Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco’s Downtown Launch Party

On October 24, the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) opened its doors to 650+ guests to launch its new location Downtown in The Cube. The Cube, a historic building operated by Vornado Realty Trust at 345 Montgomery Street in the heart of downtown will now be a critical part of the area’s revitalization.

ICA SF, a non-collecting contemporary art museum with free admission, has opened with three inaugural exhibitions: The Poetics of Dimensions curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah; Maryam Yousif: Riverbend; and Spotlight: Kathleen Ryan. The lucky partygoers also enjoyed a sumptuous catering spread from The Vault, and music by DJ Lady Ryan. VIPs who turned out for the launch included, Ali Gass, Founding Director of ICA SF, Ethan Beard, Chair of the Board, guest curator Larry Ossei-Mensah and artists including Kathleen Ryan, Melissa Joseph, Maryam Yousif and Shinique Smith.

The ICA SF was established in 2022 to examine the contours and possibilities of an art institution and to remain nimble and always free.