The 2025 art fair circuit kicks off with a strong edition of FOG Design+Art in San Francisco. Bringing together international art galleries alongside 20th-century and contemporary design dealers, there is a spirit of curiosity and eagerness to connect with a wide range of artistic forms in a bustling environment.
Celebrating its 11th year, the fair brings together 59 galleries from across the world. First time galleries include an impressive mix of well-known names, such as Lisson Gallery, Peter Blum Gallery, Charles Moffett Gallery, and Chris Sharp Gallery, across the fair and FOG FOCUS, which focuses on showcasing young and underrepresented artists. In addition to expanding FOG FOCUS, the fair is also debuting a new program, FOG MRKT, which focuses on exhibiting artisanal products and crafts focused on the Bay Area. In another exciting evolution, late last year, the fair appointed its inaugural Fair Director, Sydney Blumenkranz, who most recently led events at SFMOMA. Whitewall picked a few of our favorite presenters at this year’s fair, which runs through January 26, 2025 at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, Piers 2 & 3.
LaToya Ruby Frazier, Jim Hodges, and More Gladstone
Karen Kilimnik,
“Lady Diana Spencer at the Royal Opera House,” 1999, Water soluble oil on canvas (triptych) with audio cassette soundtrack, 13 3/4 x 11 inches (34.9 x 27.9 cm)
15 3/4 x 12 inches (40 x 30.5 cm), 13 3/4 x 11 inches (34.9 x 27.9 cm);
© Karen Kilimnik,
Courtesy of Gladstone Gallery.
A longtime exhibitor at the fair, Gladstone consistently brings an excellent presentation of works to FOG. The booth highlights the depth of the program, with works by artists such as LaToya Ruby Frazier, Maureen Gallace, Jim Hodges, Alex Katz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Marisa Merz, Robert Rauschenberg, as well as work by the great California artist Robert Bechtle, arguably one of the most significant Bay Area artists, who passed away in 2020. Another highlight includes a painting by Karen Kilimnik from 1999, entitled Lady Diana Spencer at the Royal Opera House. Two paintings inspired by iconic paparazzi shots of Princess Diana flank a painting of the iconic Opera House. Kilimnik, who recently joined Gladstone’s artist roster, is also the subject of a solo exhibition at the Gallery’s Chelsea space on 24th Street.
Steven Shearer and Lisa Yuskavage at David Zwirner
Josef Albers, “Study for Homage to the Square: Amplified,” 1957,
© The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York;
Courtesy The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation and David Zwirner.
Lisa Yuskavage, “In the Company of Models,” 2024, © Lisa Yuskavage;
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner.
Another heavy hitter returning to the fair is David Zwirner. Something that immediately stands out about the artists on view is a shared curiosity of color. Truly fantastic abstract works by Suzan Frecon and Joseph Albers are shown alongside vibrant, figurative works by Steven Shearer and Lisa Yuskavage, who all share an intense sensitivity to color. Bonus: the booth includes a lovely mix of sculptures and works on paper by Bay Area icon Ruth Asawa, as well as some amazingly small works by Frank Walter.
Tomashi Jackson and Brie Ruais at Night Gallery
Tomashi Jackson,
“Get On Up (Women Double Dutching/ Two Friends Embracing),” 2024, acrylic, yule quarry marble dust paste, and paper bags on black canvas with brass hooks and grommets on a handcrafted wood awning structure,
62 1/2 x 97 x 9 in (158.8 x 246.4 x 22.9 cm),
(TJ042); Courtesy of the artist and Night Gallery, Los Angeles.
LA-based Night Gallery has an impressive installation of works by Tomashi Jackson and Brie Ruais, which is shown alongside a series of new paintings by Sarah Blaustein. Jackson’s multimedia paintings and Ruais sculptural works are connected through a shared ability to visualize mourning and loss, and the resulting works on view capture this palpable emotion. Following a show in fall 2024, the paintings by Bay Area-based Blaustein continue upon her exploration of her medium, both in terms of conceptual rigor and a unique approach to the materials and processes she employs.
Zanele Muholi, Cheick Diallo, and More at Southern Guild
Southern Guild Booth at FOG Design + Art Fair 2025, courtesy of Dawn Blackman and Southern Guild.
The only South African gallery to show at the fair, Southern Guild makes its FOG debut with a mix of works by Zanele Muholi, Cheick Diallo, Mmangaliso Nzuza, Manyaku Mashilo, Ayotunde Ojo, Zizipho Poswa, Alex Hedison, Chuma Maweni, Andile Dyalvane and Charles Haupt. Showcasing both art and collectible design, and spanning a wide array of artistic mediums, the presentation demonstrates the gallery’s robust and intriguing program of hyper talented creators.
Masako Miki, Clare Rojas, and More at Jessica Silverman
Installation view, Jessica Silverman, FOG Design+Art 2025, San Francisco, CA. Courtesy of Jessica Silverman, San Francisco. Credit: Phillip Maisel.
San Francisco’s Jessica Silverman presented a curated presentation, entitled “Come Rain or Shine,” which revolves around artists who “look to the sky for inspiration.” Featuring work by Sadie Barnette, Andrea Bowers, Luke Butler, Judy Chicago, Sam Falls, Julian Hoeber, Loie Hollowell, David Huffman, Julia Isídrez, Isaac Julien, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Masako Miki, Clare Rojas, Rupy C. Tut, Catherine Wagner, Pae White, and Margo Wolowiec, the presentation brings together a wide range of artists working across a fascinating array of mediums. It’s interesting to see such a mix of artists and works cohere through this sweet configuration, but there’s also an inescapable feeling of both fear for the future and optimism. At a moment when environmental disasters and political unrest tear through the country, perhaps what we need to do is take a moment to look up.
