Must-See Art Guide: San Francisco

This week's guide includes Bridget Riley, Howard Hodgkin, Alex Katz, and more.

Isaac Julien, Masquerade No.3 (1989–2016). Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery.
Alex Katz, Ariel (2016). Courtesy of Meyerovich Gallery.

Alex Katz, Ariel (2016). Courtesy of Meyerovich Gallery.

San Francisco is a tourist destination for so many reasons: The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, and Chinatown are all staples held in our collective memory since they were immortalized in such films as Vertigo, Bullitt, The Rock, or Big Trouble in Little China. Finding it hard to make a choice between the essential spots and the exciting exhibitions you don’t want to miss? We don’t blame you. Our guide will give you the keys to finding your way through all that San Francisco has to offer. First on the docket, explore the new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Re-opened just weeks ago after years of fundraising campaigns, the new building is currently host to a total of 19 exhibitions so there’s sure to be something for every taste! (Just make sure to be more careful than this unfortunate visitor earlier this month.) On the gallery menu this week, choose from our selection below, including Bridget Riley’s first exhibition in the city, rare work by Howard Hodgkin, or experimental black-and-white photographs by the conceptual artist Kenneth Josephson. And this is only a mise-en-bouche.

Treat yourself with a visit to San Francisco, you can’t do any Bay-tter!

Isaac Julien, Masquerade No.3 (1989–2016). Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery.

Isaac Julien, Masquerade No.3 (1989–2016). Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery.

Exhibition:Isaac Julien: Vintage
When:
April 22–June 18, 2016
Where:
Jessica Silverman Gallery, 488 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California

Bridget Riley, First Study for Painting June 3, 1989 (1989). Courtesy of John Berggruen Gallery.

Bridget Riley, First Study for Painting June 3, 1989 (1989). Courtesy of John Berggruen Gallery.

Exhibition: Bridget Riley: The Interactive Character of Color, 1970-2014
When:
April 27–June 30, 2016
Where:
John Berggruen Gallery, 228 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, California

André Breton, Pour Elisa (1947). Courtesy of Weinstein Gallery.

André Breton, Pour Elisa (1947). Courtesy of Weinstein Gallery.

Exhibition: Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table
When:
April 28–June 30, 2016
Where:
 Weinstein Gallery, 444 Clementina Street, San Francisco, California

 

Kenneth Josephson, Chicago (1980). Courtesy of Robert Koch Gallery.

Kenneth Josephson, Chicago (1980). Courtesy of Robert Koch Gallery.

Exhibition: Kenneth Josephson: The Light of Coincidence
When:
April 28–July 2, 2016
Where:
Robert Koch Gallery, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, California

Omar Victor Diop, Art Comes First (2016). Courtesy of Jenkins Johnson Gallery.

Omar Victor Diop, Art Comes First (2016). Courtesy of Jenkins Johnson Gallery.

Exhibition: Portraiture: A Group Photography Exhibition
When:
May 5–July 9, 2016
Where:
Jenkins Johnson Gallery, 446 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California

John Preus, Oracle 4 (2016). Courtesy of Rena Bransten Gallery.

John Preus, Oracle 4 (2016). Courtesy of Rena Bransten Gallery.

Exhibition: John Preus: New Works
When:
May 13–June 25, 2016
Where:
Rena Bransten Gallery, 1275 Minnesota St., #210, San Francisco, California

Gerhard Richter, Geäst (Branches) (1988). Courtesy of the SFMOMA and the artist.

Gerhard Richter, Geäst (Branches) (1988). Courtesy of the SFMOMA and the artist.

Timothy H. O’Sullivan, Cañon de Chelle (1871–1873). Courtesy of SFMOMA and Katherine du Tiel.

Timothy H. O’Sullivan, Cañon de Chelle (1871–1873). Courtesy of SFMOMA and Katherine Du Tiel.

Exhibition: The Campaign for Art: Modern and Contemporary” and “California and the West: Photography from the Campaign for Art
When: May 14–September 18, 2016, and May 14–September 5, 2016
Where:
SFMOMA, 151 Third Street, San Francisco, California

Matt Paweski, Mirrored Table (Shadow) (2016). Courtesy of RATIO 3.

Matt Paweski, Mirrored Table (Shadow) (2016). Courtesy of RATIO 3.

Exhibition: Matt Paweski
When: May 20–July 2, 2016
Where:
RATIO 3, 2831A Mission Street, San Francisco, California

Alex Katz, Red Hat Ada (2016). Courtesy of Meyerovich Gallery.

Alex Katz, Red Hat Ada (2016). Courtesy of Meyerovich Gallery.

Exhibition: Alex Katz: New Images
When: June 1–August 31, 2016
Where: Meyerovich Gallery, 251 Post Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, California

Catherine Maize, Blossom (2015). Courtesy of Paul Thiebaud Gallery.

Catherine Maize, Blossom (2015). Courtesy of Paul Thiebaud Gallery.

Exhibition:Catherine Maize: Recent Paintings
When:
June 7–July 23, 2016
Where:
Paul Thiebaud Gallery, 645 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, California

Howard Hodgkin, In The Public Garden, Naples (1981 – 1982). Courtesy of Hacket | Mill.

Howard Hodgkin, In The Public Garden, Naples (1981 – 1982). Courtesy of Hacket | Mill.

Exhibition: “In the Public Garden, Naples: Howard Hodgkin
When:
June 9–July 29, 2016
Where:
Hacket | Mill, 201 Post Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, California


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
Article topics