People Make This Place: SFAI Stories

This exhibition celebrates the San Francisco Art Institute's enduring impact on American art through works by more than 50 alumni and faculty members held in SFMOMA's collection. Spanning from the post-World War II era to the present, the show features pieces by renowned artists including Ansel Adams, Joan Brown, and Imogen Cunningham, alongside a vibrant collection of archival materials—from rare photography department ephemera and Beat-era gallery posters to punk and new wave concert flyers. Drawing its title from a final commencement address, the presentation honors SFAI's legacy as the West Coast's oldest fine art school and its vital role in nurturing experimental creativity across generations.