Cece Carpio, Anagolay, Acrylic on canvas, 2019.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dara Katrina Del Rosario Communications Director media@somarts.org |
Through Reimagined Memories and Creation Stories, SOMArts
Unveils Cece Carpio’s First Solo Exhibition, “Tabi Tabi Po:
Come Out with The Spirits! You Are Welcome Here”
Opening reception held Thursday, January 29, 6–9 PM
Free RSVP, $10 donations welcomed and appreciated
On view January 30–March 29, 2026
January 6, 2026, San Francisco, CA–SOMArts proudly presents Tabi Tabi Po: Come Out with The Spirits! You are Welcome Here, the first solo exhibition by prolific artist Cece Carpio, on view January 30–March 29, 2026. The exhibition opens with an all-ages reception on Thursday, January 29, from 6–9 PM. This landmark show collides worlds and merges dimensions that radiate from ancestry, immigration, and gender-variant realities, Carpio tells universal stories of creation in which beginnings, presents, and endings mingle.
“We are honored to collaborate with artist Cece Carpio, a Bay Area legend, whose creative practice has shaped visual culture locally and resonated globally. Her vibrant murals are woven into the urban and communal landscape, appearing across neighborhoods as sites of memory, resistance, and belonging. Her work lives and thrives at the intersection of art and activism, bolstered by a sustained commitment to solidarity and the amplification of narratives that are frequently obscured or disregarded,” shares Maria Jenson, SOMArts’ Creative & Executive Director.
By weaving together real and imagined narratives, Carpio underscores how creation stories become a way for us to locate ourselves within and beyond lineage, histories, communities, time, and ultimately, within ourselves. Memory and storytelling form a pathway toward self-determination.
“I grew up in a small farming village during a time when we had very little–I have maybe four childhood photos of myself. I had to reimagine parts of my own story just to remember because we live in a world where we are constantly being erased. Our stories and our memories become powerful tools of survival,” shares Carpio.
Tabi Tabi Po highlights the power and necessity of storytelling as a cultural, political, and relational praxis shared across cultures. Raised with indigenous oral traditions, Carpio’s artistic practice is deeply engaged with ancestry, memory, and narratives both real and imagined. This collection of work affirms that stories aren’t bound by the written word and that they can create new worlds while honoring the sacred, often overlooked spaces integral to understanding how all things come to be. As viewers move through this exhibition, they are invited to reflect on the ways storytelling connects us to ancestral wisdom, shared histories, and the processes of unbecoming/becoming.
“Cece Carpio’s public artwork is so important in reflecting Bay Area activism and history. When I realized she had never had a solo show I became curious and excited as to what story she would invite us into. She became deeply engaged with her personal story and artistic process to create an exhibition that centers diasporic, Indigenous, and queer identities,” shares Carolina Quintanilla, SOMArts’ Director of Exhibitions and Programming.
This dynamic showcase of large scale installations alongside new works and beloved painting series opens with a reception on Thursday, January 29, 6–9 PM, featuring artist remarks. Additional exhibition events include an artist led program on Thursday, February 20, 6–9 PM (more details to follow), and a closing reception on Thursday, March 26, 6–9 PM. SOMArts events are NOTAFLOF, $10 donations at the door or via RSVP link are always welcomed and appreciated.
Cece Carpio, Indianale, Acrylic on wood, 2019.
Tabi Tabi Po: Come Out with The Spirits! You are Welcome Here functions as a site of connection. Carpio recognizes the challenges of living in places where stories are vulnerable to being lost—and insists on the importance of creating the worlds we want to inhabit. In this space, freedom is understood as both a right and a practice: the ability to choose, to imagine, and to claim dignity in one’s existence.
“As a visual cultural bearer,” Jenson explains, “ she not only creates rich, textured and profoundly touching imagery, she uses iconography and symbolism to safeguard heritages and communal wisdom, keeping traditions alive. We are excited to offer our gallery space to immerse ourselves in Cece’s vision, gathering us together to experience this momentous milestone on her artistic and activism path.”
GALLERY HOURS
Thursday, 3:00–7:00 PM
Friday, 12:00–7:00 PM
Saturday–Sunday, 12:00–5:00 PM
CALENDAR LISTINGS
SOMArts events are NOTAFLOF (No One Turned Away from Lack of Funds), but $10 donations are always appreciated at the door or with RSVP. Thank you for your support!
Exhibition Run
On view January 30–March 29, 2026
Opening Reception
Thursday, January 29, 6–9 PM
Join us in celebrating the opening reception of Cece Carpio’s first solo exhibition in SOMArts’ Main Gallery featuring artist remarks, donations welcome.
To learn more, visit: somarts.org/tabitabiporeception
Exhibition Program
Thursday, February 20, 6–9 PM
Save the date for upcoming exhibition program, details to follow
To learn more, visit: somarts.org/tabitabipoprogram
Closing Reception
Thursday, March 26, 6–9 PM
Last chance to experience this landmark exhibition, stay tuned for program updates
To learn more, visit: somarts.org/tabitabipoclosing
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ABOUT SOMARTS CULTURAL CENTER
SOMArts Cultural Center, founded in 1979, cultivates access to the arts within the Bay Area by collaborating with community-focused artists and organizations. Together, we engage the power of the arts to provoke just and fair inclusion, cultural respect, and civic participation.
SOMArts is located at 934 Brannan Street—between 8th and 9th—within 2 blocks of 101, I-80, Muni lines, and bike paths. For public information call 415-863-1414 or visit somarts.org. Stay connected by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
