Rael San Fratello: Prototypes and Provocations

Sat October 17th Open 10 AM–5 PM Prototypes and Provocations is the most comprehensive presentation to date of the award-winning work of Oakland-based architecture and design studio Rael San Fratello. Founded by Virginia San Fratello and Ronald Rael in 2002, this mid-career survey traces Rael San Fratello’s evolution from their early experiments merging clothing and construction, to a series of bold projects centered on the U.S.-Mexico border, to their trailblazing work fusing 3D printing with traditional earthen materials. Among them is the studio’s acclaimed 2019 project Teeter-Totter Wall, a set of bright pink seesaws installed along the infamous border wall. Inviting playful, transnational exchange, the work garnered widespread attention as a powerful symbol of the possibility for connection across a deeply contested divide. One of the centerpieces of the exhibition is a new, large-scale commission titled Sanctuary. 3D printed entirely onsite using only soil, straw, and water, the cylindrical structure serves as a demonstration of the ecologically-sound building techniques that Rael San Fratello have developed. Alongside this work, a massive table will display a selection of 3D printed objects made from a wide array of materials either sustainable, upcycled, or rescued from the waste stream (including salt, chardonnay grape skins, salt, coffee grounds, clay, sawdust, and ash collected in the aftermath of California wildfires). The work of Rael San Fratello insists that architecture is not merely a backdrop for social life, but a medium through which power is both articulated and contested. By the same token, the studio challenges the discipline to imagine more equitable, adaptive, and humane ways of inhabiting the world. Rael San Fratello: Prototypes and Provocations is curated by René Morales. *Free admission for Youth, Military Personnel, and Museums for All. Employees of other museums with current valid staff ID receive free general admission for themselves and one guest. Entry ticket must be obtained onsite at YBCA’s Ticketing desk. YBCA programs are made possible in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Shield Of California, Bob A. Ross Foundation, City and County of San Francisco, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Malia Simonds, Mayor Daniel Lurie, National Endowment for the Arts, Pisces Foundation, The Ron Conway Family, Salesforce, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, The Svane Family Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, Yerba Buena Partnership, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Board of Directors and Members. Made possible in part by Meet the Moment, an initiative of TnT Art Lab. Presented by Bat Witch Ghost & YBCA Co-Presented by Ashley Clark & YBCA Saturdays, November 14, 2026–January 16, 2027, 2 PM September 25, 2026—January 31, 2027 September 25, 2026–January 31, 2027