Artists of San Francisco
San Francisco has long been known as a city of innovation.
Its historic reputation as a hub of bohemian counterculture with a vibrant art scene has, with the birth of Silicon Valley, become one of entrepreneurship and tech giants. The industry’s boom brought incredible job growth and economic expansion to the city – at a price. The cost of living quickly skyrocketed and soon contributed to an ongoing housing crisis, pushing out many working people that long called the hilly, foggy city their home for the few that could afford it. In 2020, San Francisco was labeled the “most gentrified city in the U.S.” by the U.S. World News Report.
Yet despite its ongoing transformation, the city’s creative pulse never stopped beating. San Francisco remains a rich, diverse city of working class people amidst an endlessly colorful palette. It has continuously held itself as a hotbed for the arts and culture with its many museums, public events and public art displays, from murals to mosaic staircases.
But in an expensive city that continues to sport its artsy reputation, I could not help but wonder (as a creative myself) how the working artists here make it work. Studios can be expensive – be it a private space or a membership; apartments are shared with friends and strangers; and living rooms are sometimes sacrificed for the sake of lowering rent. What kind of space do these people have at their disposal to create what they create? Are they an artist by profession or hobby (or both)? Their end product is celebrated and seen and recognized, but just who were these people, and are they celebrated?
This project is ongoing. From closet studio “cludios” to full-on business structures, these photos became an exploration of space and how artists might reflect their respective working spaces, as well as a portraiture project.
Colette Crutcher
Betsy Freedman
Kerbi Urbanowski
Ahmad Walker