Current Exhibitions
“OJO” Julio César Morales
Julio César Morales — artist, curator and a former museum director — grew up along the U.S.–Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana. After nearly a decade in Arizona creating work about the border, “OJO” marks his California homecoming and return to full-time studio practice through a mid-career survey bridging past and future to reflect on the present. This theme of history and what lies ahead is central to both the exhibition and Morales’ neon sign welcoming visitors to the Manetti Shrem Museum.
Curated by Rachel Teagle, founding director
On view August 7–December 1, 2025
Complementary exhibition: Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco will present Julio César Morales: My America, the gallery’s sixth presentation with the artist. Open September 19–November 1, 2025, the exhibition features a large-scale sound installation created in collaboration with Mexican Institute of Sound, alongside watercolors from Morales’ new body of work, Gemelos, which builds on the artist’s acclaimed Undocumented Interventions series.
Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice
The lungs of our planet — oceans, forests and the atmosphere — are under threat, invaded by carbon emissions, plastics and man-made pollutants. The act of breathing was rendered even more perilous by the COVID-19 pandemic and police brutality. Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice considers the connections between social and environmental injustice through the lens of contemporary art. This groundbreaking exhibition brings together works focused on climate change by artists, scientists and activists whose practices encompass photography, multimedia, large-scale sculptures, painting and more.
Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice is organized by the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, and guest curated by Glenn Kaino and Mika Yoshitake with Jennifer Buonocore-Nedrelow, Pacific Standard Time Fellow.
On view August 7–December 1, 2025