ABG in the New Year
- Arely Lopez
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
How are we already in February? 2026 is moving swiftly, and we’re excited to share what’s on our plate. From completed projects to the artists shaping our creative landscape and upcoming opportunities, we have plenty to serve.
Let's jump right in!
WHAT WE MADE
730 Stanyan in San Francisco's Haight Neighborhood
At the intersection of Haight and Stanyan streets — in the complex, creative, and deeply diverse Haight neighborhood — 730 Stanyan is a new affordable housing development offering 160 units for low‑ to moderate‑income families, as well as families and transitional‑age youth (TAY) who have experienced homelessness. The project is a joint effort by Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) and Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD).
ABG's Tsui Xiao Rui, with the support of "Elliot" Trent Thompson, Kalanie Ware, and Freddie Sizemore, was selected as the lead artist to beautify the exterior facade of the new affordable housing development with symbolism that captures the essence, history, culture, and color of the Haight.
This opportunity was a powerful reminder that housing is not just infrastructure and art is not just beautification. Public art signals investment, care, and cultural presence. Artists are essential agents of change. They play a vital role in shaping the development of their built environment, and bringing artists in from the very beginning helps ensure that new spaces truly reflect the people, histories, and creative lineages of the neighborhood.
WHAT WE MADE HAPPEN
ABG Art Group at Art.Fair.Mont
ABG Projects stepped into a new chapter this year, making our debut at Art.Fair.Mont 2026, a vibrant boutique art fair by GCS Agency in partnership with Fairmont San Francisco, with fiscal sponsorship by ABG Foundation 501c3 and the Svane Family Foundation.
Our booth featured an incredible lineup of Oakland-based artists whose practices bridge public art and visual art. Jet Martinez, Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa, Imari Mubarak, Elliot Trent Thompson, Michael Haggerty, and Gavin Grant filled the space with work that was bold, textured, and expansive -- spanning muralism, illustration, sculpture, mixed media, and storytelling in all its forms.
With more than three thousand art-loving attendees moving through the fair all weekend, we’re grateful to everyone who stopped by, shared a moment, and showed love to the artists. Your presence made all the difference, and we hope you left inspired by the local talent that continues to color the Bay Area and beyond.
WHAT WE HAVE COMING - PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES!
2026 RCCD Artist Residency Open Call
ABG Art Group is pleased to announce the open call for the 2026 Artist Residency Program at the Rotten City Cultural District (RCCD) Bay Street Home Base, located in our flex gallery space at the Bay Street shopping center unit 5610 in Emeryville, CA. This residency offers emerging and established artists a unique opportunity to develop and present new work in a vibrant, museum-style, high-traffic environment. Artists may apply as individuals, collectives, or organizations. The residency activates a retail gallery space at Bay Street and supports the creation of public-facing exhibitions, programs, performances, community-centered activations, and public artworks or experiences designed to exist temporarily or permanently in public spaces.
Eligibility
RCCD Database Requirement: Applicants must have an active profile on the Rotten City Cultural District database.
Artist Types: All disciplines are welcome.
Artists may apply as individuals, collectives, or organizations.
Priority consideration will be given to artists living and/or working in Emeryville; however, all artists are encouraged to apply. Make your case!
How to Apply
Create an artist profile on the RCCD database. Please sign up using this link.
Complete the google form application.
Deadline to apply is March 1st, 2026!
Creative Entrepreneurship & Arts Operations Internship with ABG
Interested in interning with ABG? The ABG Creative Entrepreneurship & Arts Operations Internship is a six-month, hands-on program designed for emerging creatives interested in understanding how art, business, and community intersect.
Interns work across both ABG Art Group, a creative agency and production company, and the ABG Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting mission-driven creatives. The internship is intentionally cross-functional, offering exposure to creative production, nonprofit operations, community partnerships, administration, and creative business development.
Rather than being siloed into a single role, interns gain experience across multiple operational areas and leadership styles—mirroring the realities of creative entrepreneurship and preparing interns to build sustainable creative careers.
Who Should Apply
This internship is ideal for individuals who:
Are interested in art, culture, and creative entrepreneurship
Are organized, curious, and adaptable
Want exposure to multiple aspects of creative work
Must live in the Bay Area
Deadline to apply is March 1st, 2026!
Emeryville Film Festival
Rotten City Cultural District is back on March 21, 2026, with year two of the Emeryville Film Festival, celebrating Bay Area creativity and storytelling. This one‑day festival takes place at the AMC on Bay St in Emeryville and features six curated blocks of documentaries, animation, and live‑action films from local filmmakers, highlighting themes of resilience, innovation, humor, and the cultural richness of our region. Don’t miss this rare chance to experience the craftsmanship of local talent on the big screen.
Seats for each block are limited. Tickets are live now.
Interested in submitting your film?
Thank you for being part of our creative community! Stay tuned for more updates, artist highlights, and exciting projects in the coming months.
Visit our website to learn more: abgartgroup.com and follow us on Instagram @abgprojects.
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