An SFMOMA Exclusive!

Produced by TessutoEditions

100% Silk.

Made in Italy.

Hand-rolled edge.

47 x 47 in.

Alicia McCarthy, Untitled, 2017; gouache, spray paint, and house paint on wood; 96 x 96 in. (243.8 x 243.8 cm); Collection SFMOMA; ©Alicia McCarthy

Alicia McCarthy’s compositions comprise intricate communities of lines, colors, and forms. They are constructed through a repetitive process of seemingly simple mark making, a sensitivity to hue and pigment density, and an openness to the distinct character of each gesture. An accessible quality permeates her humble materials and vibrant, organic geometries, whether painted or drawn. The decisions she makes in the studio reflect how she navigates everyday life, as well as the many Bay Area histories that she has been part of since the early 1990s.

As a key figure in the Mission School, Alicia McCarthy has strong connections to multiple artist-based communities. She was especially influenced by the San Francisco Art Institute and became friends with notable artists like Jay DeFeo, Ruby Neri, Margaret Kilgallen, and Chris Johanson. Their shared bond was described by critic Glen Helfand as pioneers of a DIY aesthetic in the city's Mission District.