About What Cheer House
What Cheer House is a San Francisco–rooted cultural research studio working at the intersection of archival inquiry, computational methods, and exhibition design.
Inspired by the original What Cheer House (1852–1906), we extend its spirit of intellectual exchange into the present—developing research-driven generative works and institutional collaborations grounded in historical materials.
Our practice integrates archival research, fine art, mapping, and custom-built software systems to produce exhibitions, publications, and collectible works that interpret history through systems of machine intelligence.
Approach
We treat the archive as both source and system. Historical documents, maps, datasets, and visual artifacts become sites of computational inquiry—reexamined through contemporary tools while preserving context, provenance, and scholarly care.
Our projects are research-first. Technical development serves interpretation. Aesthetic decisions serve clarity. The result is work that is rigorous, site-aware, and built for public engagement in both digital and physical form.
Principles
- Research Integrity: Sources are cited. Historical context is preserved. Interpretation is transparent.
- Computational Responsibility: Machine intelligence is used deliberately and with documented methodology.
- Exhibition Clarity: Complex systems are presented with restraint, legibility, and accessibility.
- Enduring Craft: Works are designed to persist beyond technological cycles.
Founders
What Cheer House was co-founded by software developer Matt Savage and contemporary artist Nina Fabunmi.
Savage’s work spans data systems, computational design, and long-term archival inquiry. His practice centers on the construction of durable technical frameworks—systems that support research, interpretation, and public exhibition while preserving the integrity of historical materials.
Fabunmi is a painter and educator whose studio practice emphasizes material sensitivity, formal discipline, and historical awareness. Her work in arts education within the San Francisco Unified School District advances cultural literacy and sustained engagement with visual traditions.
Together, Savage and Fabunmi develop research-driven cultural works that integrate computational methodology with artistic practice, extending archival materials into new public and exhibition forms.
Opening
What Cheer House will open in stages this spring, with a public opening on April 18.
For institutional inquiries, collaborations, or exhibition partnerships, please visit our contact page.