The San Francisco Bay Area is facing a cultural upheaval reminiscent of the first dot-com boom’s impact. Longtime residents witness a wave of gallery closures and arts nonprofits folding, while museum programs increasingly cater to tech-centric audiences. Despite soaring rents, the art scene’s resilience shines through as local art history and community solidarity take center stage this spring. From migration narratives to ecological explorations, this is an opportune moment to engage with Bay Area art.
Cece Carpio: Tabi Tabi Po: Come Out with the Spirits! You Are Welcome Here is on display at SOMArts in San Francisco until March 29. In her inaugural solo show, acclaimed muralist Cece Carpio integrates street art with folk traditions, creating a multimedia experience that blends ancestral themes with Indigenous folklore. Each work is paired with a poem, marking Carpio’s venture into writing and illustrating stories of intertwined lovers, goddesses, and warriors.
At the Berkeley Art Center, Torreya Cummings and Sarah Lowe’s exhibit, [Obstructed view of the house through the trees with the road visible on the left side in the foreground.] or black point reinterpretive site, can be viewed until March 29. This Victorian-inspired installation examines the enduring effects of colonialism on California’s landscape, inviting reflection on human impact on nature.
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Multiple Offerings at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is available through April 19. This retrospective of the influential conceptual artist includes a range of works from her time in Berkeley, Korea, and New York. The exhibition showcases Cha’s unique use of language across various media, from performances and videos to essays and scrolls.
Open Your Eyes to Water by Trina Michelle Robinson, spanning both 500 Capp Street and Root Division in San Francisco, runs through May 16. This exhibit delves into Black American migration through the artist’s family history, featuring multimedia installations and collaborations with local Black women artists to honor shared cultural narratives.
