Established in 1973, Creative Growth Art Center is an internationally recognized nonprofit based in Oakland, California. It is the world's first independent art center dedicated to advancing the careers of artists with developmental, mental, and physical disabilities. Today, Creative Growth supports 140 artists, many of whom have sustained decades-long studio practices and exhibit widely in museums, galleries, and public collections around the world.
UPCOMING eXHIBITION
THE STORIES WE TELL
ON VIEW FROM FEBRUARY 13th - APRIL 25TH, 2026
The Stories We Tell features seven Creative Growth artists who translate their lived and imagined experiences into vivid visual narratives. Spanning painting, drawing, and collaborative short films, this mixed-media presentation celebrates storytelling as a force that can spark humor and inspire new paradigms.
DESCRIPTIVE & TACTILE TOUR: An experience centered on Blind and low-vision visitors, with multiple ways to engage with the art. Open to all. Date TBA.
📍 Location: Creative Growth Art Center, 355 24th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612
CURRENT SPOTLIGHT
CREATIVE GROWTH ARTISTS SHINE ON
CBS SUNDAY MORNING
We’re honored to share that CBS Sunday Morning recently featured Creative Growth in a national segment celebrating our 50th anniversary.
Correspondent Luke Burbank took viewers inside our Oakland studio to spotlight the incredible work of our artists —and the transformative power of inclusion, creativity, and community.
The segment honors the vision of our founders, Florence and Elias Katz, and highlights Creative Growth’s global impact through exhibitions, brand collaborations, and more.
A huge thank you to CBS for sharing our story with the world.
“I cannot think of a more important art institution in the United States. They pioneered the whole model of working with artists with disabilities.”
— Katy Siegel, SFMOMA
SHOP CREATIVE GROWTH
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
WILLIAM SCOTT
View the process behind Praise Frisco: Peace and Love in the City, a work commissioned by SFMOMA as part of Creative Growth's landmark exhibition The House That Art Built. This piece captures artist William Scott’s optimistic vision of San Francisco, where his vibrant imagination transforms the city's architecture into an idealized urban landscape. Documented by Creative Growth staff, the creation of this work highlights Scott’s artistic journey, as seen in his Bay Area Walls mural. With bold colors and expressive brushstrokes, Scott conveys a hopeful and dynamic perspective of the city, celebrating peace, love, and community in his reimagined San Francisco.
CURRENT AND PAST EXHIBITIONS
NEWS & EVENTS
Visit The Creative Growth Art Center
Creative Growth Art Center is located in the Downtown/Lake Merritt area of Oakland, California. We are a 10 minute stroll to the lake. Our two-story tall art center was originally an auto shop and has tall ceilings and big windows. We are surrounded by still functioning auto shops, restaurants, newly constructed tall buildings, and a few historic homes. Our studio and gallery have separate entrances. The studio entrance is the most accessible for wheelchairs and other mobility aid users. Inside, the studio and gallery are connected by a long ramp. In the back of the studio there are accessible, gendered bathrooms. To access a single-stall gender neutral restroom, please ask a staff member. Outside, there is a wooden parklet to sit and rest in.
FOLLOW US