San Francisco Street Art: A Conversation with Erlin Adones Geffrard
Moderated by René de Guzman
Date & Time:
Friday, April 18, 2025
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location:
San Francisco Art Fair Theater
Curator René de Guzman and artist Erlin Adones Geffrard will explore the artist’s background and dynamic body of work, touching upon relationships to fringe and mainstream cultures such as the Mission School and Abstract Expressionism. This far-reaching conversation also highlights the social and geographical context from which the rising star emerged.
René de Guzman started his career as an artist with artworks have shown throughout the United States and acquired by private and public art collections such as the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive and San José Museum of Art, among others. In addition to an individual studio practice, de Guzman was a member of Diwa Arts, a Filipino-American artist collective.
Focusing on curatorial work, de Guzman assumed a leadership role at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) in 1992 and opened the multidisciplinary contemporary art center. As Director of Visual Arts, he created an influential exhibition program, commissioned artworks, launched careers of acclaimed artists, and established Bay Area Now, a triennial survey of emerging regional art.
He joined the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) in 2007 to complete a major renovation of the Museum’s campus and oversee the reinstallation of the Gallery of California Art. As Senior Curator of Art and Director of Exhibition Strategy, he chaired OMCA’s acquisitions committee. He brought into the Museum’s collection significant works of art and material culture that diversified artists and stories as well as expanded underrepresented experimental art forms.
At Headlands Center for the Arts, an international artist residency, de Guzman oversaw residencies, public programs, and marketing and communications, as the Deputy Director for Programs and Engagement through 2022. After completing various programs related to Headlands’ fortieth anniversary, de Guzman returned full-time to independent consulting work specializing in public art, education, and visitor-centered museum practices.
Erlin Adones Geffrard’s work has been showcased nationally and internationally, reflecting a dynamic and interdisciplinary approach to contemporary art. His solo exhibitions include New Image Gallery in Los Angeles, CA (2026), Soho Gallery, Mérida, Yucatán, MX (2024), and The Armory Show Booth F19 in New York, NY (2020). Group exhibitions include What Makes That Black? at Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA (2019), Gentri-fried at The Luggage Store, San Francisco, CA (2016), and Imaginary Landscapes, curated by Allison Glenn, at the Chicago Urban Art Society (2013). His work has also been featured in notable international fairs and spaces such as Art Basel Miami, ICA Philadelphia, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and the Allentown Museum.
Geffrard is the recipient of multiple awards and residencies, including SOHO Gallery Mérida, Mexico (2024), Bed Stuy Residency, New York, NY (2021), American Academy of Rome Fellowship Residency, Rome, Italy (2017), and Luggage Store Art Gallery 509 Annex Residency, San Francisco, CA (2015).
As an Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts since 2019 (PAFA), Geffrard has played a key role in shaping the curriculum, particularly through his innovative course From Meme to Masterpiece, which integrates internet culture with traditional studio practices. His teaching positions have included adjunct faculty roles at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and Lincoln University, among others.
Geffrard’s practice combines painting, mixed media, video art, and performance to explore themes of resilience, community, and identity. Drawing inspiration from his Haitian-Creole heritage and his experiences in Philadelphia and San Francisco, his work engages deeply with cultural memory and contemporary social issues. His art bridges personal narrative and public commentary, often examining the intersections of race, place, and belonging.
Geffrard has served on the boards of several influential arts organizations, including Persession Gallery (2024) and Skate Philadelphia (2018), advocating for underrepresented voices and advancing the role of contemporary art in diverse communities.