The San Francisco Art Fair (SFAF) presented by Art Market Production (AMP) kicked off this week, bringing together 88 local, national, and international exhibitors as well as 46 regional cultural partners. Debuting not only a dynamic array of presentations complemented by large-scale sculptures and immersive installations, the fair is also anchored by a talks program, offering visitors another way to engage with the diverse range of art and exhibitions on view.
Among the ambitious public projects featured in the 2026 edition is the presentation of “The Sun Beneath,” curated by independent curator and educator Mara Gladstone. Featuring a selection of paintings by Filipino interdisciplinary artist Jon Cuyson. The presentation is a sneak peek of what will be presented at the Philippine Pavilion at the forthcoming 2026 Venice Biennale, of which both Gladstone and Cuyson are tapped to participate.
Mara Gladstone. Courtesy of Art Market Productions.
Following the opening of SFAF, which is on view through this Sunday, April 19, we reached out to Gladstone to learn more about her booth highlights from the 14th edition of the fair.
Cult Aimee Friberg, San Francisco, CA
Installation view of Cult Aimee Friberg at San Francisco Art Fair 2026. Courtesy of Art Market Productions.
Founded in 2013, local gallery Cult Aimee Friberg operates as a platform for both emerging and established artists and foregrounds work that is at once experimental and engages with societal intricacies and issues of today.
“I love the range in this booth,” says Gladstone, “from large-scale ceramic totems to more intimate neon paintings. I’m always impressed by the artists Freeburg represents and the clarity of her program’s mission. Being rooted in San Francisco’s East Bay really comes through in the gallery’s curatorial vision. It has such a fresh, dynamic energy.”
Black Art in America, Atlanta, GA
Inside the booth of Black Art in America at the San Francisco Art Fair 2026. Courtesy of Art Market Productions.
Marking its first appearance at SFAF, Atlanta-based gallery Black Art in America has maintained a mission since its founding in 2010 to “document, preserve, and promote the contributions of the African American arts community” through a diverse range of projects, initiatives, and services.
Gladstone notes, “Whether you’re looking for blue-chip or emerging artists, this booth really covers the spectrum. On view, they have an incredible Kerry James Marshall print that’s actually a printer’s sample plate, so it’s completely unique within the series. There’s also a fantastic duo by Robert Pruitt, where you can acquire both the printing plate and the finished print.”
exhibited.at, San Francisco, CA
Lomakin, Ghost N2 (2023). Courtesy of exhibited.at.
With a unique program dedicated to a small number of artists, exhibited.at aims to help shape and work with artists at critical junctures in their careers. Eschewing the traditional brick-and-mortar gallery space, the gallery instead creates tailored presentations through an evolving program centered on fairs, collaborations, and curatorial partnerships. For the 2026 edition of SFAF, the gallery focuses sharply on one of its artists.
“This booth is a solo presentation by Lomakin, titled ‘Watching Cartoons,’” says Gladston. “At first glance, the work feels almost manufactured, but the closer you look, the more you see the intricate handwork behind each piece. The works are not only fun and engaging to live with—but also feel like a great value. It’s an artist who gets what his medium is doing.”
Gallery Century, Oakland, CA
Erie Loran, The Place (1960). Courtesy of Gallery Century.
Taking a cross-generational approach to its program, Gallery Century represents work from emerging voices to modern masters and everything in between. Core to its presentations is a focus on creative rigor, including reappraisals of historic figures—and for SFAF 2026, the gallery homes in on artists from the region.
“This is one of the booths at the fair where you can really connect with Bay Area masters and Berkeley School figures,” says Gladstone. “On view are works by influential artists who shaped generations that followed, like Tara Yomoto and George Miyasaki. The presentation feels deeply rooted in the Bay Area, with many pieces anchoring that legacy. I especially loved the works from the ’60s and ’70s. They still feel incredibly relevant today.”
Parallel +, Hong Kong and Taguig City, Philippines
Installation view of Parallel + at San Francisco Art Fair 2026. Courtesy of Art Market Productions.
Informed by the concept of Korembi, a term used to describe sunlight filtering through tree leaves, Parallel + crafts exhibitions that center dialogue—both between art objects and with viewers.
Gladstone explains, “Although based in Hong Kong, this gallery represents artists from across Japan, China, and the Philippines, many of whom work at the intersection of art and design. You can feel how intentional the installation is. Everything is so thoughtfully arranged. Walking into the booth, each object invites a kind of quiet, intimate engagement. I actually bought a piece here by Pat Frades. It’s their first time at the fair, and I was really struck by their roster of glass artists, like Yosuke Miyao, who are true masters of their craft. If you’re interested in where art and design overlap, this is definitely a booth to spend time with.”
San Francisco Art Fair is open through Sunday, April 18, 2026.