Art organization Kadist closes its San Francisco venue following a 14-year tenure.

In a recent development, Kadist, a renowned Paris-based nonprofit organisation, has announced the closure of its San Francisco space after 14 years. The art venue, which was opened in 2011, five years after the organisation was founded in Paris, has been a significant part of the city's art scene.

Kadist's San Francisco space was defined by its globalism, featuring solo shows for artists such as Hank Willis Thomas, Jota Mombaça, Wadada Leo Smith, Pio Abad, Ad Minoliti, and Erick Beltrán. The venue also staged group shows, including a 2015 version of "A Journal of the Plague Year." Kadist is known for commissioning works by key artists, contributing significantly to the city's cultural landscape.

The closure of Kadist's San Francisco space marks the end of one of the city's richest non-commercial art venues. Kadist's Americas director, Joseph Del Pesco, stated that while the venue is closing, KADIST is continuing. Del Pesco clarified that Kadist did not face funding issues, but has been focusing more on international collaborations with museums in different parts of the Americas and the world.

The coordinators who initiated the closure of Kadist in San Francisco have not been publicly disclosed. However, Del Pesco made these statements to Mission Local, a San Francisco-based publication. It is impossible for Kadist to include everything in their social media announcement about the closure.

The news of Kadist's closure has been met with disappointment from the local art community. Lynn Hershman Leeson, a San Francisco-based artist, expressed that the closure is a loss to the city. Critics and dealers based in San Francisco have rebutted reports suggesting a decline in the city's art scene, citing ongoing support and growth in the sector.

Since the onset of the pandemic, influential art spaces like the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, Gagosian, and Ratio have closed in San Francisco. Despite these closures, the city's art scene continues to evolve, with new spaces and initiatives emerging.

Kadist holds a collection of more than 2,000 artworks, which will continue to be accessible through digital platforms and collaborations with other institutions. Kadist was launched in Paris by Vincent Worms and Sandra Terdjman and will continue to operate a space in that city.

As Kadist bids farewell to its San Francisco space, it leaves behind a rich legacy of art and cultural exchange. The organisation's focus on international collaborations promises a continued commitment to supporting artists and fostering dialogue around contemporary art.

Art organization Kadist closes its San Francisco venue following a 14-year tenure.