Bay Area Now 9 is the ninth iteration of YBCA’s signature triennial exhibition highlighting artists working throughout the Bay Area’s nine counties. Each BAN is an attempt to answer the question: What are artists making, thinking, dreaming about right now? Central to BAN—and to YBCA as an institution—is the investment in and platforming of the vibrant creative communities which surround us. Featuring over 30 multidisciplinary artists—a nod to YBCA’s upcoming 30th anniversary—the exhibition features numerous new commissions spanning our campus.
Forgoing a preconceived theme for this year’s BAN, the Curatorial + Exhibitions Team took over one hundred artists into consideration and conducted dozens of studio visits under the advisory of YBCA’s inaugural Curatorial Counsel. The resulting selection of artists demonstrates a focus on materials and subject matter that often collapse time and place, bringing us closer to our personal and collective ancestry as a site for healing and regeneration. Honoring intimacy—connections with oneself, friends, and family—is a driving motivation. Taking an analytical approach to the Bay Area’s built and natural landscapes, artists observe, interrogate, and ponder notions of infrastructure, industry, and interconnectedness.
But these are just suggestions—we invite you to define BAN9 on your own terms. Please stay tuned for programming updates or subscribe to receive more information here.
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On February 15, 2024, nine of the 30 artists featured in Bay Area Now 9 altered or covered their exhibited work as part of a demonstration in support of Palestine. These artworks are now on view in their reimagined state from the February demonstration.
In response to requests from many artists and the broader community, tickets to Bay Area Now 9 will be free for the remainder of the exhibition, beginning Saturday, March 30.
We’ve made this decision as a recognition of the impact that our galleries’ closure had on the many artists and communities involved in the larger arts’ ecosystem. We hope that, by making admission free, the work on view will be as accessible as possible during the remainder of the show.
We invite members of our community to join us in engaging with the exhibition, considering the significance of the alterations and participating in thoughtful reflection and dialogue.
