Visual Indulgence is a foray into color and process with paintings by Ingrid V. Wells and Heather Robinson that are simultaneously playful and serious; simple and complex. Vibrant patterns are immediately inviting yet crafted through a deliberate and extensive process that involves modeling, masking, layering and more.

Wells' work in this series, titled Spectacle, begins as still-life decoden, composed of tiny plastic objects undulating in fake frosting and sparkles, that are manipulated and enlarged into bright, bold oil paintings. The feminine imagery investigates American pop culture aesthetics of joy as simultaneously oppressive and empowering.

Robinson’s work is from her series called “Pattern Seeking” which seeks optimism in times of increasing chaos and uncertainty. Her goal is to evoke positive emotion through repeating textile patterns in multiple layers that are meditative, soothing and satisfying, representing the push and pull of order and disorder.

THHE AUCTION is an annual event to benefit the neighborhood artists of Hospitality House’s Community Arts Program, San Francisco’s only free art studio. The city’s oldest human services agency, Hospitality House offers six programs that strive to tackle the root causes of homelessness. The Community Arts Program (CAP) offers creative self-expression and a vibrant community to low-income artists, and allows them to exhibit and sell their work.

This year Luna Rienne Gallery, Mothbelly Gallery, Fleetwood Annex, analogSF, and HH Community Arts Program are offering their walls to exhibit the auction pieces, generously donated by nearly 100 artists.

THHE AUCTION takes place from April 1-6. More information at thheauction.org.

With Unnatural Selection, Robert Bowen presents a new body of work addressing his unanswered questions about biomimicry and the sanctity of nature. He continues to play mad scientist in a laboratory that should never really exist, fusing high technology with nature. To juxtapose these prophetic tragedies, he has also painted a series of creatures with a precious stone/gem element, based on the concept that people should protect nature in the same way they safeguard their most prized jewels.

Little Wonders is a collection of small-scale works by 11 of our exhibiting artists. Accustomed to producing larger work — some on walls up to 6 stories tall — these artists are also able to translate their style and craft to smaller surfaces, a skill that is sometimes underestimated.

Nocturnal Diversions addresses the feelings that emerge when the sun goes down, both literally and figuratively.

Joshua Lawyer’s pieces explore the negative events that lead humans to build defense mechanisms as a way to protect themselves, which then perpetuate and affect others. They may, at first glance, intimidate the viewer but eventually reveal beauty and complexity. MJ Lindo-Lawyer’s series revolves around gerascophobia, which is the fear of getting older or aging, and whether it is a desire or necessity to hold on to childlike tendencies. Ursula Xanthe Young offers a group of paintings that celebrate the feminine energy of the moon, the magic of nightfall and the endless possibilities of the dreamworld. Lunar cycles, celestial energy and nocturnal vibes pervade in her gorgeous portraits and cityscapes that celebrate the night.

20/20 Vision features work created by painters Anthony Holdsworth and Beryl Landau since shelter-in-place was issued in San Francisco in March of 2020. Initially confined to their Bernal Heights neighborhood, there are a number of pieces painted from their vantage point on the north slope of Bernal looking towards downtown. Streets and freeways that were typically filled with cars are captured sparsely populated. Greenery and blue skies and waters take up the space around the urban architecture instead of crowds of people.

Anthony Holdsworth paints a series of paintings from the top of Harrison Street under four different skies – morning, afternoon, night and that smoke-filled day in September when the sun never came out. As the city reopened, he made his way back to the Mission, capturing new and old murals as well as quintessential intersections of the neighborhood. During this time, he also created one painting, Waiting In Line At Sun Fat, completely in his studio from a series of sketches done on-site.

Fairy magic is all about connecting to oneself, to each other, and to the planet. Fairies have been around for thousands of years and bring creativity, magic, connection and positivity wherever they go. This Earth needs fairy magic now more than ever.

All of the original paintings from the illustrated children's book, How to Know You Are a Fairy by Amandalynn & Lady Mags will be on display, as well as a group exhibition with some of their favorite fairy artists.

Sweet Dreams And Twisted Realities features recent work by three Bay Area surrealist painters: Eric Johnston, Ingrid V. Wells, and J.L. King. Each with their own style, they meld fantasy and reality through some combination of rendering, psychedelia, color, humor, and absurdity. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that perspectives and perceptions vary widely; this exhibition presents three ways of seeing the world around us.

Into The Light explores the pleasure and perils of indulgence through a satirical lens that delights with comedy and beauty. The collection of paintings, drawings, and limited edition prints presents colorful designs in visual loops that illuminate the cyclical nature of desire. Loucheur’s vibrant botanical patterns interplay with images of alcohol, tobacco and THC to present a tension between timeless beauty and temporal intoxication.

Brighter Days looks forward to a future of hope, love, and peace as the world recovers from a year of intensity with the global pandemic, racial injustice, political unrest, and wildfires throughout California. Ursula Xanthe Young began producing the body of work in the summer, when she typically would be painting murals outdoors at music and art festivals but was sheltered in place. Instead of focusing on negative thoughts and disappointment, she found inspiration in optimism for the future and uplifting music, from which many of the painting titles come.