Cis-women, trans-spectrum, queer, and PoC run collective in Oakland, California bringing art and critical engagement to the public and fostering emerging artists in the Bay Area. A collective of female-identifying and non-binary artists and arts organizers aimed at providing a supportive, inclusive space whose mission it is to contend with traditionally underrepresented content in the contemporary
art market. Comprised mostly of recent MFA graduates from leading art institutions in Bay Area, CTRL+SHFT seeks to challenge what exactly can be seen and expected from an arts space in the Bay Area. While taking with it its academic foundations, this thriving collective exists tangentially to its institutional roots and is dedicated to sussing out all content readily marginalized or deemed “specific.” Through rigorous criticality and conversation this is the space where this content, comfortable or not, steps out of the shade and into the forefront. The collective will actively engage the community that fosters their individualized practices though this multi-functional art space offering regular exhibitions, open studios, artist talks, critiques, panels, forums, workshops and mentorship. With an ember of urgency, we aim to situate our voices and so many more to their loudest potential within the artistic fabric of the Bay Area and the extended art market at large.
