Discover the Art Scene in San Francisco
Looking for a great reason to plan your next adventure? Explore compelling events, attractions, and experiences that will inspire a trip to one of the world’s most exciting destinations.
Sitting on the dock of the Bay this fall, you can feel the creative tide turning. In San Francisco’s waterfront Dogpatch neighborhood, old port warehouses are suddenly overflowing with a new wave of art. The major force of nature at work here is artist Jeffrey Gibson, who has wrapped a massive warehouse inside and out with boundary-breaking art for the new Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICASF), which opened on October 1.
The ICASF, a nonprofit, commissioned Gibson to cover their brand-new, factory-sized Dogpatch space with hundreds of video-art installations for its inaugural exhibition on the planet’s hottest topic: “This Burning World.” Gibson’s past installations have invoked the creative power of queer communities and evoked the All Nations Powwows of his Choctaw and Cherokee heritage – but ICASF’s open-ended commissions make room for sudden breakthroughs on urgent topics. Unlike traditional museums that focus on art that is often tucked away, ICASF is committed to funding experimental, non-permanent exhibits that spark timely conversations.
You can freely explore the artwork at ICASF since there’s no admission fee or exclusive guest list. This non-commercial model might seem unusual – especially in San Francisco, where artists and tech enthusiasts have long vied for space and attention since the Gold Rush. However, old rivals are now creative co-conspirators in Dogpatch, where venture-capitalist arts patrons Deborah and Andy Rappaport established the Minnesota Street Project five years ago to house subsidized artists’ studios and galleries. Today Minnesota Street Project shares ideals, ideas, and funders with ICASF and other neighborhood nonprofits – making Dogpatch more surreal and Instagrammable than ever.
Even seasoned travelers will discover a strange new world in Dogpatch, where art installations emerge amidst futuristic tech startups and vibrant cultural activities like psychedelic music festivals. Self-driving cars navigate the streets alongside urban collage artist Anne Hicks Sibell, who’s collecting artifacts for an upcoming show. The neighboring McEvoy Foundation for the Arts features Clare Rojas staging a colorful takeover with pop-art portraits of powerful women. Meanwhile, at the Letterform Archive, the inaugural show of protest signage invites diverse audiences to admire historically significant creatives and movements.
With the opening of the ICASF, visitors can find fresh inspiration along San Francisco’s unconventional waterfront. The first group show from January to May 2023 will be “Resting Our Eyes,” featuring 20 Black artists celebrating Black women and providing a brief respite from heavy historical burdens.
In summary, in San Francisco, art is not merely a precious collectible; it’s an unstoppable tide. Observing this wave roll into Dogpatch this fall is a thrilling experience. The influx of site-specific artworks could herald a transformative shift, recognizing art as a cultural force rather than just another commodity. Seize the opportunity to be part of this dynamic journey.
Dining Options
Consider permission granted to discuss art with your mouth full at Besharam, located inside the Minnesota Street Project. Here, the wine-and-cheese art openings are upstaged by chef/owner Heena Patel’s Gujarati-Californian cocktails and chaat: paratha with Point Reyes blue cheese, drunken pani-puri with gin-spiked tamarind water, and an impressive blueberry saffron cheesecake.
At Gilberth’s Latin Fusion, the wall-size rooster by muralist Lynne Rutter hints at the bold flavors chef/owner Gilbraith Cab incorporates into each dish. Drawing inspiration from California and his native Yucatán, savor lunch favorites like chile-lime Brussels fritas, guajillo-marinated fish tacos with pineapple salsa, and tangy achiote-laced pollo asado (slow-roasted chicken).
Unique Drinking Experiences
After exploring Dogpatch galleries, head to Ungrafted to surprise your palate with unique blind flights and compare wine-tasting notes on exquisite California vintages. Alternatively, visit Higher Purpose Cannabis, a local Latina-owned weed startup where art takes on new meaning with creatively crafted THC-infused products.
Accommodation Options
At Hotel Emblem, a re-imagined Viceroy hotel, guests find non-standard amenities designed to inspire creativity: inspiration boards, meditation bowls, and open mics at the onsite Obscenity Lounge.
For an artistic experience, consider staying at Hotel Castro, surrounded by iconic art installations. San Francisco artist Jon de la Cruz enhances guest experiences with vintage Polaroid photo-mosaics celebrating LGBTIQ+ trailblazers.
