Artist inspired by Mission
Barry McGee, one of the best-known artists to come out of San Francisco in decades, is set to speak at California College of the Arts on Wednesday, Nov. 7. He’ll be the latest to take the stage in the school’s ongoing Design Lecture Series, and there’s no doubt he’ll have stories to tell, from his emergence in the 1990s Mission School movement to his ongoing international exhibitions.
McGee got his start as a graffiti artist before becoming one of the central voices of the Mission School. His work is bright and geometric, frequently involving distorted and haunting figures and faces. Like many of the artists who came to exemplify the movement, McGee also incorporates found objects and draws inspiration directly from the Mission District and its renowned street art and murals.
It seems McGee is forever connected to San Francisco, no matter how large his profile grows. In 2017, he told the Huffington Post that he’s still inspired by the city.
“Most inspiration still comes from bicycling around San Francisco. This city never fails to inspire me,” he said. “It is one of the most vibrant cities — especially visually — with a constant influx of young energy arriving daily. I love it.”
Barry McGee: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7. Free; RSVP online. California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth St., S.F. www.cca.edu/calendar/design-lecture-series