Join us in partnership with SF Artists Alumni for a special episode of SFAA Spotlight talk, featuring a conversation on the exhibition Metaphors of Recent Times with exhibiting artists Anni Löppönen (SFAI BFA 2010) and Lance Shields (SFAI BFA 1992), moderated by the exhibition curator Beth Davila Waldman (SFAI BFA 2005). Together, they will explore the intersection of personal, political, and cultural narratives within their work.

Anni Löppönen is a Finnish photographer exploring resilience, identity, and the passage of time through visual storytelling. Lance Shields, a San Francisco-based design director, product designer, and photographer, has over two decades of experience leading design strategy for global brands like Adobe, Red Bull, and Visa, earning multiple industry awards. Interdisciplinary artist and independent curator Beth Davila Waldman explores the impact of socio-political trends on cultural landscapes within her own art practice and her curatorial projects.  

SFAA Spotlight is a monthly online talk series featuring an SFAI alum on the first Monday of the month at 10 AM PT. Talks are recorded and available on their YouTube channel. Through these conversations, artists explore themes of community, connection, and artistic practice.

Anni Löppönen is a Finnish photographer whose work explores themes of resilience, identity, and the passage of time. Through visual storytelling, she examines both personal and collective experiences, creating images that evoke introspection and emotional depth. Her practice often delves into the nuances of memory, transformation, and the human condition, using photography as a medium to navigate and reflect on these themes. Löppönen’s work has been exhibited internationally, resonating with audiences through its poetic and contemplative approach.

Anni Löppönen is a PhotoAlliance 2010 Lecture artist.

Lance Shields is a San Francisco-based design director, product designer, and photographer with over two decades of experience in design and strategy. He holds a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MBA from McGill University. Throughout his career, he has led creative teams at global agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and his own design firm, working with brands such as Adobe, Red Bull, Visa, Zipcar, and ADP. His work has earned multiple accolades, including Webby, W3, and Davey Awards. As a photographer, Shields explores themes of urban life, human interaction, and visual storytelling, blending his design sensibilities with a keen photographic eye.

Beth Davila Waldman is a cross-disciplinary artist using photography, painting, assemblage and installation. Her work explores the impact of socio-political trends on cultural landscapes, often through imagery laden with indicators of economic and social status, presented in a manner that emulates the sheer stress of imposed change. Waldman’s constructed vistas re-conceive the notion of sanctuary amidst the realities of colonization, and invite meditations on civil access. Waldman imbues her work with a unique materiality by printing or transferring photographs on a plethora of materials—from tarp to sails, canvas to paper. She then often makes interventions into her work with paint and other substances. Here curatorial projects and writing are extensions of this practice.

Beth Davila Waldman is a PhotoAlliance 2019 Lecture artist and PhotoAlliance Board Member since 2023.

The inspiration behind Metaphors of Recent Times was compelled by a desire to provide an extended platform for the various themes and concerns voiced by the PhotoAlliance INSIGHT/INCITE 20/20 Portfolio. By providing a call for photographic work that spoke to narratives about our planet, humanity, and societal values, PhotoAlliance highlights not only the spirit of our city’s inclusivity with a group of emerging and established artists in curation, but also in the impact of presenting relevant, pivotal work in a striking setting at the foundation of San Francisco’s City Hall.

Metaphors of Recent Times is on view now till June 20, 2025.

Exhibition time: Thursday, January 16 - Sunday, June 20, 2025
Location: San Francisco City Hall, Ground Floor and North Light Court
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

Free and open to the public

SF Artists Alumni (SFAA) is a dynamic network of artists, scholars, and cultural workers connected through the legacy of the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI).

Dedicated to fostering creative exchange and supporting alumni initiatives, SFAA organizes exhibitions, talks, and archival projects that celebrate the rich artistic history and ongoing contributions of its community. Through collaborations with organizations like PhotoAlliance, SFAA continues to champion experimental and socially engaged art practices.