Eungie Joo’s Bold Return Curates Bay Area Mission School Exhibition at Yerba Buena
After her exit from SFMOMA, curator Eungie Joo returns with Bay Area Then, a vibrant showcase of the Mission School art movement at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, featuring 21 iconic artists.
After a sudden and controversial exit from SFMOMA, curator Eungie Joo makes a powerful comeback with Bay Area Then—a sprawling exhibition celebrating the iconic Mission School art movement at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, right across the street from her former employer.
Featuring 21 artists who defined San Francisco’s 1990s underground scene—including Barry McGee and Alicia McCarthy—the show pulses with the raw, rebellious energy that fused graffiti, skate culture, and DIY spirit. Guest-curated by Joo, Bay Area Then includes immersive wall installations, photography, and a labyrinth culminating in an outdoor stage.
Joo’s departure from SFMOMA rocked the Bay Area art world, but her new project signals she’s firmly rooted in the city’s cultural landscape. With a career spanning major institutions and deep ties to the Mission School, Joo’s return is a statement of resilience and vision.
Yerba Buena’s CEO Mari Robles praised the exhibition as a testament to the Bay Area’s relentless creativity and cultural influence, noting many featured artists got their start at YBCA itself. The fall season also spotlights MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy, honoring Filipino community resilience in SoMa with contemporary art and powerful activism.
As San Francisco grapples with shifting cultural politics and institutional challenges, Joo’s return and YBCA’s bold programming embody a fierce commitment to artists who shape the city’s identity—defiant, diverse, and unapologetically local.
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