Emiliano Lopez, left, and Gregory Sale pose in front of Lopez’s art work in “Future IDs at Alcatraz.” (Courtesy Steven Lopez)