Fostering emerging talent since 2001, the self-explanatory Adobe Books Backroom Gallery has become a launching pad for many aspiring Bay Area artists. It also comes as no surprise that the gallery is located in the back of Adobe Books, Andrew McKinley’s used book store that he’s run for over two decades.

Both the bookstore and the gallery are ingrained within the Mission’s creative scene. Simply forge your way past the front room’s ceiling-high piles of musty and used books to find the gallery, which focuses on showcasing artists with little recognition. Modesty is key here and usually the exhibits are refreshingly simple, exploratory works that lack the egotism found in other higher-profile galleries. Just be aware that the simplicity of the gallery space is not shared by the bookstore’s haphazard organization, so bring a tissue if you also seek to browse amongst the dusty volumes.