It was a more dramatic year than usual in the local visual arts scene: we witnessed cuts to federal funding , institutional layoffs , gallery closures , and (lest we forget!) an actual art heist .

Amid all the uncertainty and upheaval, the greatest balm remained the art itself. So many great shows and events were spread across the Bay Area this year that I could only cover a fraction of it. Here, in loose chronological order, are the best things I saw but didn’t get a chance to write about in 2025:

Dynasty Handbag performing ‘The Bored Identity’ at the Lab in January 2025. (Courtesy of The Lab)

Best distraction from a very bad January

Dynasty Handbag, ‘ The Bored Identity ’

The Lab, San Francisco

Jan. 17 and 18, 2025

2025 kicked off in the worst way possible, with mul

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