SEP 25 - OCT 15 2025 

MEMBER PREVIEW: Friday, May 9, 5-6 PM

PUBLIC OPENING: Friday, May 9, 6-8 PM

Creative Growth is pleased to announce 'Fashion is the Sunshine that Spotlights Everyone,' a new exhibition celebrating fashion as a central muse for the studio's artists. The show highlights how artists at Creative Growth expand their artistic practice into garment design, embellishments, paintings, drawings, and sculpture.

Curated by Amy Keefer (Beyond Trend Coordinator) and Quinn Dukes (Gallery Sales & Fairs Manager), the exhibition features a selection of Beyond Trend garments, textiles, works on paper, and sculpture. A communal weaving project led by Fiber Arts Facilitator Anne Meade Paden will also be on display.

Featured works include Casey Byrne’s SAORI loom weavings, Lulu Sotelo’s playful embroidered textiles and handmade dolls, and Juan Aguilera’s feminine and floral mixed-media works. 

The exhibition also presents Ying Ge Zhou’s vibrant watercolor couture portraits and Ron Veasey’s fashion photography-inspired paintings. At the center of the gallery is Tony Pedemonte’s hand-painted jumpsuit, surrounded by his signature wrapped abstract textile sculptures.

The exhibition will also feature street-facing window displays by two artists. Lizzy Rangel's beautifully detailed garments and sketches draw inspiration from her Mexican heritage, while Malia Ramsey’s wearable art pieces are created through a combination of painting, draping, appliqué, and textile manipulation.

CG FASHION LAB

EVENT DETAILS: Saturday, October 11, 1-4 PM

Join us at the Creative Growth Fashion Lab, an immersive, hands-on experience where fashion, art, and self-expression collide. In honor of Oakland Style Week, we’re transforming our studio into a multi-station fashion playground, where attendees of all ages can design, stitch, paint, embellish, and remix wearable pieces with guidance from the trailblazing artists of Creative Growth.

Oakland has always had style. Now it’s your turn to bring it to life. Drop in. Get inspired. Walk out with something you made and can’t wait to wear.

ADA Accessible, Service Dog Friendly

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Rangel

Born 1984

Practiced at Creative Growth Art Center since 2011

What is your favorite part of designing clothing?

My favorite part of designing my clothes was getting inspired from my Barbie doll collection. I spent hours dreaming of designing for Barbie Dolls, pretending to be a fashion stylist for Barbie at a young age. I took my inspiration to the next level of design, I like to get inspired and sketch at the same time. I like to be inspired and design at the same time.

How would you describe your personal style?

My style is pretty much typical, I think. It is for young and old generations, I would have to say. For me it’s casual, classic and sporty.  I want them to feel and look fabulous at the same time, for themselves.

You are always very put together and accessorized, how do you decide what to wear each day?

Every day I pull my clothes out the night before.  I match my top with my purses and my hair and my shoes. I like to make a fashion statement.

Do you have any fashion advice for someone who might be visiting Creative Growth?

So, it’s like, my favorite advice, “If it’s not trendy, stick with original.” Don’t think about the trends, just be yourself no matter what.  Always think of never give up on something that you enjoy or that I enjoy, or that somebody enjoys. To be creative in your own talents of art.  Any kind of art.  Fashion is my kind of art.

Malia Ramsey

Born 1988 
Practiced at Creative Growth since 2019

Malia Ramsey, is greatly influenced by her passion for Asian American pop culture.  Malia’s narrative wearable art pieces, often colorful floor-length gowns, are a collage of layered and hand-painted fabric, feathers, jewelry, braided and twisted yarn. Ramsey works sculpturally, assembling the piece directly on a mannequin where layers, drapes and embellishes materials until she finds just the right composition.