Wardell Milan, “202 Bay St., Staten Island”, 2020, charcoal, graphite, oil pastel, pastel, cut and pasted paper on two inkjet prints. Image courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery.
Ongoing to May 24 — Wardell Milan: Modern Utopia at Fraenkel Gallery: Ranging from intimate collages to large-scale narrative paintings, Milan depicts scenes of pleasure or violence, often imbued with a sense of unease. Images from photojournalism and news media often serve as references for figures in acrylic and oil pastel, and photographs by artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe are cut and recombined with graphite markings. Fraenkel Gallery is located at 49 Geary St, 4th Floor in San Francisco.
Charlene Tan, “Researching and Remembering (Freshwater Pearls)”, 2021-2023, cream, pink, black, white pearls, PVA glue, digital print on plywood. Image courtesy of re.riddle.
April 6 to April 30 — Charlene Tan: Warp/Weft at re.riddle: In her debut solo exhibition at the itinerant art gallery, re.riddle, Filipina-Chinese-American artist Charlene Tan delves into the realm of cultural simulacra and the poetics of materiality. Developing her own visual language, the artist reinterprets traditional Filipino tribal weavings in her mosaic-like compositions. She intertwines indigenous signifiers and generational craftsmanship with contemporary digital processes, bridging the distance between herself and her ancestors. re.riddle is located at Minnesota Street Project, Room 204 at 1275 Minnesota St in San Francisco.
Benicia Gantner, “Soft Stone Space.13”, 2023, vinyl collage, graphite, metal leaf, relief print on paper. Helia Pouyanfar, “Objects of Endearment”, 2023, mirror, photo, resin, cement. Images courtesy of Southern Exposure.
April 13 — 2074 | The 2024 Art Auction at Southern Exposure: Step into the future as Southern Exposure presents 2074, their 50th anniversary art auction and fundraiser. The Main Event will feature both a silent and a live auction led by Bonhams Auctioneer Aaron Bastian, showcasing over 140 pieces from the Bay Area’s most celebrated emerging and established artists. Southern Exposure is located at 3030 20th St in San Francisco.
Kelly Ording, ”Warmer Days”, 2022, acrylic on hand-dyed paper, walnut frame with rounded corners. Angela Hennessy, ”The Crew (#2)”, 2023, synthetic hair 22k, 24k, and imitation gold leaf on copper, enamel paint. Images courtesy of Pt. 2 Gallery.
April 13 to May 25 — Kelly Ording and Angela Hennessy at Pt. 2 Gallery: In two solo exhibitions, Oakland-based artists Kelly Ording and Angela Hennessy present new bodies of work. Ording showcases her unique blend of geometric precision and fluid expression, inviting viewers into a realm of dynamic visuals and thought-provoking compositions. Simultaneously, Hennessy’s exhibition captivates with intricate textile works that delve into themes of identity and cultural narratives, offering an exploration of personal and collective histories. Pt. 2 Gallery is located at 1523b Webster St in Oakland.
Etel Ednan, Untitled, 2013, oil on canvas. Kristy Luck, “Hidden (Dedication to Etel)”, 2024, oil on linen. Michelle Blade, Untitled, 2023, acrylic and ink on poplin. Images courtesy of Marin MOCA.
April 13 to June 23 — The Journey Before Me: Etel Adnan, Michelle Blade, Kristy Luck at Marin MOCA: As a cross-generational conversation, this three-artist exhibition features writings and images by renowned poet, essayist, and visual artist Etel Adnan, a longtime resident of Marin County, as well as new works by California-based painters Michelle Blade and Kristy Luck. Shown together for the first time, the three artists share a keen attentiveness to the natural world, a deep interest in color’s emotive power, and a continual exploration of the relationship between place, memory, and the poetic ambiguity of visual expression. Marin MOCA is located at 500 Palm Dr in Novato.
Jamea Richmond-Edwards, “This Water Runs Deep”, 2022, mixed media collage on canvas with sound. Image courtesy of the artist and Kravets Wehby Gallery.
April 13 to September 22 — A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration at BAMPFA: Through the eyes and work of twelve contemporary artists, this exhibition illuminates the enduring impressions of the Great Migration. A Movement in Every Direction reveals lesser-known stories of this devastating dispersal of people, honoring the paths, decisions, and sacrifices of ancestors; their pursuit of their hopes and dreams; and the brighter tomorrows they imagined for themselves and their loved ones. This exhibition features newly commissioned works by twelve artists including Akea Brionne, Mark Bradford, Zoë Charlton, Larry W. Cook, Torkwase Dyson, Theaster Gates Jr., Allison Janae Hamilton, Leslie Hewitt, Steffani Jemison, Robert Pruitt, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, and Carrie Mae Weems. BAMPFA is located at 2155 Center St in Berkeley.
Binh Danh, “Joshua Tree National Park, California (#4)”, 2014, daguerreotype. Steuart Pittman, “Soft Friday”, 2018, oil on canvas with walnut wood frame. Libby Black, “It’s Not Too Late”, 2021, paper, pencil, acrylic paint. Images courtesy of Kala Art Institute.
April 27 — KALA 50 Art Auction Benefit & Exhibition: Celebrating Kala Art Institute’s 50th year, KALA 50 is an exhibition, auction, and benefit that brings together Kala’s creative community and features the inventive and meaningful art being made in the Bay Area. The auction is their biggest fundraiser of the year, directly supporting Kala’s arts education, artist residencies, and exhibition programs. Kala Art Institute is located at 2990 San Pablo Ave in Berkeley.