San Francisco Art Institute facts for kids
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Former name
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California School of Design, Mark Hopkins Institute of Art, California School of Fine Arts |
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| Type | Private art school |
| Active | 1871–2022 |
| Chairman | Lonnie Graham |
| Interim Chief Operating Officer | Mark Kushner |
| Students | 332 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
37°48′12″N 122°25′02″W / 37.803456°N 122.417144°W |
| Campus | Urban 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Colors | Gray and Clear |
| Mascot | Fog |
| Designated: | 1977 |
| Reference #: | 85 |
The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) was a special art college in San Francisco, California. It was a private school focused on contemporary art. SFAI started in 1871, making it one of the oldest art schools in the United States. It was also the oldest art school west of the Mississippi River.
In 2021, about 332 students were learning there. The school was officially recognized by important groups like the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Sadly, the school closed for good in July 2022.
Contents
A Look Back: SFAI's History
Starting an Art School in the 1800s
The San Francisco Art Institute began in 1871. It started with a group called the San Francisco Art Association. This group included artists, writers, and community leaders. They wanted to support local art and artists. They also aimed to create a school and a museum. They hoped to save and share the unique art style that grew in the American West.
By 1874, the Art Association had many members. They raised enough money to open an art school. They called it the California School of Design (CSD). Virgil Macey Williams became the first director. He had studied art in Italy and taught at Harvard College. Under his leadership, the CSD became well-known. It also collected many early California art pieces for a future museum.
In 1893, Edward Francis Searles gave a huge mansion to the University of California. This mansion, called the Hopkins Mansion, was for the Art Association. It was meant for teaching art, music, and literature. The mansion became the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art. It housed the CSD and the Art Association's collection. University students could even take classes there.
Challenges and Changes in the 1900s
In 1906, a terrible fire followed the San Francisco earthquake. The fire destroyed the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art building. The school's facilities, records, and art collection were all lost. Rebuilding was hard because they received little insurance money. But within a year, the Art Association built a new, smaller campus. They renamed the school the San Francisco Institute of Art.
In 1916, the Art Association joined with another group. They also took over the San Francisco Museum of Art. This museum was built for the 1915 World's Fair. The school's name changed again to the California School of Fine Arts (CSFA). This new name showed its goal to support regional art. In 1926, the school moved to 800 Chestnut Street. This became its main campus. In 1930, famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera painted a large mural there. It's called The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City.
Many important artists were connected to the school. These included Eadweard Muybridge, a photography pioneer. Maynard Dixon painted scenes of San Francisco and the West. Henry Kiyama created the first graphic novel in the U.S. Sargent Claude Johnson was a famous African-American artist. Louise Dahl-Wolfe was an innovative fashion photographer. Gutzon Borglum created Mount Rushmore.
After World War II (1945), the school became a center for Abstract Expressionism. Teachers like Clyfford Still and Mark Rothko taught there. In 1946, Ansel Adams started the first fine-art photography department. Famous photographers like Dorothea Lange taught there too. In 1947, Sidney Peterson began the first film courses. The school always looked for new ideas in art.
By the 1950s, San Francisco's North Beach was a hub for the Beat Movement. Art, poetry, and music were very important. Artists like Jess Collins studied at SFAI. He and poet Robert Duncan opened the King Ubu Gallery. It was a special place for art, poetry, and music.
A unique California art style began to appear. It mixed abstract art, figures, stories, and jazz. SFAI teachers like David Park led the Bay Area Figurative Movement. They were inspired by art from Europe. Students like Joan Brown and Manuel Neri explored new ideas. Many of them became part of the Funk art movement.
The school was renamed the San Francisco Art Institute in 1961. SFAI believed that all art forms were important. It was a leader in new art ideas. These included performance art, conceptual art, and new media. It also included graphic arts and political art.
Students in the 1960s included Annie Leibovitz, who became a famous photographer. Paul McCarthy is known for his performance art. Charles Bigelow designed early computer fonts. Alumni Ruth-Marion Baruch and Pirkle Jones photographed the Black Panther Party.
In 1969, a new part was added to the building. It created more studio space, a theater, and galleries.
In the 1970s and 1980s, art at SFAI continued to be new and exciting. Teachers included George Kuchar and Angela Davis. Students included performance artists and musicians. Karen Finley created performances that questioned ideas about power. Prairie Prince and Michael Cotten started the band The Tubes. They were pioneers in music video. The school became a center for Punk music. Bands like The Mutants and The Avengers started there.
Technology also became part of art. Teacher Sharon Grace used satellites for a performance. Survival Research Laboratories used machines and robots in their shows.
Since the 1990s, art at SFAI connected more with the world. Students like Barry McGee were part of the Mission School. They brought their art to the streets. Teachers and students created art for public spaces. This included a monument in San Francisco. It also included a sculpture for the U.S. Consulate in Mexico. Groups started by alumni help local communities.
In 2016, the school's campus was recognized as a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Why SFAI Closed
SFAI faced many money problems. Enrollment went down, and real estate costs were high. The school also relied on renting out campus property. The COVID-19 pandemic affected these rentals.
On March 23, 2020, the school announced it would stop accepting new students. This was shortly after talks to merge with another school failed. They briefly said they would cancel the fall 2020 semester. But they changed their minds. They offered online and in-person classes for the 2020–21 school year. In July 2020, they got $4 million in donations. This helped them keep teachers and continue classes.
In February 2022, the University of San Francisco thought about buying SFAI. But the University of San Francisco decided not to in July. SFAI stopped its degree programs. It announced it would stay open as a nonprofit to protect its name and history. However, on July 16, 2022, the school closed permanently.
On April 26, 2023, the San Francisco Art Institute filed for bankruptcy. The campus was put up for sale in June. Diego Rivera's famous mural, The Making of a Fresco, was part of the property. It was valued at $50 million.
In February 2024, a nonprofit group bought the campus for about $30 million. This group was supported by Laurene Powell Jobs. They plan to keep using the campus for art. They might also have housing for artists there.
What Students Could Study
Art Degrees and Programs
SFAI offered different art degrees. Students could earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). They could also get a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). SFAI also had special programs. These included Low-Residency MFAs and Post-Baccalaureate certificates.
Photography as Fine Art
The Photography Department started in 1945. Ansel Adams founded it. It was the first program to focus on photography as a fine art. Adams designed the school's darkrooms. He brought in famous photographers to teach. These included Dorothea Lange and Imogen Cunningham.
Painting: A Rich History
The Painting Department at SFAI had many famous artists. These included Clyfford Still and Mark Rothko. Richard Diebenkorn and Joan Brown also taught there. This department was key to many art movements. These included Abstract Expressionism and Bay Area Figuration.
New Ways to Create Art
Howard Fried started the performance and video department. It is now called New Genres. In the late 1970s, old photos by Eadweard Muybridge were found. Selling these photos helped pay for the new department. Muybridge had shown the first moving pictures on campus over a century before.
Music and Art
Many artists who studied at SFAI were also musicians. Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead went there. Dave Getz from Big Brother and the Holding Company also studied at SFAI. Other musicians included Prairie Prince of The Tubes and Courtney Love.
Exhibitions and Public Programs
Students at SFAI could see many art shows and lectures. These events connected them to other artists and new ideas. The Walter and McBean Galleries on campus showed works by international artists. Students could also show their own art. This included the Diego Rivera Gallery.
Adaline Kent Award
The Adaline Kent Award was given each year. Adaline Kent was a sculptor and a former student. She left money to start this award. It was given to a promising artist from California. Winners included Ron Nagle and Wally Hedrick. The last award was given in 2005.
Notable People
See also
- Index of San Francisco Art Institute Alumni
- Diego Rivera Gallery
- List of San Francisco Designated Landmarks
