Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the openings of “Bay Area Then” and “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy.” We’re just getting started, with more events and programs to come. This week, you can check out both shows during regular gallery hours Wednesday–Sunday from 11am–5pm. On Thursday August 7, we’re open late for Downtown First Thursday, with free performances by Cellski and DJ TC. Or join us this weekend for the Pistahan Parade & Festival, with free gallery admission both Saturday and Sunday. Check our calendar for more details → https://bit.ly/3SVhtf5 Photos by Natalie Schrik for Drew Altizer Photography

Raquel Redondiez, Director of SOMA Pilipinas, and Erina Alejo, one of the featured artists in “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy,” recently appeared on KRON4’s LIVE! in the Bay to speak about the power of Filipino art and storytelling. “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy” is a landmark exhibition that celebrates the Filipino community’s enduring spirit of resistance and resilience through contemporary art and collective memory—and it opens this weekend at YBCA. As Redondiez shared: “It’s really heart-warming and it’s also a reclamation because this is a place where we were displaced through redevelopment in the 60s. So to be able to tell that story to reclaim the space but also to show that there is so much interest to learn about Filipino history, Filipino art and culture, it’s not just for the Filipino community, but really for everyone.” Watch the full interview → https://bit.ly/4l7voJo Visit the exhibition at YBCA during regular gallery hours Saturday and Sunday, starting August 2 at 11am → https://bit.ly/4lar4Kh

On August 1, we’re proud to present “Pōpoloheno: Songs of Resilience & Joy,” a powerful musical performance led by Māhealani Uchiyama. This groundbreaking project honors the often-overlooked contributions of Black Hawaiians in post-contact Hawaiian history through mele inoa (name songs) and storytelling. It's a celebration of identity, memory, and cultural resilience. As Māhealani beautifully says in 48hills: “We take that [struggle] and create culture, cuisine, we create music, fashion. Our overcoming these things has produced such amazing beauty in the world.” Join us at YBCA for an unprecedented performance. → https://bit.ly/3UC1Okt

Exciting news: “Bay Area Then” is one of 10 exhibitions featured in Hyperallergic’s Bay Area must-see list! "From artists grappling with the AIDS crisis to the Mission School’s twist on graffiti to the many artist collectives that fueled the community, ‘Bay Area Then’ offers a glimpse into the past and guidance for the future." Read more about the great exhibitions happening in August in Hyperallergic → https://bit.ly/45jZ6pY Margaret Kilgallen, “Main Drag,” 2001. Photo by Robbie Sweeny.

We’re proud to share that YBCA has been named a 2025 Best of the Bay winner! This recognition places us among the Bay Area’s top destinations: from acclaimed restaurants, to standout cultural spaces. We're honored to be included alongside other institutions shaping the region’s creative landscape. → http://bit.ly/45XobI6 Photo by Corey Marsau

On August 1, experience “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy,” presented by SOMA Pilipinas in collaboration with YBCA. The exhibition boldly celebrates the culture, contributions, and presence of the Filipino community in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and Bay Area. Inspired by the Filipino term for collective resistance, MAKIBAKA brings together contemporary artworks alongside community-held objects, memories, and movements. RSVP to witness the Spirit of MAKIBAKA on August 1 from 6:30-9 pm → https://bit.ly/4lar4Kh SOMA Pilipinas presents “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy,” in collaboration with YBCA, from August 1-January 4, 2026. “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy” artists include: Cherisse Alcantara, Erina Alejo, Kimberly Acebo Arteche, Mark Baugh-Sasaki, Cristine Blanco, Amanda Messina Gerodias, Nix Guirre, Rea Lynn de Guzman, England Hidalgo, Jojo, Cher Musico, Johanna Poethig, RO3LAY, Weston Teruya, Lucille Tenazas, Jenifer Wofford, Jenny Bawer Young, Verma Soria Zapanta, and others. Images: England Hidalgo, “Gran Oriente Filipino," 2020. Cherisse Alcantara, "School Courtyard (Bessie Carmichael School FEC)." England Hidalgo, "Blighted And Valuable Streets."

On August 1 from 6:30-9 pm, join us for the opening of “Bay Area Then,” which celebrates the artists who made a new creative legacy for San Francisco in the 1990s. Across monumental wall installations, stunning photographic portraiture, and a labyrinthine passage piece that culminates in an outdoor stage, the exhibition showcases the work of 21 artists who electrified San Francisco in the 90’s. With its iconoclastic spirit and deep commitment to community, “Bay Area Then” asks us to find power in discovery, self-expression, and creative persistence even during challenging times. Celebrate with us on opening night → https://bit.ly/4lWuhgI “Bay Area Then” artists include: Nao Bustamante, Carolyn Castaño, Bill Daniel, Sergio De La Torre and Chris Treggiari, Beatrix Fowler, Mike “Dream” Francisco, Johanna Jackson, Chris Johanson with Ajax Oakford, Arnold Kemp, Margaret Kilgallen, Josh Lazcano, Alicia McCarthy, Barry McGee, Ruby Neri, Manuel Ocampo, Eamon Ore-Giron, Gina Osterloh, Rigo 23, Spie One, and others. Images: Eamon Ore-Giron, “Cookin' 2”, 2002. Photo by Glen Cheriton, Impart Photography. Carolyn Castaño, “Chondua (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta),” 2023. Ruby Neri, “The White Mare,” 2024. Photo by Jeff McLane. Arnold J Kemp, “Stage,” 2024.

Coming this fall to YBCA: We’re proud to announce a dynamic lineup of exhibitions! “Bay Area Then” and “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy” start the season on August 1, spotlighting our region’s creativity, activism, and restless imagination. “Bay Area Then” features 21 artists who forged a new creative legacy for the Bay Area in the 1990s. With both new and historical works by artists whose influence is still notable today, the exhibition embodies the electrifying energy of the era. In collaboration with SOMA Pilipinas, YBCA will also present “MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy,” an exhibition boldly celebrating the culture, contributions, and presence of the Filipino community in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and Bay Area. Learn more about these new exhibitions showcasing the Bay Area’s artistic communities and its fierce creative voice → https://bit.ly/3HMrAzy Image: Carolyn Castaño, “Chondua (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta),” 2023.

We're excited to have “The Bronx Revolution and the Birth of Hip Hop,” presented by Zaccho Dance Theatre and YBCA, among the San Francisco Chronicle’s roundup of events celebrating Juneteenth. Explore the full list of events → https://bit.ly/4l5bNtK Get your tickets to this unforgettable performance combining music, dance, graffiti art, and storytelling at YBCA → https://bit.ly/4l5bNtK

We’re thrilled to welcome new members to YBCA’s leadership team who will bring bold vision, deep experience, and a shared commitment to our mission and community. We’re excited to welcome three new leaders to YBCA: Matthew Goudeau, Chief Development Officer; Dorothy Dávila, Chief of Curatorial Initiatives; and Valrie Sanders, Chief Financial Officer. Reflecting on this exciting new chapter for YBCA, CEO Mari Robles shared: “Each of these leaders brings a unique blend of experience, creativity, and a deep-rooted commitment to building community through the arts. Together, we’re shaping a YBCA that is not only a cultural anchor in San Francisco, but also strives to be a vital force for connection, and bold new ideas—right when our city and our communities need it most.” Learn more about these new leaders → https://bit.ly/4n32CMo