On view Wednesday, April 24th—Sunday, April 28th. Opening reception Saturday, April 27th, 5-8pm.

Pyrite (commonly known as fool’s gold) featured prominently in the work of the late and beloved artist Peter Simensky. Peter used pyrite in multimedia radio sculptures, tapping into airwaves to tune into the overlooked stations of AM radio. The influence of places he loved to frequent, like colorful wires from Acapulco chairs seen throughout Mexico City, were also present in his sculptures. Much like the materials he worked with, Peter served as a conduit for artistic connections. Radiating warmth and vitality to all he encountered, he left an indelible mark on those around him. Though he left us too soon, his memory, influence, and love will continue to illuminate our lives and spark artistic inspiration.

Fool’s Gold is our tribute to Peter: the profound influence he had on his students’ lives and the connections he forged through his kindness and dedication to mentoring emerging artists. This exhibition is hosted at ICA SF, where Peter Simensky presented his installation Pyrite Radio - Dispatch alongside collaborative public programming in February of 2022.

Text by Gabby Anderman, Marilyn Montúfar, and Krista Wright.

Advised by California College of the Arts Faculty Kota Ezawa and Linda Geary.