Creative Growth | The House That Art Built at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art →

April 6–October 6, 2024

Floor 2

Tickets

Entry to this exhibition is included with general admission.

Creative Growth: The House That Art Built celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the first organization in the United States dedicated to supporting artists with developmental disabilities. Today, more than 140 artists work at the organization, using every medium, from painting and drawing to ceramics, wood, fiber, digital media, and printmaking. This exhibition features a selection from the museum’s recent acquisition of work by Creative Growth artists — Joseph Alef, Camille Holvoet, Susan Janow, Dwight Mackintosh, John Martin, Dan Miller, Donald Mitchell, Judith Scott, William Scott, Ron Veasey, and Alice Wong — along with archival material that highlights the organization’s history. Together, the exhibition and historic acquisition present the boundless creativity and impact of these artists on cultural dialogues in the Bay Area and beyond.

Dan Miller | Paintings - Diane Rosenstein Gallery →

Dan Miller: Paintings

April 13 – May 25, 2024

 

Opening reception: Saturday, April 13th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm 

 

Diane Rosenstein Gallery is pleased to announce our fourth solo presentation of paintings and works on paper by Dan Miller, a prominent ‘Outsider’ artist who is based in the Bay Area. Miller is a developmentally disabled artist (he has autism) who works in a variety of media and employs an abstracted visual language as a tool of inquiry and expression. This exhibition of ten major paintings commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Creative Growth Art Center, the Oakland non-profit where Miller has been an artist-in-residence for thirty years.

 

Currently, Dan Miller’s paintings are now on view in San Francisco in Creative Growth: The House That Art Built at SFMOMA – a landmark exhibition in art history that showcases the museum’s recent acquisition of ten works by Miller (as part of a larger acquisition of over 100 works by a group of ten artists) and signals a commitment to add significant works by artists with disabilities to their permanent collection and curatorial programs.

 

Miller immerses repeated words and symbolic motifs in a vigorous palette of acrylics, inks and graphite. These intuitive yet rigorously executed paintings are an amalgamation of his thoughts and autobiographical experiences, often centered on the elusive nature of tangible experience. He enfolds gesture and text in vibrant compositions that articulate an innate language. His artwork reflects his perceptions -- letters and words are repeatedly overdrawn, often creating ink-layered masses, hovering on the page and built up to the point of obliteration or destruction of the ground. Each work contains the written recording of the artist’s obsession with objects like light bulbs, electrical sockets, food and the names of cities and people. 

 

As the art historian Jennifer Borum writes, “[Miller] also uses paint, varying his palette to add texture to his already explosive sensibility. Layered elements appear to be in a constant flux: emerging into view while being scratched out of existence. Simultaneously poetic and artistic, expressive and conceptual, his work renders distinctions between such categories meaningless. [He is] an Outsider who continues to gain international attention in both artistic and literary worlds.”

 

Dan Miller (USA, b. 1961) was included in Viva Arte Viva, curated by Christine Macel, at the 57th Venice Biennale (2017). In addition to the acquisition by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Miller’s paintings, textiles, and typed drawings are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), NYC; the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC; The Centre Pompidou, Paris; the Folk Art Museum, NYC; the Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA), CA; the Mad Musée, and the Collection de l’Art Brut, Lausanne, CH. The artist has received solo exhibitions at Diane Rosenstein Gallery, Los Angeles; White Columns, Andrew Edlin, and Ricco/Maresca Gallery, all in NYC; and Galerie Christian Berst Art Brut, Paris. His work was included in exhibitions at Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate, and Jennifer Lauren Gallery, London, UK; the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, curated by Matthew Higgs, Sheboygan, WI; Nina Johnson Gallery, Miami; BAMPFA, Berkeley; The Museum of Everything, London; Gavin Brown’s enterprise, Rachel Uffner Gallery and Partners & Spade, New York; Gallery Paule Anglim, Jules Maeght and 836M in San Francisco; and Galerie Christian Berst and ABCD, Paris.

Outsider Art Fair Presents "Expanding the Canon: 50 Years of Creative Growth" →

In 2024, Creative Growth Art Center celebrates its 50th anniversary as one of the world’s oldest and largest independent art centers for people with disabilities.  To highlight these five decades of achievement, Creative Growth’s Director Emeritus Tom di Maria will present a special exhibition titled Expanding the Canon: 50 Years of Creative Growth at OAF featuring artwork and ephemera drawn from the Center’s private collection and private collections in NY. 

February 29 – March 3, 2024
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W 18th Street

Included in the exhibit will be never before seen works from renowned Creative Growth artists including Dwight Mackintosh, Donald Mitchell, William Scott, Monica Valentine, Aurie Ramirez, William Tyler and Judith Scott. The exhibit will also highlight the Center’s historical importance as a model for numerous similar programs world-wide, its role as host of multiple symposia about art and disability, and an its vibrant exhibition program that has brought the work of the Center’s artists to venues as diverse as the Museum of Modern Art, the Venice Biennale and the Centre Pompidou.

The exhibit comes at a time of celebration for the organization.  The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art recently announced an exciting multi-year partnership with Creative Growth including the acquisition of 113 works from the Center’s artists into the permanent collection of the museum. This landmark partnership, the result of decades of work to advance and elevate the understanding and acceptance of artists with disabilities in the contemporary art world, is a signature accomplishment of historic proportion, and these artists will be represented here in recognition of their achievement.   

Please join us for what will certainly prove to be a memorable and visually captivating exhibition.

CREATIVE GROWTH AT FELIX ART FAIR 2024

As the art world evolves, spaces that celebrate diversity and inclusivity have become increasingly vital. Among these, Creative Growth stands out for its unwavering commitment to providing a platform for unique voices in the art community. This year, Creative Growth is set to participate in the 2024 Felix Art Fair, marking a significant moment for the representation of artists with disabilities in mainstream art events.

Established in 2018, Felix is an art fair created with the intention to foster intimate experiences that prioritize conversation, collaboration, and community. The 2024 edition takes place February 28–March 3, 2024 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. Public hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 11am - 7pm, and Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Purchase a ticket here.

Public hours for the fair are from Thursday through Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, offering ample opportunity for art enthusiasts, collectors, and the general public to immerse themselves in the world of contemporary art. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early to experience this unique event that bridges the gap between artists and the community in an intimate setting.

The collaboration between Creative Growth and the Felix Art Fair represents a significant step forward in making the art world more accessible and inclusive.

Upcoming Creative Growth Exhibition: John Martin, A Self-Portrait →

Join us for a solo retrospective of John Martin’s 38-year career at Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland. The show opens on February 1st, 2024 and will run through March 6th, 2024.

John Martin was born in 1963 in Marks, Mississippi, and now lives and works at the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California. Martin's art, which includes drawings, ceramics, and woodwork, blends memories of his family farm in Mississippi with his current urban life in Oakland. His work often features images of trucks, snakes, pocket knives, cell phones, and other items from his collection of found objects. These items have been a significant part of his work since he began at Creative Growth in 1987. Martin's art not only captures the function of these objects but also plays with their practicality, creating extraordinary animal combinations, oversized Leatherman tools, and enigmatic text. In his unique style, fish transform into knives, alligators turn into saws, and John himself is reimagined as a Nokia phone. A multi-tool unfolds to reveal a smiling shark. Martin's clever humor shines through his work, transforming everyday items into a dynamic and illustrative visual language.

CREATIVE GROWTH AT FOG DESIGN + ART 2024

Join Creative Growth in San Francisco this January for FOG Design + Art Fair, San Francisco’s art and design fair featuring leading international galleries. The theme for 2024 is "A Love Letter to San Francisco"

January 18-21, 2024
Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Learn more + grab tickets at fogfair.com

Experience extraordinary works by Creative Growth artists Allan Lofberg, Dan Miller, Donald Mitchell, Dwight Mackintosh, Monica Valentine, Ron Veasey, Susan Janow, and William Scott.

Image descriptions L to R: William Scott WS 281, Susan Janow SJ 381, Ron Veasey Rve 371, Dan Miller DM 1721

FAIR TICKETS

FOG Design+Art offers two ticket options in 2024, a single day ticket or a four day fair pass are available for purchase.

General Admission

Thursday, January 18–Saturday, January 20, 2024
11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 21, 2024
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Single Day Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door and online.
Four Day Fair Tickets are $75 in advance, $80 at the door and online.
*Children 12 and under are free

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ERICA TANOV X CREATIVE GROWTH REVOLVE: SHOP NEW FASHION AND ART THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Erica Tanov, a designer renowned for timeless clothing and a commitment to artistic endeavors, introduces the Erica Tanov x Creative Growth Revolve program. This innovative initiative aims to embrace circular economies, promote sustainability in the fashion and textile industries, and support artists with developmental disabilities.

A new collection of one-of-a-kind Erica Tanov x Creative Growth Revolve pieces will be available to shop throughout the holiday season at Erica Tanov’s store in Berkeley, California. This includes exclusive wearable art along with framed artwork for purchase.

As a values-driven business, Erica Tanov has always been synonymous with time treasured clothing and artistic pursuits. With a dedication to thoughtful design, ethical consumption, and responsible manufacturing, Erica Tanov is excited to deepen its commitment through the Erica Tanov Revolve program in partnership with Creative Growth Art Center. 


The concept behind Erica Tanov Revolve is to provide a platform for the community to pass on their gently worn Erica Tanov pieces. By donating these items to artists at Creative Growth Art Center, individuals contribute to artful reuse and inspire the creation of one-of-a-kind textiles and wearable garments by talented artists. The resulting collaborative pieces will be showcased in seasonal exhibitions held at the Erica Tanov Berkeley store, where both the artworks and artists will be celebrated. All proceeds from these exhibitions will be donated to the Creative Growth Art Center, further supporting their mission of advancing the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art and strengthening community.

Participating in the Erica Tanov x Creative Growth Revolve program is simple. Individuals can mail their gently worn Erica Tanov pieces, along with their name and email address, to the Erica Tanov Studio located at 1808 Fifth St, Berkeley, CA 94710. Local customers also have the option to bring their items directly to the Erica Tanov store at 1827 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710. In gratitude for their contribution, participants will receive a 15% discount code towards any future Erica Tanov clothing purchase over $100, which can be redeemed online or in-store without an expiration date.


For more information about the Erica Tanov x Creative Growth Revolve program, please visit www.ericatanov.com/revolve.

To shop the collection visit the Erica Tanov store at 1827 Fourth St, Berkeley throughout the holiday season.

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Creative Growth at NADA Miami 2023

Creative Growth is pleased to participate in this year’s edition of NADA Miami, presenting work by Alice Wong, Nathaniel Jackson and Ron Veasey to name only a few.

NADA Miami
December 5-9, 2023
Ice Palace Studios
1400 North Miami Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136


Learn more at www.newartdealers.org. Stay tuned for our online preview book. Please email gallery@creativegrowth.org for any inquiries in the meantime.

Join Us November 2nd in NYC: 6397 x Creative Growth Fashion Show and Pop-Up Shop


graphic for 6397 x Creative Growth Fashion Show featuring a watercolor by Creative Growth artist Ying Ge Zhou and text that reads: kim hastreiter, cheryl dunn, mickey boardman and stella ishii invite you to “6397 x Creative Growth Fashion Show & Pop Up, Thursday November 2nd, 2023, 6-9pm 495 Broadway, 5th Floor, NYC; marking five decades of supporting artists with development disabilities and advancing the disability arts movement; cocktails and music by money disc. Tickets $20 at www.creativegrowth.org .

Join us for a celebration of art and fashion as we showcase the extraordinary collaboration between Stella Ishii's 6397 and Creative Growth Art Center. This is your exclusive chance to own one-of-a-kind pieces crafted by the amazingly talented artists of Creative Growth. This event holds special significance as it falls on the eve of our organization's 50th anniversary, marking five decades of empowering artists with developmental disabilities and advancing the disability arts movement. Our goal for this event is to raise funds to support our mission while also providing a fantastic opportunity for our Creative Growth community to come together and celebrate our achievements

Experience the fusion of art and fashion at our captivating fashion show, where Creative Growth's artistic brilliance takes center stage. Following the show, enjoy a unique shopping experience at our pop-up shop, where you can shop these exceptional creations along with sleeved art from the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California.

All proceeds from the event will go directly back into the Creative Growth studio program so we can continue providing high-quality art services to our amazing Creative Growth artists.

Date: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: 495 Broadway, 5th Floor, NYC, 10012

Don't miss this extraordinary evening celebrating the talent and creativity of Creative Growth artists. Join us as we embrace art, fashion, and uniqueness on November 2nd! See you there!

Can't Wait for Tomorrow, organized by Quickest Flip at WAVE Collective

Can’t Wait for Tomorrow is one of two inclusive exhibitions featuring artwork by artists with and without disabilities, curated by Quickest Flip. Quickest Flip is a magazine and online showcase that promotes inclusion in the arts through an ongoing curation of artwork by artists both with and without disabilities.

Thank you to WAVE Collective for hosting these exhibitions. Both feature artwork by Bay Area contemporary artists and by artists creating at progressive art studios across the country. 

Location: WAVE, 663 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Show Duration: September 30 - October 28, 2023

Opening Reception: Sat, September 30, 5-8 PM

Creative Growth at Outsider Paris 2023

 

Outsider Paris is a mini-art brut fair which takes place OFF PARIS + by Art Basel

 

Monday, October 16th to Sunday, October 22nd, 2023

The Outsider Paris presentation will unite three French galleries and two American galleries, among which is Creative Growth Art Center. This presentation will prominently showcase the works of Creative Growth artists, including Dwight Mackintosh, Dan Miller, and Donald Mitchell, all of whom are part of the Bruno Decharme donation to the Pompidou Center. Additionally, the event will introduce exciting new artists from the studio.

Graphic promotional flyer featuring neon green circles with text reading “Outsider Paris” along with details surrounding the exhibition


For inquiries please contact: gallery@creativegrowth.org


Exploring the Animal Kingdom: Creative Growth Art Center Announces Latest Exhibition ‘Animal Style'

[Oakland, CA – September 7, 2023] – Creative Growth Art Center is pleased to announce “Animal Style” an exhibition spotlighting artwork devoted to the animal "purr-suasion" - a multimedia extravaganza of over 100 artworks by Creative Growth artists. “Animal Style” will feature window installations by Dinah Shapiro and Jamie Freid along with the pièce de résistance – a custom mural featuring an immersive landscape by Peter Salsman. 

“Through an array of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, and mixed media, Creative Growth artists have channeled their unique perspectives to capture the essence of animals in ways that are both imaginative and deeply evocative,” said Ginger Shulick Porcella, Executive Director at Creative Growth.

Visitors to the exhibition will be treated to an inspiring collection of artworks that pay homage to creatures from the land, air, and sea. From majestic elephants to delicate butterflies, from deep-sea creatures to the family pets that warm our hearts, this smile-inducing exhibition invites viewers on a visual journey through the extraordinary world of animals. "Animal Style" is a testament to the power of art as a universal language that transcends barriers. Each piece tells a story, offers a glimpse into the artist's perspective, and invites us to see the world through their eyes. The “Animal Style” exhibition is not only a celebration of art but also a reflection of Creative Growth's commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and the belief that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has a unique voice and perspective to share with the world. 

Works on view in "Animal Style" will be available for purchase both in gallery and online, offering art lovers and animal enthusiasts an opportunity to bring a part of this memorable experience home. The exhibition will run from September 22nd to November 11th, 2023, and will be open to the public during regular gallery hours.


Opening Reception Details: 

MEMBER PREVIEW + MEET ARTISTS

September 22nd, 2023 - 11AM - 1PM

PUBLIC OPENING

September 22nd, 2023 - 5PM - 8PM

For more information about "Animal Style" and Creative Growth Art Center, please visit www.creativegrowth.org or follow along for updates via Instagram @creativegrowth.


DOCENT-LED TOUR
Creative Growth is offering 45-minute docent-led tours of the Animal Style exhibition. This tour is primarily for Blind and low-vision visitors. Please contact Emma at emma@creativegrowth.org if you’d like to attend or for general accessibility needs. 


Public gallery hours: 

Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sargent's Daughters West Presents Prism, Lauren Dare's Solo Debut

 

September 8 – October 28, 2023

Sargent’s Daughters is pleased to present Prism, an exhibition of work by Oakland-based artist Lauren Dare. The exhibition is Dare’s first with the gallery, as well as her solo debut. Working across a variety of media, including ink, acrylic and marker on both paper and wooden forms, Dare employs the simple mechanisms of color and line to create complex fields of refracted color.

The body of work on view was created by Dare at Creative Growth–the oldest and largest organization worldwide dedicated to advancing the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art. Dare has been practicing at Creative Growth for 11 years, and in that time has developed a sophisticated visual language, primarily in pen-and-ink drawings on paper.  Using the whole range of motion in her hand and arm, Dare makes repeated marks on paper, filling each work to the edge.  By layering unexpected combinations of colors and pigments and adjusting the angles of her lines, she develops dynamic compositions with a sense of atmosphere and depth.

For Dare, color is a driving force behind the work.  While some compositions are muted, with subtle gradations between hues, others vibrate with contrast between highly saturated tones.  The sculptural works advance this play of colors into three dimensions, allowing Dare to modulate her colors in real space, where they are also transformed by light and shadow.  Taken as a whole, Dare’s practice offers an innovative, affective formalism that immerses viewers in her gestural, kaleidoscopic worldview.

Lauren Dare mixed media works on paper: L to R - crayon and acrylic print on paper, 2018; marker and acrylic pen on paper, 2023; market and pen on paper, 2022


Lauren Dare (b. 1977, Oakland, CA) has exhibited at institutions and galleries throughout the United States and internationally, including Nina Johnson Gallery (Miami, FL), Golestani Gallery (Dusseldorf, Germany), and the Oakland Museum of California (Oakland, CA). Dare has practiced with Creative Growth since 2011. This is her debut solo exhibition. 

Creative Growth Artist Talks + Workshops

Immerse yourself in a world of creativity and inspiration as Creative Growth Art Center proudly presents our highly anticipated series of artist talks and workshops, coinciding with our 2023 summer exhibitions

Image descriptions top to bottom, left to right: free-style weaving workshop poster featuring Creative Growth artist Casey Byrnes; Embroidery workshop poster featuring Creative Growth artist Sherry Stanley; watercolor workshop poster featuring Creative Growth artist Casey Byrnes; cute couple watercoloring together; Creative Growth artists Casey Byrnes demonstrating how to use the SAORI loom as part of his free-style weaving workshop; Gallery Director Nadia Ghani working on her linen tea towel embroidery project; Attendees pose for a group photo after the free-style weaving workshop with Casey Byrnes; Creative Growth artist Sherry Stanley demonstrating her techniques as part of the embroidery workshop

Creative Growth at 16th Edition of Drawing Now Art Fair, Paris

Creative Growth is pleased to participate in the 16th edition of the Drawing Now Art Fair in Paris featuring artists Alice Wong, Aurie Ramirez, Dan Miller, Franna Lusson, George Wilson, Lauren Dare, Nicole Storm and Susan Janow among others.

Drawing Now Art Fair

March 23-26, 2023

Carreau de Temple, Paris 3e

Learn more at https://www.drawingnowartfair.com and view our preview book here.