The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) is hosting a kickoff party for the third annual SF Art Week on January 17, 2026, at the Transamerica Pyramid Center. The event unveils two free public exhibitions: Tara Donovan's 'Stratagems,' featuring sculptures made from upcycled CD-ROM discs, and Lily Kwong's 'Earthseed Dome,' a 3D-printed installation with seeds that will grow over time. Both installations are on view through July 31. The ICA recently left its permanent space at The Cube on Montgomery Street to adopt a nomadic model, staging pop-up exhibitions in vacant buildings, public spaces, and landmarks like Pier 24 and the Dogpatch Power Station.
This shift matters because it reflects a growing trend of museums moving away from fixed, costly venues to flexible, community-engaged models that prioritize accessibility and civic revitalization. By offering free admission and activating iconic sites like the Transamerica Pyramid, the ICA aims to reenergize San Francisco's cultural landscape and make contemporary art more accessible. The exhibitions also highlight sustainability and material transformation, with Donovan repurposing obsolete technology and Kwong integrating living elements into architecture.