Paul Madonna
We Came Here to See
October 16 – December 3, 2026
An expansive view of an artist continuing to evolve while remaining unmistakably himself.
Nelson Duni is pleased to present We Came Here to See, a solo exhibition by Paul Madonna opening October 16, 2026. The exhibition marks a new chapter in Madonna’s artistic practice, his first solo presentation with Nelson Duni, and his first gallery exhibition in over 15 years.
Known for his masterful draftsmanship, literary sensibility, and singular ability to bridge image and narrative, Madonna has long occupied a distinct place within the cultural life of San Francisco. His celebrated All Over Coffee series helped define a visual language for the city: intimate, playful, philosophical, and deeply attuned to the emotional atmosphere of our unique urban life. In We Came Here to See, that language expands in new and deeply personal directions, as he demonstrates how creative practice helped him recover from a near fatal injury.
The exhibition premieres new work created specifically for the occasion alongside selected historical works, offering a perspective on the artist’s evolving practice and an opportunity for audiences to encounter his remarkable skill in fresh, unexpected forms. It speaks to observation as a creative act, the decision to remain attentive to the world, to one another, and to the fleeting moments of life.
The new work emerges from a period of profound change in the artist’s life. Following a major automobile accident, Madonna began and continues a healing journey that has reshaped both his daily practice and the emotional dimensions of his work. The exhibition reflects this evolution through an expanded openness toward observation, vulnerability, experimentation, and human connection.
The exhibition brings together three interconnected areas of Madonna’s evolving practice: the cityscape drawings for which he is widely known, a newer body of portraiture, and an expansive presentation of his creative process. Building upon the legacy of All Over Coffee, the works move between architecture, atmosphere, and the psychological experience of cities, while the portraits reveal intimacy and community. Notes, journals, calendars, diagrams, and working fragments transform the gallery into a living map of artistic thought, revealing creativity as an active and evolving daily practice.
For over two decades, Madonna’s work has occupied a singular place in both San Francisco and American contemporary drawing through acclaimed books, exhibitions, and public projects that merge philosophical reflection with extraordinary technical precision. This exhibition offers the most expansive view yet of an artist continuing to evolve while remaining unmistakably himself.
Exhibition Details
Title: We Came Here to See
Artist: Paul Madonna
Dates: October 16 – December 3, 2026
Location: Nelson Duni, 35 Bartlett Street, San Francisco, California
Opening Reception: Friday, October 16, 2026, 4–9 PM
Closing Event: Thursday, December 3, 2026, 4–8 PM
