(San Francisco, CA – August 3, 2023) – Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is thrilled to announce Bay Area Now 9 (BAN9), the ninth iteration of the institution’s signature triennial exhibition, opening on October 6, 2023. On view through May 5, 2024, BAN9 will feature a broad range of creative practices including visual art, dance, performance, music, film, sound, new media, technology, fashion, poetry, and social practice—underscoring YBCA’s role as one of the only interdisciplinary arts centers in the Bay Area. This edition holds particular significance, taking center stage in YBCA’s 30th anniversary celebration and marking three decades of groundbreaking art and community connection.
Bay Area Now has long been recognized as a platform for showcasing the vibrant artistic ecosystem and the rich diversity of cultures and communities that define this region. Spanning YBCA’s entire campus, including outdoor spaces, BAN9 will include site-specific commissions as well as new and historic work. The exhibition is curated by Martin Strickland, Director of Curatorial Initiatives, and independent curator Fiona Ball, under the artistic leadership of Amy Kisch, Head of Art + Public Programming, alongside a Curatorial Counsel of eight individuals from diverse disciplines and communities from throughout the Bay Area.
“YBCA’s 30th anniversary is an opportunity for us to reflect on what and who has brought us to this moment—and will carry us forward—as we envision an even more inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable future,” said Amy Kisch, Head of Art + Public Programming for YBCA.
The 30 artists included in the 2023 edition are: Indira Allegra, Michael Arcega, Sholeh Asgary, Ashwini Bhat, Nyame Brown, Craig Calderwood, champoy, Jeffrey Cheung, Lenore Chinn, Arleene Correa Valencia, Jillian Crochet, Janet Delaney, Jose Figueroa, Heesoo Kwon, Masako Miki, Golbanou Moghaddas, Courtney Desiree Morris, Paz G, Tracy Ren, Trina Michelle Robinson, Muzae Sesay, Nicole Shaffer, Peter Simensky, Charlene Tan, Shirin Towfiq, Christine Wang, Leila Weefur, Chelsea Ryoko Wong, Doris Yen, and Connie Zheng.
