Presented by SFSU's International Center for the Arts and curated by art Professor Whitney Chadwick, "BENT" explores the ways in which issues of gender and sexuality inform the work of four artists: Eija-Liisa Ahtila of Finland, Jesper Just of Denmark, and Annika Larsson and Annica Karlsson Rixon of Sweden.

Their work draws from images of masculinity and femininity circulated in advertising, film, historical art and popular culture to construct dialogues between past, present and future.

"Theoretically sophisticated, though not primarily 'about' theory, their artistic practices embrace the imagery of art history and popular culture while retaining a critical, sometimes ironic relationship to its sources," Chadwick writes in the accompanying catalog.

Admission is free. The Fine Arts Gallery, located in the Fine Arts building, is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. An opening reception with the artists will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 11. For details, call (415) 338-6535.

The International Center for the Arts, established in 2005 with a $3 million gift from alumni George and Judy Marcus, celebrates some of the world's most innovative art and artists, with a focus on documentary films and visual art. Drawing upon a global pool of talent, the center creates a venue for artistic creation, laboratory for established and emerging artists, training resource and access to the professional arena.

-- Matt Itelson
Image: Courtesy of Annika Larsson