San Francisco’s Art Scene Branches Out
by Fanny Singer
500 CAPP STREET
The late conceptual artist David Ireland’s Mission District home, a work of art in its own right, has been carefully preserved—thinkDonald Judd’s New York loft. As of January, it’s open to the public via scheduled tours. 500cappstreet.org
MINNESOTA STREET PROJECT
Since 2014, collectors Andy and Deborah Rappaport have been working on this venture aimed at mitigating a threat to the Bay Area art scene: the skyrocketing rents that are forcing many artists and galleries to leave the community. With this vast complex, inaugurated in March, the Rappaports hope to reverse that trend by leasing space for 30 studios and a dozen galleries at well under market rates. minnesotastreetproject.com
BAMPFA
Early this year, the University of California Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive debuted its new downtown Berkeley location, a 1930s printing facility fitted with a biomorphic addition by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. bampfa.org
THE LAB
Regularly cited by local artists as one of San Francisco’s most vital cultural spaces, the Lab is a radical venue dedicated to experimental work by performers like Charlemagne Palestine, Ellen Fullman and William Basinski. thelab.org
SFMOMA
On May 14, after three years of construction and a $610 million investment, the new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art finally opens its doors, revealing a 10-story addition by the architectural firm Snøhetta. The expanded museum, now with 170,000 square feet of gallery space, debuts with a show of 260 pieces from the collection of Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher. Also on view: 600 works secured through the museum’s ongoing Campaign for Art. sfmoma.org
THE WATTIS INSTITUTE
With their program of unorthodox shows, director Anthony Huberman and curator Jamie Stevens have established this Potrero Hill kunsthalle-style gallery as the center for contemporary art in the Bay Area. wattis.org
Market Growth
In tandem with the major institutions above, private galleries in the Bay Area are also gaining momentum, as recent start-ups make their mark and established names branch out with new venues for introducing fresh talent.
JESSICA SILVERMAN GALLERY
This Tenderloin space has become one of the most talked-about galleries in San Francisco. A recent show of artists from Mexico City’s Kurimanzutto gallery (including Danh Vo and Gabriel Orozco) attests to Silverman’s rising profile. jessicasilvermangallery.com
RATIO 3
Masked by a blacked-out facade, this Mission District storefront is known for its often-eccentric exhibitions: pairings such as painter Suzan Frecon with textile artist Ruth Laskey or solo presentations from the likes of sculptor Mitzi Pederson or the legendary Lutz Bacher. ratio3.org
ALTMAN SIEGEL GALLERY
With her up-and-coming venue near Union Square, Claudia Altman-Siegel—a vocal and incisive San Francisco presence—champions local talent but also works to bring art-world stars, including Edward Snowden/Laura Poitras collaborator Trevor Paglen, to a broader audience. altmansiegel.com
PACE PALO ALTO
On the heels of the February opening of Pace Art + Technology, a showcase for innovative interdisciplinary work in the South Bay city of Menlo Park, Pace unveils a permanent gallery in neighboring Palo Alto this month with a solo show by James Turrell. pacegallery.com
FRAENKELLAB
An offshoot of respected photography dealer Fraenkel Gallery, this new space is dedicated to experimental art across media. Located on Market Street, FraenkelLAB launches this month with the exhibition Home Improvements, curated by filmmaker/artist John Waters.fraenkelgallery.com
GAGOSIAN GALLERY
The latest outpost of Larry Gagosian’s global network opens this May directly across from SFMOMA. Designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast, creative director of U.S. firm wHY, the 4,500-square-foot space debuts with an exhibition of modern and contemporary work, including pieces by Picasso, Warhol, Cy Twombly, Richard Serra and Jasper Johns. gagosian.com