Bay Area Art Scene: Awakening to Creativity and Resistance

With the end of a long and rainy summer, the Bay Area art scene is reviving, as galleries and museums unveil their fall exhibitions. In an increasingly chaotic world, the collective creativity found within cultural spaces offers a vibrant spark of resistance and community. The upcoming lineup showcases various exhibitions highlighting artists and activists across all generations, from grand institutions to intimate venues. Celebrations of local Filipino creativity, exhibitions spotlighting Black culture in the cosmos at the newly renovated Museum of the African Diaspora, and the innovative explorations by artists like Jim Melchert and Suzanne Jackson remind us that art is an essential medium of expression and transformation.

Mike Henderson: Truth, Love, and Curiosity

Haines Gallery
2 Marina Boulevard, Building C, San Francisco, California
Through October 25

Mike Henderson, “No Hands on the Clock” (2017), oil on canvas (photo by Shaun Roberts, courtesy the artist and Haines Gallery)

At 82, Mike Henderson’s artistry flourishes. His solo exhibition at Haines Gallery features a fascinating blend of 16mm films from the 1970s-80s and new paintings, alongside pieces created during the ’90s and the early 2000s referred to as “worry paintings.” This display offers viewers a revolutionary mix of exploratory art forms showcasing Henderson’s innovative and experimental approach.

Julio César Morales: OJO and My America

Gallery Wendi Norris
436 Jackson Street, San Francisco, California
September 19 – November 1
Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
254 Old Davis Road, Davis, California
Through November 29

Julio César Morales, “Gemelos #7” (2025), watercolor, graphite, and ink on paper (image courtesy the artist and Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco)

After years as a curator and director, Julio César Morales returns to his artistic roots with two concurrent exhibitions, OJO and My America. Through his artwork, Morales addresses themes of immigration and human trafficking, capturing the essence of individuals seeking a hopeful tomorrow through intimate and evocative watercolors.

Auudi Dorsey: What’s Left, Never Left

Jonathan Carver Moore
966 Market Street, San Francisco, California
October 9 – December 20

Auudi Dorsey, “Soul Cap #2” (2025) (photo by Jeffrey Johnston)

Emerging from a six-week residency, New Orleans artist Auudi Dorsey presents his solo exhibition that draws viewers into the nostalgic realms of the now-defunct Lincoln Beach amusement park. This space served as a bastion of joy and community for Black families during segregation. Dorsey’s figurative works resurrect and honor the cultural significance long overshadowed by history.

Jim Melchert: Where the Boundaries Are

di Rosa SF
1150 25th Street, San Francisco, California
October 18 – January 3, 2026

Jim Melchert, “2 Seconds” (2007), broken and fired porcelain tile with glaze (image courtesy di Rosa SF)

Honoring the legacy of Jim Melchert, this exhibition represents the first major retrospective dedicated to his conceptual ceramic artistry. Visitors will experience geometric abstractions intertwined with contemporary photographic and performance art, revealing Melchert’s engagement with both physical materials and profound conceptual ideas.

MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission Street, San Francisco, California
Through January 4, 2026

England Hidalgo, “Gran Oriente Filipino” (2020) (photo by Charlie Villyard, courtesy Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco)

Co-organized with the SOMA Pilipinas cultural heritage district, MAKIBAKA serves as a tribute to the rich history and ongoing legacy of San Francisco’s Filipino community. Through an array of artistic expressions, this exhibition uplifts voices from an often-overlooked cultural narrative, showcasing over 20 artists’ works that explore resistance and solidarity.

Suzanne Jackson: What is Love

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 Third Street, San Francisco, California
September 29 – March 1, 2026

Suzanne Jackson, “deepest ocean, what we do not know, we might see?” (2021) (© Suzanne Jackson; photo by Patrick Jameson, courtesy Ortuzar, New York)

Showcasing the wide-ranging career of Suzanne Jackson, this retrospective exhibits her contributions to art beyond painting—encompassing dance, poetry, and set design. Highlighting her dynamic use of color and form, Jackson’s work embodies the spirit of exploration that defines ongoing artistic innovation.

Black Spaces: Remain & Reclaim

Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California
Through March 1, 2026

Adrian Burrell’s presentation in Black Spaces (photo by Kiki King, courtesy the Oakland Museum of California)

Drawing attention to historical displacement within the Bay Area’s Black community, this exhibition features compelling artwork and ephemera. Through three unique perspectives—by artist Adrian Burrell, architect June Grant, and community advocacy group Moms 4 Housing—visitors can engage with narratives of resilience and celebration.

Ferlinghetti for San Francisco

Legion of Honor
100 34th Avenue, San Francisco, California
Through July 19, 2026

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Edward Sanders (author), “Allen, Allen” (2000), offset lithograph (© 2025 Estate of Lawrence Ferlinghetti / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; photo by Jorge Bachmann, courtesy the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

This exhibition pays homage to the multifaceted artist Lawrence Ferlinghetti, showcasing his lesser-known works of painting, drawing, and printmaking. Offering insight into Ferlinghetti’s artistic journey, visitors are invited to explore his visual interpretations alongside his acclaimed literary contributions.

Unbound: Art, Blackness & the Universe

Museum of the African Diaspora
685 Mission Street, San Francisco, California
October 1 – August 16, 2026

Rashaad Newsome, “JOY!” (2022), collage on paper in custom mahogany and resin artist frame with automotive paint and crystals (image courtesy the artist)

Marking the Museum of the African Diaspora’s reopening, this remarkable exhibition champions Black creative expression. Featuring influential artists like Lorna Simpson and Rashaad Newsome, Unbound explores the infinite possibilities of Blackness and art, leading into the Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week.

Rooted in Place

de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, California
Through December 6, 2026

Installation view of Rooted in Place in the Arts of Indigenous America section at the de Young Museum, San Francisco (photo by Gary Sexton, image courtesy the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Rooted in Place is the inaugural exhibition of the de Young Museum’s reinstallation of Indigenous America galleries. Featuring artworks from the Karuk, Yurok, Hupa, Tolowa, Tsnungwe, and Wiyot communities, it highlights the continued evolution and significance of traditional practices in contemporary artistry.

As the Bay Area art scene bursts back into life, it serves as an essential reminder of art’s power to inspire resistance, bring communities together, and share narratives that deserve to be told.