MAG Galleries

SF Art Galleries - Openings & Events Event source calendar Event Link: see venue calendar above ^^ Flow works by Tyler Zheng August 7 - August 30, 2026 Opening Reception, Friday, August 7, 5-9pm with The Castro ArtWalk MAG Galleries is excited to present the exhibition, FLOW, Works by Tyler Zheng, August 7 through August 30, 2026. For Tyler Zheng, “flow” is a reflection of an intellectual zone of creativity and a state of mind that is able to accept many unknowns and challenges of wood fired ceramics. Zheng describes the creative process as , “…flow, the state where attention narrows so completely that time warps and everything else fades, and the path it opens into creating subtle and intentional design decisions that define the feel of a piece. It is a privilege to stay in this state of focus, to willingly give it time in exchange for staying curious and playful. Repeating a form helps me better understand the concept and lets small details find their way in. As they [the concepts] are refined, changes in forms, cross sections, and positioning in the kiln all change the pieces. These works are presented as steps along a path, each revealing subtle changes and the intentions behind them. He describes the firing process. “These pieces were fired in wood-burning kilns at Cobb Mountain over days of continuous fire-tending. Members of the community take shifts around the clock, feeding the fire and closely watching the kiln’s behavior. The clay surfaces have no applied glaze. Wood ash is carried by the flame, melting onto the surface—a natural finish formed only by the firing itself. For all the care that goes into shaping each piece, loss is also part of the process, and some works do not survive. What remains carries the record of that collaboration: marks of flame and ash.” More About the Artist Tyler Zheng is a ceramic artist based in San Francisco, working out of his studio in the Castro. With a background in mechanical engineering, he first came to clay while designing planters for a cactus collection, bringing a problem-solving sensibility to functional pottery. The designs found an immediate audience, selling out with every online shop update, and eventually led him to a deeper practice in functional, wood-fired pottery. He learned ceramics through local instructors, including Andy Ruble at Foothill College, as well as workshops, and an intensive program in Jingdezhen, China to learn traditional throwing methods. Inspired by the community at Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology Project, he has been firing there since 2020, drawn to the process, natural finishes and the sense of community. ―――――――――― SF Stuff To Do Do not edit this event! changes will be overwritten