San Francisco Public Library to Host Beaver Bauer Exhibit
A new retrospective featuring costume designs and immersive installations is set to open at the library this November.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Performance Art
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The San Francisco Public Library will open a Beaver Bauer retrospective exhibition on November 5, 2026. This showcase features costume renderings, video documentation, and props spanning five decades of the designer's career.
Why it matters
The exhibit highlights the cultural contributions of a designer whose work spans from the underground theater scene to professional figure skating. It provides an extensive look at the creative evolution of an artist deeply embedded in the history of local performance art.
The exhibition highlights a career spanning five decades of work. It showcases items including costume renderings, performance photography, and props alongside the MUNI Portraits Series.
The players
Beaver Bauer
An influential designer who began a long career with the Angels of Light Free Theater.
Brian Boitano
An Olympic figure skating champion whose skating spectaculars featured custom designs by Bauer.
Mark Johnson
A curator who is organizing the retrospective exhibition.
Trisha Lagaso Goldberg
A curator who is organizing the retrospective exhibition.
Theo B. Lau
A curator who is organizing the retrospective exhibition.
The details
Spanning the Jewett Gallery and Koret Lobby, the exhibition includes the immersive installation An Arboretum of Dreams and The Bus Queen's Gazette series. The show honors a legacy that began with the Angels of Light Free Theater and extends through costume design for skating stars like Brian Boitano.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Exhibition opens with a reception.
April 11, 2027: Exhibition run concludes.
Industry Dynamics
This exhibition explores the evolution of San Francisco's performance art scene, tracing its roots to the legendary Angels of Light Free Theater performances. By institutionalizing this work, the library elevates regional avant-garde history within the broader context of public art archives.
Visitors can access the full breadth of the exhibition at the library's Jewett Gallery and Koret Lobby starting this November. The retrospective offers an accessible look at performance design history in the heart of the city through the spring of 2027.
The takeaway
This retrospective demonstrates how public institutions preserve the ephemeral nature of theater and costume design. It serves as an invitation for residents to explore the intersection of civic art and local history through archival documentation.
What happens next
The library is scheduled to host additional public programs and panel discussions throughout the exhibition period ending April 11, 2027.
Further reading
Find more local creative history at the San Francisco Performance Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
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