San Francisco’s art story is getting the spotlight it deserves. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have just announced Made in San Francisco, a major new survey exhibition celebrating how the city became a launchpad for groundbreaking artists and art movements after World War II. The show will be on view at the de Young Museum from April 10 through October 24, 2027.
With more than 100 works by over 70 artists, the exhibition traces an electrifying creative journey — from Abstract Expressionism and Bay Area Figuration to the Beat, Funk, and assemblage movements that gave San Francisco its unmistakable artistic edge. It also honors the rich legacy of the California School of Fine Arts, the legendary institution that later became the San Francisco Art Institute and nurtured generations of talent.
Made in San Francisco tells a joyful two-way story: how the city shaped a generation of artists, and how that generation went on to shape the art world. For locals and visitors alike, it promises a vibrant walk through the decades when San Francisco’s studios, galleries, and streets buzzed with some of the boldest ideas in American art.
Mark your calendars — spring 2027 at the de Young is going to be unforgettable.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress
