Visual Arts

A shot of Jerry Garcia in Golden Gate Park is in “Jim Marshall’s 1967” at City Hall. (Courtesy San Francisco Arts Commission/Jim Marshall Photography LLC]

Jim Marshall photos document SF’s Summer of Love

Jim Marshall, widely regarded as rock and roll’s premier photographer in the…

A shot of Jerry Garcia in Golden Gate Park is in “Jim Marshall’s 1967” at City Hall. (Courtesy San Francisco Arts Commission/Jim Marshall Photography LLC]
“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)
“My people: Love is stronger than hate” by Ekevara Kitpowsong is among the photos on view in the “4th Annual Latino Life.” (Courtesy Ekevara Kitpowsong)

‘Latino Life’ photo show ‘gives strength in current climate’

The “4th Annual Latino Life,” a photography show in San Francisco’s Mission,…

“My people: Love is stronger than hate” by Ekevara Kitpowsong is among the photos on view in the “4th Annual Latino Life.” (Courtesy Ekevara Kitpowsong)
Scott Hove’s “The Cakeland Fête Noir,” an exquisite and haunting installation, opens at Heron Arts. (Courtesy Scott Hove/Heron Arts)

Famed ‘Cakeland’ display comes back to the Bay

Eclectic Bay Area artist Scott Hove is bringing his “Cake Chamber” back…

Scott Hove’s “The Cakeland Fête Noir,” an exquisite and haunting installation, opens at Heron Arts. (Courtesy Scott Hove/Heron Arts)
Emma Sulkowicz’s “Newspaper Bodies (Look, Mom. I’m on the Front Page!”) is among the works on view at Arc Gallery in “F*ck U! In the Most Loving Way: A National Feminist Art Exhibition.” (Courtesy Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art)

Arc Gallery exhibit raises a feminist middle finger in uncertain times

There’s an irony surrounding a new, national feminist art exhibit at Arc…

Emma Sulkowicz’s “Newspaper Bodies (Look, Mom. I’m on the Front Page!”) is among the works on view at Arc Gallery in “F*ck U! In the Most Loving Way: A National Feminist Art Exhibition.” (Courtesy Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art)
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)
“At Crissy Fields” is an oil by Stanley Goldstein, who is participating in SF Open Studios at Hunters Point this weekend. (Courtesy Stanley Goldsten)

Painter Stanley Goldstein imbues everyday scenes with mystery

Though some describe his work as photorealism, San Francisco artist Stanley Goldstein…

“At Crissy Fields” is an oil by Stanley Goldstein, who is participating in SF Open Studios at Hunters Point this weekend. (Courtesy Stanley Goldsten)
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)
The 15th annual free San Francisco Zine Fest showcases art by more than 150 self-publishers. (Courtesy Liz Acosta)

Do-it-yourself publishers convene at 15th SF Zine Fest

Punk might be dead, but the do-it-yourself publishing scene isn’t. That’s what…

The 15th annual free San Francisco Zine Fest showcases art by more than 150 self-publishers. (Courtesy Liz Acosta)
“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)