A presentation and performance by contemporary artist Martine Gutierrez.

Diego Rivera’s stays in San Francisco in the early 1930s and in 1940 resulted in remarkable murals that remain landmarks in the city. His presence also sparked fiery debates about the aesthetic and social aims of public art—questions that still animate some of the Bay Area’s most important artists and arts initiatives. In this discussion, the art historian and curator Jodi Roberts will talk with Shannon Riley, Executive Director of Paint the Void, and the artists Mark Harris and Arleene Correa Valencia about public art’s role in today’s arts ecosystem and its potential to galvanize activism, spur change and build community.

Marcus Guillard and Zesty Meyers will discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of art and design and how it will take shape in the metaverse; how NFTs are changing the world of design and how we can better bridge the digital divide between real world design and virtual design intended for the spatial web.

Join Apsara DiQuinzio and Leila Weefur in a lively and casual conversation about curating today. Hosted by McEvoy Arts executive director Susan Miller, the group will share their aspirations, values, and stories of their lives as creative professionals. Together they will discuss film and time-based art forms, writing and language, feminist art and activism and collectively muse on the delights and challenges of shaping ideas into public exhibitions and events.

Ethan Beard will moderate a fireside chat with Dylan Field, former CryptoPunk #7804 owner, which is considered one of the rarest crypto punks. Beard and Field will speak about how NFTs are changing the landscape of creativity and community around culture at-large.

Join us for a film screening of Welcome to the Neighborhood, presented by Christie’s followed by a panel discussion with artist Mildred Howard, film director Pamela Uzzell and OMCA museum director Lori Fogarty, moderated by Paul David Henderson. For more information about Welcome to the Neighborhood, please visit: www.welcometotheneighborhoodfilm.com

Critics and admirers alike often categorized, pigeonholed and oversimplified Noguchi in ways that drove him “as close to shouting as [a] quiet man gets.” For him, art, design and sculpture existed on the same plane as life in its entirety. Moderated by Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, this conversation between Dakin Hart and Stephen Burks will delve into the principles that informed the master himself, and the ways in which Noguchi continues to be a contemporary presence for creatives working today.

Our vibrant art ecosystem relies on art institutions of all different scales and visions. This discussion will explore the leaders of these types of institutions and how they are thinking about the changes that need to be made to create the best arts future possible for our cities.

The Bay Area has been the home of a fine printing resurgence over the last half century. At the heart of this revival stands Arion Press and Magnolia Editions, both local establishments committed to creating unique artworks on paper. For this talk, artist Enrique Chagoya will be in conversation with Blake Riley of Arion Press and Don Farnsworth of Magnolia Editions to discuss the diverse ways he has collaborated with small printers. Both Arion Press and Magnolia Editions worked with Enrique Chagoya to publish artist books—but in totally different styles. This conversation will explore the art of collaboration and why the Bay Area continues to offer such fertile ground for printing in a digital century.

East Bay-based artists Woody De Othello (represented by Jessica Silverman, San Francisco and Karma, New York) and Masako Miki (represented by CULT Aimee Friberg Exhibitions, San Francisco and RYAN LEE, New York) both create semi- abstract, sculptural forms in materials that range from felt to ceramic to glazed bronze, inspired by everyday domestic objects. De Othello culls inspiration from his own Haitian ancestry and the supernatural objects of Voodoo folklore, while Miki draws from the Shinto and Buddhist traditions and the Japanese folk belief in yōkai (shapeshifters). Both artists will present their work of boundary bending forms and discuss the philosophies and new mythologies that shape them in conversation with San Francisco-based international independent curator, Dr. Natasha Boas.

A conversation on material research with an emphasis on environmental sustainability, uplifting craft, and the importance of experiencing design with multiple senses.

The past two years have seen a groundswell of climate-focused initiatives led by artists and arts professionals. Together, these campaigns call for a cultural sector that is a model of environmental responsibility. Join us for a conversation about the concrete steps art fairs, museums, and galleries can take to improve their environmental impact, as well as the resources available to support meaningful change. As a community of thought-leaders and innovators, the Bay Area and its arts organizations have a responsibility to take a leadership role in ensuring our practices align with our values.

The Bay Area is poised for an exciting museum moment. Join five Bay Area museum directors from five differently scaled, and differently focused museums from across our region to hear a candid conversation they are working to make museums matter more.

For three decades Machine Dazzle has worked as an artist, costume and set designer, art director and performer whose radical queer aesthetic runs the gamut from playful to poignant. In a career that’s seen him collaborate with everyone from fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg and performers Justin Vivian Bond, Taylor Mac, Basil Twist to Opera Philadelphia, San Francisco’s Curran Theatre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he’s established himself as a master of surreal excess who transforms found objects into instruments of glamour. Following his 2022 solo exhibition at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, ‘’Queer Maximalism x Machine Dazzle’,” the artist will be in conversation with San Francisco Chronicle arts and culture columnist Tony Bravo to talk about his philosophy, inspirations and journey down a glitter-encrusted rabbit hole into his artistic practice.

Organized to coincide with the major retrospective of the work of Joan Brown (1938-1990) at SFMOMA (on view through March 12), this lively conversation features personal stories by panelists who were lucky enough to know Brown—a true local legend--as well as fascinating discoveries made during the research for the show.  Come back to Fort Mason on Saturday, January 21 at 8am to cheer on swimmers from the South End Rowing Club and Dolphin Club as they make their way to Aquatic Park as part of a memorial "Joan Brown Jump and Swim."

A new category of artificial intelligence is emerging called “Generative AI,” where the machine is generating something new rather than analyzing something that already exists. As this powerful new class of large language models emerges and makes it possible for machines to do what humans previously could only do - generate creativity - it raises key questions for the future of art and culture-at-large. What about Generative AI? Could it threaten to undermine art and culture or enhance it?

Hopper’s work is the most recognizable art in America—popular, praised, and mysterious. Countless painters, photographers, and filmmakers have been influenced by his art. But who was he? How did a struggling illustrator create such a bounty of notable work? This new film takes a deep look into Hopper’s art, his life, and his relationships. From his early career as an illustrator; his wife giving up her own promising art career to be his manager; his critical and commercial acclaim; and in his own words—this film explores the enigmatic personality behind the brush. Combined with expert interviews, diaries, and a startling visual reflection of American life, Hopper brings to life America’s most arguably influential artist.

Join us for a talk that explores the way the originators of hip-hop developed and used specific coded language to communicate shared experiences and looks at the way slang commonly functions within alternative cultures. Troy Lamarr Chew II’s work looks methodically at systems of coded communication and how this is translated and mistranslated both within the African Diaspora and throughout the mainstream, while Sickamore seeks to elevate the art of hip hop and bring attention to young artists. Both Chew and Sickamore challenge the ongoing erasure and co-opting of crucial social histories and create  safe spaces for language and culture to thrive. That talk is moderated by Andreana Clay, whose expertise is rooted in research and writing about the hip-hop generation(s), community building, and social/political movements.

Join us for a lively conversation with artist Mike Henderson, timed to his solo exhibition at Haines Gallery, and his forthcoming museum retrospective at the Manetti Shrem Museum. The talk will feature a sneak preview of the unreleased documentary "Here I Stand" and a live performance by Mike and his band.

Join Bay Area artists Ana Teresa Fernández and Sadie Barnette for a conversation with curator Natasha Boas. Both Fernández and Barnette's work have been recognized and featured nationally and locally this year. This talk will delve into their individual practices, their work, their inspirations and what it’s like to work in San Francisco during this time.

In the midst of crypto ‘winter’, one segment is blossoming: fine art NFTs, in particular generative art NFTs. Why has this emerging genre been so successful in attracting new collectors? Are art NFTs derivative and hype-driven, or are they enabling truly new and different art experiences? Generative artist Stefano Contiero describes his craft and this panel discusses the future of NFTs.

What role do we each play in sustaining the region’s robust creative ecosystem? How do we support artists being able to stay in the Bay Area—living outside of the art market-dominated cities? From institutions, residencies, and foundations to private and corporate philanthropists, what does investment in the artistic community look like? How do artists foster a culture of mutual aid, community-building, and sustenance of future Bay Area arts practitioners? Join the panelists to explore why they each choose to call the Bay Area their creative home and how the artistic community remains vibrant.

Abigail Turin speaks with Michael Jefferson on collecting design. From their first pieces to the collections they’ve helped shape, Turin and Jefferson swap stories of the excitement of chasing down an elusive work, funny conversations with designers, and reliable resources that contribute to building a unique collection.

Generative AI tools have captured the popular imagination and their ubiquitous use now raises new questions about long standing intellectual property laws. How do we deal with this new wave of innovation, and how does it impact the way in which art is owned, shared, and collected? Join intellectual property lawyer Andy Gass to learn about what the relationship between AI and intellectual property means for art, artists, and the medium in which they create.

The Bay Area has long been a hub for artist published books and zines. Join four people from the artist publishing field with roots in the Bay Area to learn about their practices with artist-books and zines. Each panelist will discuss their practices and share why the Bay Area has been so important in shaping their work.  Learn more about historical artist publications from the Bay Area as well as some of the local inspiration that has influenced the making of zines.

Join Christopher Bedford and Thomas Campbell for a lively moderated conversation exploring each director's path to leadership and the lessons, challenges, and invaluable community connections fostered along the way.

Look at things differently. LOT-EK's inspirational art and architectural work reconsiders our modern economy through the icon of globalization, the shipping container.

Join the artists for an informal conversation among longtime friends. Touching on their art, practices, and recent exhibition Sitting on Chrome, currently on view at SFMOMA, they will expand on their shared interests in the visual language of lowriders and the practice of cruising, discuss how they have engaged with the archive to bring light to Latinx histories in California, explore how concepts of hybridity have informed their work, and reflect on the role of collaboration in their practices.

Troy Carter and David Hornik live in different worlds but view their jobs the same way – find something nascent but amazing and help it blossom. Troy has spent decades helping some of the world’s great musicians flourish (Lady Gaga, John Legend…). David has spent decades helping some of the world’s great entrepreneurs flourish (Splunk, BILL…). Troy and David bring this same philosophy to finding and nurturing great artists. Join Troy and David as they chat about how their professional worlds collide with their passion for contemporary art and vice versa.

Bringing artists and curators from the Bay Area together, this conversation focuses on how worldbuilding and storytelling practices foster community spirit and reshape Asian American narratives. This talk features three artists whose diasporic practices are tools for demanding agency by imagining alternative histories/futures through spirituality, collective healing, and magical realism.

The Bay Area has historically led conversations around neuro-diverse artists. Three Bay Area progressive independent art centers – Creativity Explored, Creative Growth, and Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development (NIAD) –  have expanded representation for developmentally disabled artists. This conversation will convene contemporary artists and curators who work with and for these three organizations to celebrate the power of art to change lives.