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Exhibition

Mark Bradford

February 18–June 17, 2012

Crafting abstract paintings from fragments of the urban environment — permanent-wave end papers, billboard paper, posters, newsprint — Mark Bradford has built a body of work that is richly layered in both material and meaning. The MacArthur Award-winning artist’s seductive works reinvigorate abstraction with social awareness. Often resembling aerial views, they subtly map the patterns of class, race, gender, and sexuality that structure American life, especially life in South Central Los Angeles, where Bradford works. This retrospective has its only West Coast showing in San Francisco, with concurrent presentations at SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

See More at YBCA
The exhibition continues across the street at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA). After visiting SFMOMA, take your SFMOMA admission ticket or membership card to YBCA for one free admission through May 27, 2012.

Mark Bradford is organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University.

The San Francisco presentation is made possible through major support from the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund and SFMOMA’s Collectors Forum. Generous support is provided by Gay-Lynn and Robert Blanding, Gina and Stuart Peterson, and Thomas W. Weisel. Additional support is provided by the Betlach Family Foundation and Larry Mathews and Brian Saliman. The St. Regis San Francisco is the official hotel of the exhibition.

The Wexner Center for the Arts’ organization of this exhibition was made possible by major support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Resource Interactive. Significant contributions are provided by The Broad Art Foundation, the Nimoy Foundation, Nancy and Dave Gill, and Toby Devan Lewis.

Mark Bradford, mixed media abstract cityscape
Mark Bradford, mixed media bright colored lines and squares on white and black scratched background
Mark Bradford, video still with two children and large structure
Mark Bradford, larged mixed media paneled work
Mark Bradford, mixed media work
Mark Bradford, green cloth with shoe shape cut-out

Mark Bradford, Scorched Earth, 2006; collection of Dennis and Debra Scholl; photo: Bruce M. White; © Mark Bradford

Mark Bradford, Potable Water, 2005; collection of Hunter Gray; photo: Bruce M. White; © Mark Bradford

Mark Bradford, Across Canal, 2009-10; courtesy of the artist and Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York; © Mark Bradford

Mark Bradford, Corner of Desire and Piety, 2008; The Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica; photo: Fredrik Nilsen; © Mark Bradford

Mark Bradford, Strawberry, 2002; collection of Barbara and Bruce Berger; photo: Bruce M. White; © Mark Bradford

Mark Bradford, Untitled (Shoe), 2003; the Speyer Family Collection; photo: Bruce M. White; © Mark Bradford