Pieter Hugo's 'Californian Wildflowers' Captures San Francisco's Resilient Community

South African photographer Pieter Hugo’s series, ‘Californian Wildflowers,’ captures the vibrant and diverse lives of Tenderloin residents in San Francisco. During his 2014 artist residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts, Hugo was inspired by his wife’s observation that the Tenderloin resembled Cape Town. This prompted Hugo to explore the neighborhood, where he encountered people from various backgrounds, including those affected by the 2008 recession, war veterans, and individuals facing mental health challenges. Despite these hardships, Hugo found a sense of community and a vibrant energy in his subjects’ poses and gestures.

‘Californian Wildflowers’ will debut in Jonathan Carver Moore Gallery in San Francisco, California from September 10 to November 9, accompanied by a coffee table book. Altogether, the series highlights the inherent beauty and shared humanity of the Tenderloin’s residents, regardless of their circumstances.

Born in Johannesburg in 1976, Pieter Hugo resides in Cape Town. He has had solo exhibitions at major institutions such as Museu Coleção Berardo, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Hague Museum of Photography, Musée de l’Elysée, Ludwig Museum, Fotografiska, MAXXI, and the Institute of Modern Art Brisbane. Hugo has also been featured in group exhibitions at prestigious venues including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, Barbican Art Gallery, Tate Modern, Folkwang Museum, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, and the São Paulo Biennale.

Follow Pieter Hugo on Instagram for the latest updates on his work.

Jonathan Carver Moore
966 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94102