Pulling double duty with distinct yet complementary offerings, these galleries in the San Francisco and Napa Valley areas are twice as nice to visit.
Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts + Evars Collective Support Locally
PHOTO BY GUSTAVO E. PEREZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Stephanie Breitbard has relocated her namesake gallery a short distance—from Montgomery Street to Jackson Street, remaining in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood. The move provided an additional 600 square feet in which to present rotating group shows featuring the 100-plus artists on her roster. “Our founding philosophy has always been to diverge from the traditional model of solo artist shows and instead showcase one to two pieces of every artist we work with,” Breitbard says.
Beyond opening up space for exhibitions, the new 2,700-square-foot venue also accommodates an outpost of San Carlos-based Evars Collective. This was a fitting pairing as “we share such similar female entrepreneur mindsets and support each other’s businesses and endeavors,” explains interior designer Nancy Evars. Her furniture and accessories showroom has grown significantly since it launched in 2021, so extending her presence to San Francisco seemed a natural next step.
Serge Sorokko Gallery + Martin Ray Tasting Room Are True Works Of Art
PHOTO BY BRUCE DAMONTE
Gallerist Serge Sorokko had long contemplated combining fine art and fine wine in one venue. Now the idea has finally come to fruition in downtown Napa in a joint venture with Sonoma-based Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery. “We were thrilled to be able to merge these two intellectually and sensually connected businesses in a totally new way,” says Sorokko, who also maintains a gallery in San Francisco. Courtney Benham, proprietor of Martin Ray, adds that “as someone who loves collecting and experiencing art, the opportunity for our wines to be enjoyed inside of a fine art gallery featuring some of the best-known contemporary artists was a dream come true.”
Architect Craig Steely was tapped for the 4,500-square-foot indoor-outdoor venue that itself is a work of art, including retractable glass walls and an arced steel wine bar. “Napa Valley and wine country have a definite style, but there is a secret history of art and architecture there that many people are not aware of—strong geometries, different materials, abstract forms, distinct shapes in the landscape,” Steely notes. This fall, the space will exhibit paintings by Donald Sultan.
