Visual Arts

“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)
“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)
“El Tigre” (2009) is a re-interpretation of Ed Hardy’s iconic self-portrait. (Courtesy Don Ed Hardy/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Ed Hardy exhibit shows all sides of tattoo artist

‘Deeper than Skin’ looks back on long career beyond the brand

“El Tigre” (2009) is a re-interpretation of Ed Hardy’s iconic self-portrait. (Courtesy Don Ed Hardy/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Pride flags are a prominent component of “Identity and Pride: Youth Exploration of Self” at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. (Courtesy photo)

Boys & Girls Clubs explore ‘Identity & Pride’ at YBCA

Young artists create with colorful flags, words and humor

Pride flags are a prominent component of “Identity and Pride: Youth Exploration of Self” at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. (Courtesy photo)
A humorous work by Kitagawa Utamaro is in on view in “Tattoos in Japanese Prints.” (Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

Tattoos get high-art treatment in museum show

19th century Japanese practices relate to present-day S.F.

A humorous work by Kitagawa Utamaro is in on view in “Tattoos in Japanese Prints.” (Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)
Dede Wilsey (pictured at the San Francisco Opera ball in 2010 with John Traina) will step down from Fine Arts Museums’ board of trustees’ presidency. (Drew Altizer/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Dede Wilsey to leave Fine Arts Museums presidency

Board member Jason Moment expected to take post in wake of long controversy

Dede Wilsey (pictured at the San Francisco Opera ball in 2010 with John Traina) will step down from Fine Arts Museums’ board of trustees’ presidency. (Drew Altizer/Special to S.F. Examiner)
“Ethel Scull 36 Times,” a 1963 silkscreen ink and acrylic on linen, is on view at SFMOMA. (Courtesy Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ Artists Rights Society)

SFMOMA mounts major Warhol retrospective

Exhibit covers all phases of pop art giant’s career

“Ethel Scull 36 Times,” a 1963 silkscreen ink and acrylic on linen, is on view at SFMOMA. (Courtesy Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ Artists Rights Society)
The Japanese Tea Garden is among the participating attractions in the San Francisco Museums for All program. (Melissa Vong/S.F. Examiner)

Summer program offers free museum entry to city residents

People on public assistance pay no admission at 15 S.F. institutions

  • May 22, 2019
The Japanese Tea Garden is among the participating attractions in the San Francisco Museums for All program. (Melissa Vong/S.F. Examiner)
Al Farrow’s “The White House” is the centerpiece of an exhibition at Catharine Clark Gallery opening May 18. (Courtesy photo)

Al Farrow’s ‘White House’ reflects on presidencies

Artist comments on changing government in Catharine Clark Gallery show

  • May 12, 2019
Al Farrow’s “The White House” is the centerpiece of an exhibition at Catharine Clark Gallery opening May 18. (Courtesy photo)
Artist Calixto Robles in his studio at the Redstone building in the Mission District on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Peaceful warrior: Artist creates his own reality

“To any artist, the light is important,” said printmaker and painter, Calixto Robles.

Artist Calixto Robles in his studio at the Redstone building in the Mission District on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
“Whisper, the Waves, the Wind,” Suzanne Lacy and Sharon Allen’s 1984 performance piece with mature women in Southern California, is pictured in “We Are Here” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Suzanne Lacy; photo by Edith Kodmur)

Up close with performance pioneer Suzanne Lacy

SFMOMA, YBCA spotlight California conceptual artist

“Whisper, the Waves, the Wind,” Suzanne Lacy and Sharon Allen’s 1984 performance piece with mature women in Southern California, is pictured in “We Are Here” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Suzanne Lacy; photo by Edith Kodmur)
Ilsa Alexander, a San Francisco resident and native of Austria, is among the Holocaust survivors pictured in “Lest We Forget” on view in Civic Center Plaza. (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)

‘Lest We Forget’ shines light on Holocaust survivors

Civic Center photo display urges viewers to fight hatred, bigotry

Ilsa Alexander, a San Francisco resident and native of Austria, is among the Holocaust survivors pictured in “Lest We Forget” on view in Civic Center Plaza. (Leslie Katz/S.F. Examiner)