What’s Happening

“Bird Of Paradise”, 2026, 35″ X 28″; Assemblage of “Sucker”, 2020, acrylic on canvas, “Eye Mask”, and “Graphic Study”, 2020, acrylic on board, salvaged wood, bird of paradise leaf apex, leather.

“Gatekeeper,” 2026, 31″ X 42″, Assemblage of “Study13(Man With Two Hats)” 2024, and “Crack is Dope” 2024, acrylic/gouache on canvas, leather, photo on canvas (with William P. Davis), wooden gate, paint rag.

“Invert,” 2026, 36″ X 54″, Assemblage of Study6(nonbinary) 2023, acrylic/gouache on canvas, nylon tulle, magnets. Featured at “Show Stoppers,” KnK Contemporary at San Francisco Gallery/The Midway Gallery.

I curated “What We Hold – Pride 2026” for Senator Scott Wiener’s office and will be in two group exhibits this summer.

New Spring 新春, the art exhibit I curated for Senator Scott Wiener’s office in the State of California Building, opened January 22, 2026. The exhibit included twenty-five artists brought together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Here is some of the coverage from the press.

Eight paintings from my “Tongues” series are part of a group exhibit titled “Drawn From Life” at the Sausalito Center for the Arts opening January 10 through February 8, 2026.

PRESS RELEASE
Opening Reception: Friday, November 7, 2025 | 5–9 PM
Exhibition Dates: November 7-30, 2025
Location: MAG Galleries, 3931 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

San Francisco Artist Joseph Abbati Unveils Bold New Solo Exhibition at MAG Galleries

San Francisco artist and curator Joseph Abbati will debut his latest solo exhibition, Tongues & Torsos, opening Friday, November 7, 2025, at MAG Galleries in the Castro District. The opening reception will be held from 5 to 9 PM at 3931 18th Street and is free and open to the public.

At the heart of Tongues & Torsos are two distinct yet interwoven series that explore humor, defiance, identity, and the body.

Tongues

This vibrant and cheeky series captures men in a pose familiar to today’s selfie culture—sticking out their tongues. Against bright, pastel backgrounds, heads pop out like figures in a lively “Whack-A-Mole” game, exuding a spirit that is both irreverent and delightfully human. Here, the tongue becomes a playful, phallic symbol—an instrument of pleasure and mischief, reclaimed from its usual associations with disapproval or rudeness. Abbati’s subjects subvert these taboos, expressing carefree confidence that resonates with queer culture’s embrace of shameless expression, while also tapping into a universal humor and joy.

Torsos

If Tongues revels in playfulness, Torsos leans toward the provocative. This series explores identity and form through a striking fusion of the human and bovine. Male torsos morph into bull-headed hybrids, oscillating between vulnerability and power. Eyes—rendered with haunting precision—anchor the viewer in a dialogue between anatomy and abstraction. Alongside these hybrids, Abbati presents cropped torsos isolated below the neck and above the legs, foregrounding physical presence and challenging traditional portraiture. Together, these works examine the essence of what defines a figure.

A busy fall schedule with two auctions, open studios, group exhibits, and a solo exhibit.

August 9th, 12-5pm at Heron Arts, 7 Heron Street, San Francisco. This is a one day pop-up marketplace featuring 20 local artists, ceramicists, jewelry artisans, candles makers, and more! I’ll be participating with small works.

Bites will be provided and there will be a no host bar offered by Monarch Beverage Company.