We Are San Francisco

Union Square Gallery Will Launch Chinamaxxing Exhibit

The exhibition opens at 151 Powell St on Friday, September 27, 2026.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Remote Work

A metallic geometric art sculpture stands in a minimalist, white-walled gallery under dramatic, high-contrast spotlighting.
The new exhibition opening at 151 Powell St in Union Square explores the intersections of surveillance, AI, and geopolitics through contemporary art. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe local art exhibitions are effective at helping people navigate complex technological changes?

Visitors to Union Square can experience a new exhibition this Friday that explores the intersections of AI, surveillance, and geopolitics. The show will occupy 4,800 square feet at 151 Powell St.

Why it matters

The gallery aims to connect amateur creators with the broader art world while examining themes behind the Chinamaxxing online trend. The exhibit is part of a local effort to fill downtown storefronts with cultural programming.

The exhibition occupies a 4,800-square-foot gallery space secured through the Vacant to Vibrant program. It features works such as a tapestry composed of 76 screenshots, with the total number of contributors still being finalized for the three-week event run.

The players

Ash Herr

The founder of the TIAT gallery who initiated the exhibition.

Danielle Baskin

An artist who created a featured tapestry for the exhibition.

Dann Disciglio

A performer scheduled to appear at the gallery on October 4.

SF New Deal

The organization managing the Vacant to Vibrant program used to secure the gallery space.

The details

Founder Ash Herr curated the exhibition to investigate technological competition, including a sculpture based on a pigeon detained in Mumbai for alleged espionage. The gallery operates through a lease supported by the SF New Deal initiative. Visitors can view the display starting Friday night, with additional programming including a performance by Dann Disciglio scheduled for October 4.

Timeline

  1. The exhibition launch event occurs on September 27, 2026.

  2. Dann Disciglio performs at the gallery on October 4, 2026.

Across the Bay

This exhibition utilizes the SF New Deal Vacant to Vibrant program to activate a downtown space. It follows the precedent of recent citywide efforts to repurpose empty retail storefronts for cultural and community use.

Residents can visit the new exhibition starting Friday at 151 Powell St in Union Square. The gallery will host rotating programming and events for the next three weeks.

The takeaway

The gallery provides a new venue for exploring digital-age geopolitics in the heart of the shopping district. Watch for the performance by Dann Disciglio on October 4 to see how the space transitions beyond static art installations.

Further reading

Learn more about local efforts to repurpose downtown spaces in the Remote Work section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Mission Local.

Live Poll

Do you believe local art exhibitions are effective at helping people navigate complex technological changes?