The San Francisco Art Fair opened on April 17 at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, running through April 20. Rebranded from ArtMrkt San Francisco last year, the fair featured 88 exhibitors, including a strong contingent from the East Bay, such as Oakland-based galleries pt.2, Johansson Projects, and Good Mother Gallery. Notable moments included artist Marc Horowitz using DeBoer Gallery's stand as a live studio, selling paintings for $25,000 and up, and the Alternative Art School showcasing works by four artist-members. Dealers reported healthy sales, with works priced from a few hundred dollars to the lower five figures, and local galleries like Micki Meng donated proceeds to the environmental non-profit Art into Acres.
The fair matters because it highlights the Bay Area's vibrant art scene and community commitment, drawing dealers, collectors, and curators from near and far. It also signals a positive market for mid-range art sales, with galleries reporting strong sales of works under $25,000. The fair's partnerships with local institutions like the Further Triennial and the Institute of Contemporary Art underscore its role in fostering regional art networks and supporting emerging and established artists alike.