Caldwell Snyder Gallery
341 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Union Square
Thursday, January 21 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
In celebration of San Francisco Art Week, Caldwell Snyder Gallery presents Material Matters: Painting, Sculpture, and the Spaces Between, a group exhibition exploring the physical presence of contemporary art and the dynamic relationship between two- and three-dimensional forms.
Featuring paintings by John Gibson, Jupp Linssen, Brendan Burns, and sculpture by Brad Howe.
Special art discussion with Curator Liz Lopez and Gallery Manager Ajaya Bhatnagar.
Liz Lopez has over 30 years of experience as a senior art advisor, curator, and gallery director. She specializes in art advisory, collection development, exhibition planning, and sales across national and international markets.
Ajaya Bhatnagar is a California College of the Arts alumna, holding a BFA with a focus in Painting and Sculpture and a minor in Art History. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Asian American Women Artists Association.
Material Matters: Painting, Sculpture, and the Spaces Between | January 18 - 22, 2027
Caldwell Snyder Gallery presents Material Matters: Painting, Sculpture, and the Spaces Between, a group exhibition exploring the physical presence of contemporary art and the dynamic relationship between two- and three-dimensional forms.
Bringing together a selection of artists represented by the gallery, the exhibition examines how material, surface, color, texture, and structure shape our experience of art. From richly layered paintings and intricate compositions to sculptural forms that engage with their surrounding space, each work reveals the expressive possibilities of its medium and the distinctive vision of its maker.
At the heart of Material Matters is a dialogue between painting and sculpture. Rather than treating these disciplines as separate practices, the exhibition explores the ways they intersect, challenge, and complement one another. The tactile qualities of a painted surface may echo the contours of a sculpture, while the balance, movement, and spatial presence of a three-dimensional work can shift our understanding of the paintings around it. Through these visual connections, the exhibition invites viewers to consider not only what an artwork represents, but also how it is made, how it occupies space, and how its material qualities influence perception.
Featuring artists working across a range of styles, techniques, and artistic traditions, Material Matters embraces both contrast and connection. Abstraction and representation, precision and spontaneity, organic forms and constructed structures coexist within a carefully considered installation. These differences create opportunities for discovery, encouraging viewers to move through the exhibition with renewed attention to the physical and conceptual dimensions of contemporary art.
Founded in San Francisco in 1983, Caldwell Snyder Gallery has cultivated longstanding relationships with artists and collectors while presenting innovative painting and sculpture across its gallery locations. This exhibition continues that tradition, bringing together distinct artistic perspectives in a cohesive presentation that reflects the breadth of the gallery’s international program.
Presented during SF Art Week 2027, Material Matters will invite collectors, designers, art professionals, and the wider public to experience the enduring relationship between material, form, and artistic expression. By creating a space for unexpected connections between paintings and sculptures, Caldwell Snyder Gallery aims to foster meaningful conversations, encourage new ways of looking, and celebrate the diverse possibilities of contemporary art.
Images:
Young Hero by John Gibson | Caldwell Snyder Gallery
Post by Cole Morgan | Caldwell Snyder Gallery
Untitled by Jupp Linssen | Caldwell Snyder Gallery
Square World by Brad Howe | Caldwell Snyder Gallery