Metallica's visual history is coming to the street where rock poster art was born. The Haight Street Art Center will open The Art of Metallica on Thursday, Nov. 5, with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The show runs through Jan. 10, 2027.
What's in the show
The center says the centerpiece is the original artwork for Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets, the band's second and third albums. It also lists:
- Concert posters and original flyers, from historic shows to recent tours
- A section on Pushead, the artist closely tied to the band's look in the 1980s and 1990s
- Sketches showing how the Metallica logo evolved
- Fan banners and fan art given to the band
- A look back at the band's work with Bay Area sports teams
Metallica.com adds that visitors can play a Metallica Remastered Stern pinball machine. A mosaic portrait of the band made from guitar picks by artist John Arena will also be on display.
A San Francisco story
The exhibition includes the original marquee from the Old Waldorf, the San Francisco club where Metallica played in 1982. Metallica.com calls the club home to two of the band's earliest Bay Area gigs. "Metallica's story is San Francisco's story," said Kelly Harris, the center's executive director.
Hours
After opening night, the show is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at 215 Haight Street. The center is closed until then while the exhibition is installed.