Holly Baxter’s San Francisco Art Week Guide

Jan 20

Welcome to APAA’s series celebrating the intersection of travel and art around the world. This collection spotlights insider perspectives from our global membership, as we invite members to share personal guides to their cities—highlighting favorite restaurants, bars, things to do, and, most importantly, local art.

Just in time for San Francisco Art Week, APAA advisor Holly Baxter shares her insider San Francisco City Guide—highlighting the essential fairs, exhibitions, talks, special events, and dining destinations shaping the 2026 edition—designed for collectors who value context as much as discovery.

San Francisco Art Week has evolved into one of the most intellectually rewarding art weeks in the United States. Rather than scale or spectacle, it emphasizes curatorial rigor, institutional depth, and a distinctly West Coast approach to material, process, and ideas. Anchored by FOG Design+Art at Fort Mason and supported by a citywide constellation of museum exhibitions, gallery programs, performances, and conversations, SF Art Week rewards thoughtful pacing and sustained looking.

FOG Design+Art Fair

(Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture | January 21–25, 2026)

The cornerstone of SF Art Week, FOG Design+Art enters its 12th edition as one of the most curatorially disciplined fairs in the U.S. Benefiting SFMOMA, the fair brings together more than 60 leading art and design galleries, with a consistent emphasis on presentation quality, material intelligence, and cross-disciplinary practices spanning art, design, and architecture.

Fair Structure

FOG Design+Art (Pier 3): Established international galleries and leading modern and contemporary design dealers
FOG FOCUS (Pier 2): A platform for emerging galleries and younger artists, expanded this year to 16 exhibitors—the largest FOCUS section to date

The 2026 edition includes 16 first-time participants, strong international representation, and a notably deep roster of Bay Area galleries—reinforcing FOG’s role as both a global fair and a regional anchor.

Exhibitor Caliber

FOG’s reputation rests on curatorial restraint and consistently serious presentations. The 2026 fair includes major international galleries such as Marian Goodman Gallery, Galerie Frank Elbaz, Lehmann Maupin, Gladstone Gallery, and David Kordansky Gallery, alongside respected regional programs including Anthony Meier, Fraenkel Gallery, Hosfelt Gallery, Berggruen Gallery, and Romer Young Gallery.

The result is a fair that favors engagement over volume—rewarding collectors who return to booths, ask questions, and spend time with work.

FOG Talks (Selected Highlights)

Included with fair admission, the FOG Talks program is among the strongest public-facing elements of the week, addressing intersections of art, design, architecture, and technology.

Notable sessions include:

Anne Fougeron and Tom Kundig in conversation (January 22)
“Long-term Relationships” with Jeffrey Fraenkel, Xavier Hufkens, and Sterling Ruby (January 22)
“When Design Leads” with speakers from Zoox and OpenAI (January 23)
“AI, Art & the Future of Creativity” with Trevor Paglen and CCA President David Howse (January 25)

What Seasoned Collectors Focus on at FOG

Museum-caliber solo and tightly edited booths
Material- and process-driven practices
Work at the intersection of art, architecture, and design
Early signals in FOG FOCUS
Returning for multiple passes rather than rushing the fair

SF Art Week Special Events

SF Art Week’s official programming provides rhythm and cohesion across the city.

Highlights include:

SF Art Week x ICA SF Kickoff Party at the Transamerica Pyramid Center (January 17), celebrating new ICA SF site-specific commissions
Art.Fair.Mont at the Fairmont San Francisco (January 18–20), a boutique hotel fair emphasizing intimacy and presentation
Saint Joseph’s Arts Society: Club Curiosity (January 22), SF Art Week’s defining late-night gathering
Creativity Explored x Open Invitational VIP Preview (January 22), spotlighting artists with disabilities
Art Basel–sponsored FOG Afterparty at AMA (January 21), hosted by Noah Horowitz and Kelly Huang

Gallery Exhibitions

SF Art Week is distinguished by the depth and seriousness of its gallery programming. Many of the city’s leading galleries mount museum-quality solo and group exhibitions timed to coincide with FOG Design+Art, making focused gallery visits an essential part of the week.