Leonora Carrington. Sidhe, the White People of Thuatha de Danaan, 1954. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco.
Overview
Today’s LOVE LETTER TO ART is Leonora Carrington: Mythopoesis currently on view at Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood.
“From gothic fairy tales to Celtic legends and multicultural myths, Leonora Carrington: Mythopoesisexamines the origin stories and literary influences that fueled her boundless creativity and subversive sensibility. Taking its title from the Ancient Greek word meaning ‘the making of myths,‘ the exhibition explores how Carrington transformed and translated these forms of storytelling across diverse visual mediums, shaping her complex and expansive oeuvre into a visionary universe.
Leonora Carrington. Exorcisors, 1958. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco.
I didn’t have time to be anyone’s muse… I was too busy rebelling against my family and learning to be an artist.
— Leonora Carrington
Featuring approximately fifteen artworks executed between 1940 and 1987, this presentation highlights the broad and under-explored range of media in which Carrington worked. In addition to paintings and drawings, the exhibition includes a tapestry, one of her largest painted sculptures, a toy carriage, and a playful object, that together reveal the depth and versatility of her artistic practice.”
Preview of Leonora Carrington: Mythopoesis. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco.
A survivor of severe trauma experienced during WWII, Carrington suffered a nervous breakdown at the age of 23, and was institutionalized when her lover, German surrealist artist Max Ernst was arrested by the Gestapo, after which she fled to Spain. She married a Mexican diplomat for political immunity and arrived in Mexico in 1942, where she lived until her death in 2011.
Leonora Carrington. Untitled, 1958. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco.
The veil between worlds is thin in Carrington’s work. Magical creatures and objects radiate such human charm—sometimes engaged in the mundane, other times immersed in ritual. Her imagery is dreamlike, ethereal, and tinged with darkness, imparting a sense of mystery and the surreal. Her body of work is an ode to the divine feminine—beautiful spells cast in paint and sculpture for our perusal.
I’ve always been fascinated by esoteric teachings and the occult, and as someone who relates to the gothic subculture, I felt like I was meeting a long-lost friend when I first discovered Leonora Carrington’s work online about a decade ago. So, of course, I was beyond excited when I heard about a Carrington show in San Francisco.
Leonora Carrington. Untitled, 1948–1955. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco.
I absolutely LOVE—I mean LOVE—this show. My god, La Cuna is spectacular. I usually get this feeling in museums when items of antiquity are displayed, but the cradle feels alive, and I definitely felt more alive after experiencing this PHENOMENAL exhibition, which closes this Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Leonora Carrington. La cuna (The Cradle), c. 1945. Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco.
🗓 Leonora Carrington: Mythopoesis runs until March 15, 2025, at Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood.
💌 Did you see the show or try any of our recommendations? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).
QUICK GUIDE: Gallery Wendi Norris
⭐ LOCATION: Gallery Wendi Norris is located at 436 Jackson Street, between Montgomery and Sansome Streets, in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood, which borders Chinatown, North Beach, and the Financial District.
⭐ HOURS: The gallery is open Tuesday–Saturday from 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco (Chinatown) [Org with nearly 60 years of history dedicated to Chinese culture and heritage, featuring a FANTASTIC art gallery located on the 3rd floor of the SF Chinatown Hilton.] (5 min walk/3 min drive)
Edge on the Square (Chinatown) [Contemporary art gallery focused on culture and community.] UPCOMING: TBD opens March 27, 2025 (6 min walk/5 min drive)
Micki Meng Chinatown (Chinatown) [Contemporary art arbiter Micki Meng’s Chinatown gallery with additional locations in SF’s Dogpatch, Chelsea and Paris.] UPCOMING:Nam June Paik: Rear Window March 13–May 2, 2025] (6 min walk/2 min drive)
Jessica Silverman (Chinatown) [SF Gallery representing a PHENOMENAL selection of emerging and mid-career artists] ON VIEW:Catherine Wagner: Reel to Real on view from Feb 27-April 5, 2025.] (9 min walk/3 min drive)
Café Sebastian (Financial District) [Miami restaurateur Brad Kilgore’s farm-to-table bistro at the Transamerican Pyramid Center. Ama, Kilgore’s Japanese-Italian fusion hi-fi lounge, is slated to open next door later this spring.] (3 min walk/2 min drive)
MadLab Kakigori(Financial District) [Kilgore’s GLORIOUS gelato + shaved iced desserts in Café Sebastian.] (3 min walk/2 min drive)
House of Nanking (Chinatown) [Bustling casual Cantonese menu. GREAT for small groups! It’s good enough for Keanu…] (4 min walk/1 min drive)
Empress by Boon (Chinatown) [The former historical Empress of China restaurant, spent many-a-banquet there during my childhood, gloriously reimagined for the 21st century.] (7 min walk/4 min drive) BOOK Empress by Boon on Open Table HERE.
Li Po Cocktail Lounge (Chinatown) [Film noir dive bar dreams wrapped in mid-century Chinoiserie.] (6 min walk/3 min drive)
Tosca Cafe (North Beach) [*Great old-school Italian restaurant ambiance. Get their boozy cappuccino, you won’t be sorry!] (5 min walk/2 min drive) BOOK Tosca Cafe on Open Table HERE.
Vesuvio (North Beach) [LOVE this Beat Generation gem next-door to City Lights.] (5 min walk/2 min drive)
Good Mong Kok (Chinatown) [FAST NO FRILLS deli-style dim sum.] (7 min walk/4 min drive)
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana (North Beach) [Exceptional pizza by 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani.] (11 min walk/4 min drive)
A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S CASUAL DINING PICKS
R & G Lounge [Classic Cantonese famous for their salt-and-pepper Dungeness crab—a SF FAVE OF ANTHONY BOURDAIN. *CHECK OUT THEIR $15–$17 LUNCH SPECIALS.] (6 min walk/2 min drive)
💖 A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S ROMANTIC DINING PICKS
Bix (Jackson Square) [Live jazz. Classic cocktails. Gorgeous setting. MY FAVE PLACE FOR APPS AND DRINKS IN SF. *Get the potato pillows and steak tartare. LOVE THEIR FRIDAY LUNCH CLUB.] (1 min walk/3 min drive) BOOK Bix on Open Table HERE.
Cotogna (Jackson Square) [*Get the ravioli. I once saw Joe Montana there and mistook him for Jean Paul Gaultier. LOL!] (2 min walk/1 min drive)
Quince (Jackson Square) [Cotogna’s neighboring big sister boasts 3 Michelin stars. The ideal power lunch, IMO.] (3 min walk/1 min drive)
Kokkari (Jackson Square) [Upscale Greek SF staple. *My FAVES are the fried smelts, lamb chops, halibut, and the kataifi (dessert).] (4 min walk/3 min drive) BOOK Kokkari on Open Table HERE.
Mister Jiu’s (Chinatown) [CHIC modern Michelin-starred Chinese cuisine set on historic Waverly Place.] (8 min walk/5 min drive)
⭐ NEARBY SHOPPING (Upscale Retail in Jackson Square):
Anine Bing [Anine Bing’s SF boutique for her LA-Scandinavian aesthetic.] (1 min walk/2 min drive)
Goldwin [Goldwin’s San Francisco store, the brand’s only U.S. location, showcases impeccably crafted Japanese outdoor gear blending innovative design with exceptional functionality.] (1 min walk/1 min drive)
Isabel Marant [San Francisco boutique of the Parisian-inspired, bohemian-chic fashion house.] (1 min walk/1 min drive)
Lan Jaenicke [Gorgeous made-to-order cashmere line.] (1 min walk/2 min drive)
Paul Smith [San Francisco boutique for the designer’s British tailoring of playful prints.] (1 min walk/2 min drive)
Zimmermann [Get your fill of the Aussie house’s flounces and frills at their SF boutique.] (1 min walk/2 min drive)
Aesop [Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace. HUGE fan of their gender-neutral, singular fragranced luxury products.] (1 min walk/2 min drive)
💌More nearby suggestions are always welcome. Feel free to add in the comments!
A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS
NEARBY ART
Rebecca Camacho Presents | 526 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Rebecca Camacho Presents is a contemporary art gallery located in the Jackson Square neighborhood of San Francisco that presents emerging and mid-career artists.
Gallery Japonesque | 824 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Located in Jackson Square, San Francisco, Koichi Hara’s Gallery Japonesque features a Japanese aesthetic from ancient to contemporary. Includes stone artist Izumi and wood sculptor Iwashita.
ICA SF | 345 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94104
The ICA San Francisco believes museums can do better. We’re a non-collecting contemporary art museum that prioritizes equity and expansion of the canon.
Chinese Culture Center Of San Francisco | 750 Kearny St 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108
Rooted in SF Chinatown since 1965, Chinese Culture Center creates safe spaces for artistic expressions and creative engagement that build resilient, vibrant, and healthy communities. Our artistic programs are located at CCC’s Visual Art Center, 41 Ross, throughout Chinatown public spaces and beyond.
Edge on the Square | 800 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
Welcome to Edge on the Square, the contemporary art hub located at the heart of San Francisco Chinatown. Our year-round programming is designed to bring together creators and educators for a well-rounded cultural experience. Our space welcomes Asian American artists for our twice annual art exhibitions and our signature annual contemporary art festival, as well as music events and community gatherings that foster cultural exchange and understanding.
Micki Meng | 716 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Micki Meng is an absurdly small vitrine gallery featuring works for sale by leading local and international contemporary artists. Our gallery borders San Francisco’s historic Chinatown and downtown Financial District.
Jessica Silverman | 621 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
Jessica Silverman is a contemporary art gallery that represents emerging and mid-career artists.
Chinese Historical Society of America | 965 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94108
The Chinese Historical Society of America collects, preserves, and illuminates the history of Chinese in America by serving as a center for research, scholarship, and learning to inspire a greater appreciation for, and knowledge of, their collective experience through exhibitions, public programs, and any other means for reaching the widest audience.
NEARBY DINING
Café Sebastian | 545 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Experience market-driven cuisine at Café Sebastian, a neighborhood bistro in San Francisco with seasonal dishes and freshly baked pastries.
Madlab Gelato & Kakigori | 545 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94111
MadLab is conveniently located at Three Transamerica, 545 Sansome St., San Francisco, CA 94111, adjacent to the Transamerica Pyramid. We are a sister restaurant to Café Sebastian by Chef Brad Kilgore
*Ama is Miami restaurateur Brad Kilgore’s Japanese-Italian fusion hi-fi concept lounge slated to open next door in spring 2025.
House of Nanking | 919 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94133
House of Nanking was opened in 1988 by Peter Fang. Over the course of these past decades, House of Nanking has solidified itself as a veritable landmark and institution in San Francisco.
Empress by Boon | 838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon offers an elegant seasonal menu of modern Cantonese fare in the former Empress of China space in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Li Po Lounge | 916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
This Chinatown Dive Bar Is Famous for Its Mai Tai. That’s Why It Trademarked the Secret Recipe. The owners of legendary Chinatown dive Li Po Lounge aren’t giving up the secret recipe for the Chinese Mai Tai
Tosca Cafe | 242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach icon since 1919. Italian Kitchen. Legendary Bar. Renowned for our meatballs and house “cappuccino” (a boozy, Prohibition-era hot chocolate, no coffee).
Vesuvio Cafe | 255 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Vesuvio: This world-renowned San Francisco saloon located in North Beach just across from the infamous City Lights Bookstore, was first established in 1948 and remains an historical monument to jazz, poetry, art and the good life of the Beat Generation.
Good Mong Kok Bakery | 1039 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Experience delectable dim sum and bakery items at Good Mong Kok Bakery in Chinatown! From Sharks Fin Dumplings to Coconut Buns, enjoy a wide variety of affordable and tasty options. Located at 1039 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA. Call +14153972688 for re
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana | 1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, founded by 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani, was inspired by a pizzeria in Naples, Italy. Tony’s passion for authentic Neapolitan pizza led him to master the craft & open a one-of-a-kind restaurant.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL DINING PICK | R&G Lounge | 631 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
San Francisco’c Iconic Cantonese Cuisine. Renowned San Francisco restaurant serving authentic Cantonese dishes since 1985.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC DINING PICK | Bix | 56 Gold St, San Francisco, CA 94133
BIX San Francisco offers modern American cuisine and the best classic cocktails served in a soaring two-story dining room to the strains of live jazz.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC DINING PICK | Cotogna | 490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
A celebration of Italian cuisine. Located on the corner of Montgomery and Pacific Avenues in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square, Cotogna is an Italian restaurant known for housemade pastas, spit-roasted and grilled meats, and seafood roasted in the restaurant’s wood-burning oven
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC DINING PICK | Quince Restaurant | 470 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Situated in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square, Lindsay and Chef Michael Tusk’s celebrated Quince features Californian contemporary cuisine with Italian influences. Quince serves nightly-changing tasting menus highlighting the restaurant’s unique partnership with Fresh Run Farm where Michael and Peter Martinelli plan the plantings in the singular microclimate of Bolinas each season.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC DINING PICK | Kokkari Estiatorio | 200 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Kokkari Estiatorio – a MICHELIN restaurant. Free online booking on the MICHELIN Guide’s official website. The MICHELIN inspectors’ point of view, information on prices, types of cuisine and opening hours on the MICHELIN Guide’s official website
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC DINING PICK | Mister Jiu’s | 28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
Mister Jiu’s is a contemporary Chinese American restaurant and bar located in a historic Chinatown building which previously housed the iconic Four Seas and Hang Far Low restaurants.
NEARBY SHOPPING
Anine Bing | 412 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Wardrobe Essentials For The Modern Woman. Blending elements of Scandinavian simplicity with American energy, ANINE BING offers modern wardrobe essentials for women seeking a timeless yet rebellious approach to everyday style.
Goldwin | 444 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Goldwin offers highly designed and functional sportswear. With it’s brand core in ski, brand pursues simple but versatile and technical clothing. Goldwin Official Global Website.
Isabel Marant | 455 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111 Official Online Store |
Isabel Marant's latest collections of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear fashion, bags, shoes, and accessories.
Lan Jaenicke | 431 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Buy select Lan Jaenicke cashmere coats, jackets and sweaters online.
Paul Smith | 463 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Paul Smith is Britain’s foremost designer. Shop designer men’s and women’s clothing, shoes & accessories.
ZIMMERMANN | 458-460 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Shop the official ZIMMERMANN site and discover the home of sophisticated femininity. Explore the latest ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. Online and in store.
Aesop | 445 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Formulations for Skin, Hair & Body. Aesop offers skin, hair and body care formulations, and personal and home fragrances created with meticulous attention to detail. Browse the range online.
RELATED VENUES
Museo Leonora Carrington | San Luis Potosí City | Calle Miguel Alvarez Acosta 109, Xilitla 79900, Mexico
Located inside the Arts Centre of San Luis Potosí, the Leonora Carrington Museum is the first to be dedicated to the artist, a leading figure of the surrealist movement and one of the most renowned artists in Mexico. Discover a unique collection of sculptures, jewellery, etchings, drawings and objects that reveal one of the most fascinating personalities of the 20th Century. Highlights include seven large-scale sculptures located in the museum’s patios. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions, a special library, learning rooms and a gift shop. We also offer guided tours, talks and other activities.
Dedicated to Leonora Carrington (Lancashire, England, 1917 - Mexico City, 2011), the museum holds a collection of sculptures, lithographic prints and drawings. She was a close friend of Edward James, a british poet and patron of surrealist artists, and the creator of the world-renowned sculpture garden of Xilitla. It strives to be a key destination for tourists visiting the Huasteca region and to become the hub of cultural and artistic activities in Xilitla.
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Clare Rojas: Clare’s Balls | Jessica Silverman | San Francisco | April 25–June 1, 2024 | A LOVE LETTER TO ART
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Hayv Kahraman: Look Me in the Eyes | ICA SF | Jan 16–May 19, 2024 | A LOVE LETTER TO ART
Explore the powerful narratives of immigration and identity in ‘Hayv Kahraman: Look Me in the Eyes’ at ICA San Francisco. Closes May 19.
RELATED BOOKS
The Tarot of Leonora Carrington | December 20, 2022
Carrington created a spectacular Major Arcana Tarot deck sometime during the 1950s, laying gold and silver leaf over brilliant color. Exhibited for the first time during her centennial exhibition Leonora Carrington: Magical Tales in 2018, this extraordinary work was a revelation for the public and inspired the publication of The Tarot of Leonora Carrington. The Tarot of Leonora Carrington [Carrington, Leonora, Arcq, Tere, Aberth, Susan, Weisz Carrington, Harold Gabriel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Tarot of Leonora Carrington
Leonora Carrington: Revelation | July 4, 2023
Divided into 10 sections, Revelation introduces Carrington’s singular artistic universe, displaying an extensive array of her wide-ranging creations (including paintings, drawings and tapestries) and fusing a chronological narrative of her life with a study of the most prominent themes in her work. Amazon.com: Leonora Carrington: Revelation: 9788419233493: Carrington, Leonora, Arcq, Tere, Martín, Carlos, Rasmussen, Naja, van Raay, Stefan: Books
Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art | March 28, 2010
Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art provides a fascinating overview of this intriguing artist's rich body of work. The author considers Carrington's preoccupation with alchemy and the occult, and explores the influence of indigenous Mexican culture and beliefs on her production. Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art [Aberth, Susan L.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art
The Hearing Trumpet (Fiction) | January 5, 2021
Her most famous novel, a surreal and satirical story about an elderly woman who uncovers strange secrets at an institution for older women. Amazon.com: The Hearing Trumpet (New York Review Books Classics): 9781681374642: Carrington, Leonora, Tokarczuk, Olga: Books
The Stone Door (Fiction) | July 1, 2025
A mystical and esoteric novel blending alchemical themes, dream logic, and surrealist imagery. Amazon.com: The Stone Door: 9781681378947: Carrington, Leonora, Carrington, Gabriel Weisz, Watz, Anna: Books
The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington | April 28, 2017
Published to coincide with the centennial of her birth, The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington collects for the first time all of her stories, including several never before seen in print. The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington [Carrington, Leonora, Davis, Kathryn] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington
Down Below (Memoir) | Illustrated, April 18, 2017
A harrowing and poetic account of her descent into madness following Max Ernst's arrest during World War II and her experience in a psychiatric institution. Down Below (NYRB Classics) [Carrington, Leonora, Warner, Marina] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Down Below (NYRB Classics)
The Milk of Dreams (New York Review Children’s Collection) | Children's Picture Book, May 16, 2017
A collection of Leonora Carrington's fantastical children’s stories with her own illustrations. This book inspired the title of the 2022 Venice Biennale. The Milk of Dreams (New York Review Children’s Collection) [Carrington, Leonora] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Milk of Dreams (New York Review Children’s Collection)
RELATED VIDEOS
Leonora Carrington and the House of Fear by Kim Evans, 1992
TateShots on Leonora Carrington featuring Leonora Carrington and her Cousin
Excellent Talk by Susan L. Aberth on Leonora Carrington and the Tarot
The Debutante by Elizabeth Hobbs, 2022
Sotheby’s May 15, 2024 Auction for Leonora Carrington’s Les Distractions de Dagobert, 1945
Content Preview Toggle Leonor Fini: Portraits and PassagersWeinstein Gallery HoursOverviewQuick Guide: Weinstein GalleryA LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDSNEARBY ARTNEARBY FOOD/DRINKNEARBY