Nicole Wermers, Croissants & Architecture #4 (2014). Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery.

Before San Francisco ever was a tech destination it was a hub for artists, and even as its national role shifts and art fairs flock to the city attracted by Silicon Valley collectors, artists and galleries continue to hold their own. This week, be sure to head to Rena Branstein Gallery for a survey of Japanese artist Leiko Ikemura’s interdisciplinary work, especially her intimate terracotta sculptures. Over at SFMOMA, the major survey of early Diana Arbus that originally opened at the Met Breuer is now open to the public, but if straight-up “goth” is more your speed, gory painter Gottfried Helnwein is currently on display at Modernism Inc. For a wryly humorous approach, don’t miss Nicole Wermers at Jessica Silverman Gallery: Her delightfully titled Croissants & Architecture series is especially memorable and unexpected. Lastly, Hosfelt Gallery definitely deserves a stop for the fairy-tale paintings of Rina Banarjee, replete with inventive patterning and mysterious narratives.

With ambitious gallery programming and world-class museums, San Fran is destined to retain its spot as a crucial city for artists—assuming they can keep affording the rent.

 

Exhibition: “Nicole Wermers: Grundstück”
When: January 10–February 18, 2017
Where: Jessica Silverman Gallery, 488 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA

Gottfried Helnwein, The Murmur of the Innocents 49 (2016). Courtesy of Modernism Inc.

Exhibition: “Gottfried HELNWEIN: Red Harvest”
When: February 9–March 18, 2017
Where: Modernism Inc., 724 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA

Leiko Ikemura, Liegende (gelb) [Lying (Yellow)] (1997). Courtesy of Rena Branstein Gallery.

Exhibition: “Leiko Ikemura”
When: February 4–March 11, 2017
Where: Rena Bransten Gallery, 1275 Minnesota Street #210, San Francisco, CA

Alex Webb, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1990 (1990–1991). Courtesy of Robert Koch Gallery.

Exhibition: “Alex Webb: La Calle”
When: December 1, 2016–February 25, 2016
Where: Robert Koch Gallery, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

Richard Learoyd, The sins of the father (2016). Courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery.

Exhibition: “Richard Learoyd”
When: January 5–March 4, 2017
Where: Fraenkel Gallery, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

Diane Arbus, Lady on a bus, N.Y.C. (1957). Courtesy of SFMOMA.

Exhibition: “diane arbus: in the beginning”
When: January 21–April 30, 2017
Where: SFMOMA, 151 Third Street, San Francisco, CA

“Vandals of London” invitation. Courtesy of Weinstein Gallery.

Exhibition: “Vandals of London”
When: February 18–March 11, 2017
Where: Weinstein Gallery, 383 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

Yvonne Jacquette, Clouds Obscuring San Diego (1987). Courtesy of Crown Point Press.

Exhibition: “Landscape: Urban & Rural”
When: February 9–March 31, 2017
Where: Crown Point Press, 20 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA

Rina Banerjee, In transparent soil she spoke to welcome her other more mouthy voice… (2015). Courtesy of Hosfelt Gallery.

Exhibition: “Rina Banerjee: Human Likeness”
When: January 28–March 4, 2017
Where: Hosfelt Gallery, 260 Utah Street, San Francisco, CA

Takeshi Murata, Squirt Gun (2017). Courtesy of Ratio 3.

Exhibition: “Takeshi Murata: 1,000 Years”
When: January 14–February 25, 2017
Where: Ratio 3, 2831A Mission Street, San Francisco, CA

Kour Pour, Neotectonic Map Tokyo (2016). Courtesy of Ever Gold [Projects].

Exhibition: “Kazuo Shiraga & Kour Pour / Earthquakes And The Mid Winter Burning Sun”
When: January 10–March 18, 2017
Where: Ever Gold [Projects], 1275 Minnesota Steet, San Francisco, CA