For fifty years, Rena Bransten Gallery has believed deeply that artists, and the art they make, represent one of humankind’s greatest contributions to our lives. There will always be the creative gesture. While closing our physical space is a loss to the City, we remain profoundly committed to San Francisco and to the culture we continue to build and share.

This decision comes after a period of reflection and challenge. The economics of running a brick-and-mortar gallery—once supported by a steady flow of sales, institutional partnerships, and walk-in engagement—has shifted, asking us to consider new models.

For five decades, the gallery has provided a professional, personal, and ethical space for artists seeking recognition and support—an incubator where emerging artists could explore their craft and ideas, and where established artists continued to take risks. We have been a welcoming place for all: visitors could walk in without cost, encounter serious art, and speak with people deeply committed to the work. We have proudly celebrated artists who were, and sometimes still are, overlooked by mainstream institutions.

The Rena Bransten Gallery has always prioritized dialogue over decoration and long-term relationships over market trends. We have remained steadfast in the belief that contemporary art is not meant to comfort, but to challenge, confront, and inspire change. As John Waters observed when told we were closing our space, “It is the end of an era.”

All of us who have worked at the Gallery have been fortunate to be guided by Rena’s knowledge, experience, and core ethical values, and by her admonition to always—always—put the artists first.

While we are closing the 1275 Minnesota Street location, we will continue to find ways to exhibit and champion some of the most vital voices in contemporary culture. As we assess next steps, our work will continue through remote programming and collaborative exhibitions in new venues, reflecting the same spirit of integrity, curiosity, and care that has defined us since the beginning.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Minnesota Street Project community for their partnership and generosity, and to the artists, collectors, curators, and friends who have sustained this gallery for half a century.

We invite you to stay in touch as we move into this next chapter.