Art is for Everyone : Outsider Art

October 5 – November 2, 2018
Opening reception, Friday, October 5, 5–8pm
Telegraph Hill Gallery
491 Greenwich St, San Francisco, CA 94133


Telegraph Hill Gallery is pleased to present “Art is for Everyone: Outsider Art – Creative Growth Artist Group” featuring the drawings and paintings of various artists from Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California. “Art is for Everyone” will be on display from 5 October 2018 through 2 November 2018 with an opening reception, Friday, 5 October, 5:00-8:00PM.

“I remember my first experience of seeing this amazing production of art that was different than what I had seen and it was such a personal expression by the person making it. They may or may not have had language, they may or may not have been able to communicate with me, but they’re making this work that’s really a window into their soul. When you ask someone who has been disenfranchised their entire life to tell me their story, it’s amazing how the door opens.” – Tom di Maria, Executive Director

Creative Growth Art Center was founded by Florence and Elias Katz in 1974, a time in which California was deinstitutionalizing people with disabilities. Since then Creative Growth has served hundreds of artists with developmental, physical, and metal disabilities providing not only space, but the tools and inspiration to become professional exhibiting artists. It is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit center dedicated to giving artists with disabilities an opportunity and a voice to express themselves.

Creative Growth exemplifies the quality of inclusiveness. The artists all work in a shared and open space and within that you will find almost every form of artistic expression. The success that Creative Growth and their artists have found proves that art can transcend social boundaries and obstacles, and serve as a common language for everyone, artist and viewer alike.

Today, artists represented by Creative Growth have had their works acquired by museums like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and San Francisco; been invited to exhibit at the Venice Biennale; and are in high demand among collectors around the world. Outside of the traditional art exhibitions, Creative Growth has collaborated with many companies including Anthropologie, Levis, Marc Jacobs, Method, and Target.

“Art is for Everyone” will showcase a wide range of works on paper by the following Creative Growth Artists: Joseph Alef, Angela Archuleta, Rosa Giron, John Hiltunen, Bruce Howell, Cedric Johnson, Victor Limon, John Martin, Paulino Martin, Dan Miller, Donald Mitchell, John Mullins, Carrie Oyama, Valerie Tribble, William Tyler, George Wilson, Alice Wong, and Ying Gee Zhou.

For more information, visit TelegraphHillGallery.com.