10 Art Shows to See in the Bay Area This Fall
Dread Scott’s body politic, Azzedine Alaïa’s sculptural garments, Dewey Crumpler and Irving Norman surveys, and much more.
The Bay Area art scene has had a year of ups and downs. California College of the Arts was bought and rebranded by NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun (Jensen) Huang in what feels like a hostile tech-money takeover. SF Camerawork, the region’s storied photography non-profit, abruptly closed, though later fortuitously reopened.
The fall season — with the third annual Nexus: SF / Bay Area Black Art Week at its nucleus — sees institutions leaning on the region’s strengths, from local legends like Dewey Crumpler to activist artists working across comics and book arts, including one at California College of the Arts itself. The fall also boasts a few blockbuster shows, including a mighty Dread Scott survey and a lavish Azzedine Alaïa retrospective, offering something for everybody. This slew of upcoming excitement is sure to set the tone for a comeback in 2027. San Francisco’s art scene is ready.
Closer Reading: Three Bay Area Book Artists
California College of the Arts Campus Gallery, 1480 17th Street, San Francisco, California
Through October 23
Supported by the San Francisco Advocacy for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Closer Reading brings together three Bay Area book artists: Vivian Sming, Macy Chadwick, and Kate Laster. Each body of work sits at a different intersection of art and print, from publishing to artists’ books to political printmaking. By convening three contemporary bookmakers, the exhibition also taps into the region’s long history of book art and publishing.
Character Development
KADIST and Minnesota Street Project, 1201 Minnesota Street, San Francisco, California
Through October 31
The closure of KADIST’s physical gallery space in San Francisco last year felt like another blow to the local gallery scene. This year, in partnership with Minnesota Street Project, KADIST’s first pop-up show is a welcome return. Character Development brings together six contemporary video artists exploring social issues through film history and experimental installation, including Martine Syms and Alex Da Corte.
