PASSION PROJECTS SF: The Artist Behind the Effect | Opening Night

Meet the visual effects artists behind films and television you love. Discover their personal art at 111 Minna Gallery on Oct 22. You know the worlds they help bring to life. Now meet the artists behind them.

Join us on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 6–10 PM for the opening of Passion Projects SF: The Artist Behind the Effect.

Two creative lives, one artist: fine art by visual effects artists behind the films and television you love.

Featuring: Joel Aron, Leigh Barbier, John Bell, Joe Ceballos, Jiri Jacknowitz, and Kim Smith.

A convincing creature, a believable world, a moment of perfectly judged light: behind the spectacle are artists who know how to make an image feel alive. Their careers connect this exhibition to Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm Animation, and productions including Star Wars, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, and Rogue One. Here, their independent paintings, drawings, and photographs reveal the interests and imaginations that continue beyond the screen.

Explore the artwork up close, meet participating artists, and share an evening with people who love visual storytelling. For the Bay Area’s film and animation community, art lovers, designers, and students, this is a chance to connect over the craft, curiosity, and personal vision behind the finished image. You don’t need industry credentials to join the conversation.

The people behind Passion Projects SF

Founded by Creative Director Katharine Baird, with David Valentin serving as Executive Producer, Passion Projects SF is a nomadic gallery, retail shop, and community space dedicated to the personal art of visual effects and post-production professionals. The Artist Behind the Effect invites us to discover their work on its own terms, beyond the collaborative demands of a production.

Learn more at passionprojects.art, and explore the exhibition’s artwork at 111 Minna Gallery.

Two exhibitions, one evening of discovery

Also opening that day at 111 Minna Gallery, Randy Gaul’s Inner Workings offers a glimpse into the personal worlds of a film artist whose imagination and craft were shaped by his years at Industrial Light & Magic.

The exhibitions open on the same day and are on display concurrently, each with its own identity. Together, they explore a compelling question: what do artists who help build other people’s worlds create when they follow their own vision? Make an evening of both shows, and discover where cinematic imagination meets personal expression.

Free admission · Ages 21+
RSVP to let us know you’re coming. Walk-ins are welcome, subject to venue capacity.

Featured artwork on flyer: Golden Gate Bridge #4 by John Bell.

PPSF is a fiscally sponsored project of

SOMArts Cultural Center.