Did you ever want to get off the grid, leave all of your material possessions behind, and pursue dreams of peace, love, and understanding? Really? Well, I guess it’s safe to assume that times have changed, and the saving graces of psychedelic rebellion have gone to the wayside. But, there are still reasons to acknowledge the impact youth culture in the 70s has on our current generation. Take for instance hipster culture, with its paisley, denim, and velvet conjuring the groovy days of life in Haight-Ashbury. Yes, a faint echo of the beatnik mindset still lingers, that’s for sure. In this Must-See Art Guide, we provide a list of gallery shows that will hopefully revitalize your willingness to be swept away by San Francisco’s flower power sensibility—give it a try, it’s infectious. A beacon in the fog, the city still lives up to its legacy of free-spirited living, and its steep hills and diverse neighborhoods make it excellent for on-foot excursions. There is much to see in San Francisco, and its art scene alone offers a full day of mental and spiritual stimulation. With shows including Jean-Michel Basquiat’s ferocious storytelling, Wayne Thiebaud’s sobering still lifes, and Sidney Russel‘s gigantesque wardrobe, let our gallery selection guide you across a range of artistic expressions, from humorous and critical, to the downright trippy.

Sidney Russell, Installation View (2016). Courtesy of Rena Bransten Gallery.

Exhibition: “Sidney Russell: New Work”
When: September 10–October 15, 2016
Where: Rena Bransten Gallery, 1275 Minnesota Street #210, San Francisco, CA

Wayne Thiebaud, Counter Woman (2015). Courtesy of Crown Point Press.

Exhibition: “Wayne Thiebaud: New Etchings”
When: September 7–December 3, 2016
Where: Crown Point Press, 20 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA

Dana Hart-Stone, Creel (2014). Courtesy of Brian Gross Fine Art.

Exhibition: “Dana Hart-Stone: A Western Trip”
When: September 10–October 29, 2016
Where: Brian Gross Fine Art, 248 Utah Street, San Francisco, CA

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bushwick Avenue (1984). Courtesy of Hosfelt Gallery.

Exhibition: “20th Anniversary Exhibition”
When: September 9–October 8, 2016
Where: Hosfelt Gallery, 260 Utah Street, San Francisco, CA

Eric Zammitt, One Song (2016). Courtesy of Scott Richards gallery

Exhibition: “Eric Zammitt: Radiation”
When: October 6–29, 2016
Where: Scott Richards Contemporary Art, 251 Post Street, San Francisco, CA

Wynn Bullock, Barbara (Solarized) (1956). Courtesy of Scott Nichols Gallery

Exhibition: “Wynn Bullock & Morley Baer”
When: September 8–October 30, 2016
Where: Scott Nichols Gallery, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

Marsha Cottrell, Installation View (2016). Courtesy of Anthony Meier Fine Arts.

Exhibition: “Marsha Cottrell”
When: September 16–October 21, 2016
Where: Anthony Meier Fine Arts, 1969 California Street, San Francisco, CA

David Simpson, Coast Stripe (1961). Courtesy of Haines Gallery.

Exhibition: “Now & Then: The Work of David Simon”
When: September 8–October 22, 2016
Where: Haines Gallery, 1969 California Street, San Francisco, CA