Exhibit: Frankenstein Reimagined: A Collage Exhibition

Thursday, 4/3/2025
6:00 - 8:00
Art, Music & Recreation Center Exhibit Space - 4th Fl
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

Experience Mary Shelley's timeless masterpiece through the lens of contemporary collage artists. Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus is reimagined in this exhibition, where literature and art converge to explore its enduring themes.

Artists interpret Shelley's novel in the context of today’s world, addressing:

  • Science and artificial intelligence: Echoing Shelley's cautionary tale, artists reflect on the ethical dilemmas of unchecked technological advancement.
  • Queerness and intersectional identities: The monster’s isolation becomes a metaphor for marginalization, offering a lens on contemporary social dynamics.
  • Narcissism and modern relationships: Victor Frankenstein’s self-absorption provides a framework for examining personal and societal disconnection.

This exhibition invites viewers to engage with Frankenstein in a new light, where past and present collide in striking visual form.

Participating Artists

Claire Dannenbaum (Eugene, Oregon, USA) | Emily Denlinger (Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA) | Suzanne Greenberg (New York, New York, USA) | David Edward Johnson (Skaneateles, New York, USA) | Anthony D Kelly (Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland) | Maureen Letton (San Francisco, California, USA) | Anissa Malady (San Francisco, California, USA) | Rebecca Steiner (Lyme, Connecticut, USA) | Jessica TranVo (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) | Anthony Naimo (Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA) | Elzbieta Zdunek (Berlin, Germany) | Marta Janik (Warsaw, Poland)

"Collage artists, with their unique ability to transcend scale, place, and history, are well-suited to giving us pictures that bring vintage texts into the contemporary moment." — Ric Kasini Kadour, Kolaj Institute Director.

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 3, 2025 (part of SF First Thursday Art Walk)

Related Event: Presentation: Frankenstein in Collage Illustration - Artists' Perspectives--Sat., April 19, 10 a.m., Virtual Library

This exhibit is part of SFPL's 100 Years of Surrealism celebration. 

100 Years of Surrealism

This April, San Francisco Public Library celebrates 100 years of Surrealism with film screenings, displays, curated book lists and special events.

Art, Architecture & Photography

Learn from world-class designers, artists and experts in their fields. 

Spotlight

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.