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Creative Growth: 

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Explore and shop a selection of works celebrating the spooky and supernatural.

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Clare V. and Creative Growth Artist Ron Veasey Collaborate on Limited-Edition Sweatshirt Design in Ongoing Partnership to Celebrate Creative Growth’s 50th Anniversary


The image features a woman in two poses against a turquoise background. In the left pose, she stands facing forward wearing a dark grey crewneck sweatshirt with a colorful graphic of a figure in green and red attire on the front. In the right pose, she is seen from the back, holding a white tote bag over her right shoulder. The tote bag displays a vibrant graphic of a figure dressed in a purple and yellow outfit against a pink and green patterned background.

Clare V. to Donate 30% of THE PURCHASE PRICE OF EVERY SWEATSHIRT AND TOTE to Support Creative Growth Art Center

Oakland, CA – September 25, 2024 – In celebration of Creative Growth Art Center’s 50th anniversary, accessories and apparel brand Clare V. has teamed up with Creative Growth artist Ron Veasey to release a limited-edition sweatshirt featuring Veasey’s unique artwork. This collaboration honors both Creative Growth’s milestone year and its mission of supporting artists with developmental disabilities. Clare V. will generously donate 30% of proceeds from each sweatshirt sold to Creative Growth, the largest organization of its kind in the world.

The exclusive sweatshirt captures the whimsical and bold nature of Veasey’s art, blending Clare V.’s laid-back California style with Parisian polish, alongside Creative Growth’s emphasis on inclusivity and creative freedom. Known for his vibrant use of color and abstract compositions, Veasey’s work has been celebrated for its joyous expression and innovative use of form.

The limited-edition sweatshirt will launch in conjunction with Creative Growth's 50th Anniversary Gala, taking place at SFMOMA on September 25, 2024. As a highlight of the event, Ron Veasey will walk the runway wearing the sweatshirt, showcasing his own artwork. Following the Gala, the sweatshirt will be available at Clare V. stores and online, with 30% of the purchase price directly supporting Creative Growth’s programs. These programs provide studio space, supplies, and professional development for artists with developmental disabilities, ensuring they have the tools to express their creativity and share their talents with the world.

CLARE V. x RON VEASEY

“This collaboration is more than just a beautiful garment,” said Nadia Ghani, Gallery Director at Creative Growth. “It’s a testament to the creativity of our artists and the power of art to foster inclusion. Clare Vivier, with her long-standing commitment to meaningful causes, has been a dedicated partner in our mission. This limited-edition sweatshirt is the latest in our ongoing collaboration, following her generous donation of leather accessories for our Beyond Trend Fashion Program. We are excited to continue this partnership and share Ron’s artwork, and the voices of all our artists, with a wider audience.”

With Creative Growth celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, this collaboration is a meaningful way to highlight the organization’s ongoing impact on the art world. The funds raised through this partnership will help support its mission to continue providing opportunities for artists like Veasey.

About Clare V.

Clare V. was founded by Clare Vivier in 2008 and has since grown into a globally recognized brand known for combining French style with L.A. ease, offering a range of products that are both stylish and functional.

About Creative Growth Art Center

Founded in 1974, Creative Growth Art Center is a globally recognized nonprofit based in Oakland, CA, that provides studio space, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities for artists with developmental disabilities. Over the past 50 years, Creative Growth has supported the work of hundreds of artists, many of whom have gained international recognition for their distinctive contributions to contemporary art.

For more information about the collaboration or to purchase the limited-edition sweatshirt, please visit www.clarev.com.

Media Contact: 

Ibby Sasso
Director, Marketing and Communications
Creative Growth Art Center
Email: ibby@creativegrowth.org



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Source: https://www.clarev.com/collections/collabo...
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Creative Growth Partners with Alltimers Skateboards to Launch 50th Anniversary Capsule Collection →

In honor of an amazing milestone, we’ve partnered with our friends at Alltimers on a limited collection of T-shirts and boards to celebrate 50 years of Creative Growth.

The project includes T-shirts and boards with artwork by Creative Growth artists William Scott, Dwight Mackintosh, Aurie Ramirez, John Martin, Ron Veasey, and Joe Spears. 

The partnership aims to celebrate and raise awareness of Creative Growth’s mission to promote inclusivity and representation in the arts. It will be available online Tuesday, April 16th on creativegrowth.org, Alltimers.com, the SFMOMA gift shop, and skate shops nationwide. 


For further information, or if you’d like to donate or purchase some of the artists’ work click here.

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Lincoln Center's Big Umbrella Festival 2024 Limited-Edition Benefit Print and Commemorative Poster Features Maureen Clay

To celebrate this year’s Big Umbrella Festival, we are pleased to present Maureen Clay’s image, Untitled (MC260) as a limited-edition benefit print and commemorative poster published by Lincoln Center Editions. Proceeds support Lincoln Center’s nonprofit mission and programming. Complimentary posters will be gifted to a limited number of attendees of the Big Umbrella Festival 2024.

Build your own festival experience by booking the individual events below! View the full schedule here. 

LINCOLN CENTER’S BIG UMBRELLA FESTIVAL 2024

Big Umbrella Festival returns this April as we welcome kids, teens, and young adults for a weekend of programming, designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. Launched in 2018, the Big Umbrella Festival centers our audiences by sharing unique approaches to multi-sensory, interactive, and engaging artistic experiences. This year's events include a collaboration with ReelAbilities Film Festival, the largest festival in the world dedicated to showcasing ground-breaking films by and about people with disabilities; a thrilling interactive dance piece with music, Playful Tiger; Motus' TREE, A World in Itself, a multi-sensory, interactive universe enveloped in soft light, music, and silence; a piano concert by award-winning artist Lachi; and Architects of Air’s Daedalum, an experiential labyrinth for guests to explore with winding tunnels and colorful domes.

ABOUT CREATIVE GROWTH ARTIST MAUREEN CLAY

Clay paints with a thickly brushed impasto technique, layering colors repeatedly until the entire composition has been covered several times. She has an intricate sense of color and design, and while her work appears abstract, Clay describes her images as distorted versions of fish, birds, and food. Her work holds multitudes, appearing as a deep seascape, starry night sky, or a view through a microscope. Also a proficient textile artist, Clay, similarly to her painting practice, covers the surface of her clothing with pompoms, sequins, or dense layers of thread. Clay has practiced at Creative Growth Art Center since 1991.



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OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES MAJOR ACQUISITION OF WORKS FROM ITS CURRENT EXHIBITION FEATURING ARTISTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Over 70 Artworks by Artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD Art

Center from Into the Brightness Exhibition Added to Permanent Collection

Exhibition Extended until Sunday January 28, 2024


(OAKLAND, CA) January 23, 2024— The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) announced today its acquisition of over 70 individual artworks — including paintings, sculptures, video, works on paper, textiles and more —featured in its current major exhibition, Into the Brightness: Artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD, marking the largest acquisition drawn from a single exhibition in OMCA’s history.


A man with a joyful expression stands to the right side of the image, presenting a colorful outfit on a mannequin. He is wearing a graphic t-shirt, a grey zip-up hoodie, and dark pants. On his feet are red sneakers with white soles. To his left is the mannequin, dressed in a white blazer and pants adorned with rainbow stripes, stars, and various other designs. Behind them, an abstract sculpture hangs from the ceiling, and another gold-toned sculpture stands in the background. The setting appears to be an art or fashion exhibition.

On the eve of the closing of Into the Brightness, these additions to the Museum’s permanent collection represent years of partnership building, community engagement, and institutional collaboration with the three Bay Area studios: Creativity Explored in San Francisco, Creative Growth in Oakland, and NIAD Art Center in Richmond. Through this acquisition, OMCA will integrate these works into its regular rotation schedule within the Gallery of California Art, as well as featuring them in future multidisciplinary projects and exhibitions.

"Into the Brightness captured the overflowing gifts of the artists of Creativity Explored, Creative Growth, and NIAD,” said Linda Johnson, Executive Director of Creativity Explored. “Now, OMCA's milestone investment in artwork from the three Katz-founded centers means that the influence of disabled artists will continue to ripple through the Bay Area art world — and beyond. I can’t wait to see our artists’ works in conversation with others in future exhibitions.”

"We are honored by the Oakland Museum of California's significant acquisition from the Into the Brightness exhibition. This remarkable gesture not only celebrates the extraordinary talents of artists from Creative Growth, but also underscores the importance of collaboration and community in the arts,” said Tom di Maria, Director Emeritus. “The inclusion of these works in OMCA's permanent collection and their future display is a testament to the diverse and dynamic spirit of artistic expression in the Bay Area. It marks a milestone in our ongoing mission to foster inclusivity and accessibility in the art world."

“This historic acquisition of works by NIAD artists holds so much meaning. It is significant that the Oakland Museum of California is an East Bay institution and a bastion of social and environmental justice within the museum world. It matters that OMCA houses collections—not only of contemporary art but also of history and science—that are in a unique dialogue with each other,” said Amanda Eicher, Executive Director of NIAD Art Center. “As these works join OMCA's collection, we celebrate the more than three years of collaborative commitment on the part of OMCA's curatorial team. The inclusion of NIAD artists in this acquisition expands the scope of OMCA’s entire collection, and that is exactly what NIAD artists aim to do in the art world at large: make an impact.”

Core to OMCA’s collection stewardship and curation practice is a relationship-first approach with artists. Into the Brightness serves as a monumental example of this: the OMCA exhibition team worked directly with artists and studio staff at Creativity Explored, Creative Growth and NIAD Art Center over regular community convenings and many studio visits to determine how they would all collaborate together on this project and organize the exhibition. These efforts resulted in the largest museum exhibition in over a decade featuring more than 200 artists from the three Bay Area institutions.

Rooted in the idea that making art is a fundamental human practice and form of communication that all people are entitled to, Into the Brightness invites visitors to consider these artists’ perspectives on the world through their powerful work across multiple artistic disciplines including painting, sculpture, film, multimedia, textiles, and more. OMCA’s relationship with the three organizations dates back many years. Past collaborations include multiple years hosting Creative Growth’s annual fundraiser and fashion show, Beyond Trend, and acquisitions of single artworks for OMCA’s permanent collection including Deena Jones , 1996, by William Scott in 2016, and Untitled, 1996, a sculpture by the late artist Judith Scott in 2004. A major acquisition of works from the three studios was identified as an institutional priority in OMCA’s collection plans as early as 2014.

Nineteen artists are represented in the acquisition including Jeremy Burleson mixed media lamp sculptures; Karen May’s drawings on found Artforum pages; John Patrick McKenzie’s monumental scroll - a text-based drawing referencing pop culture and his Filipino identity; Dan Miller’s abstractions of layered numbers and words; Dorian Reid’s ceramic self-portrait as a cat and portrait of her mother, Betty Reid Soskin, as a cat; Lance Rivers’ multi-layered urban skyline; Monica Valentine’s sculptures densely beaded with pins and sequins; Marilyn Wong’s exuberant abstract painting; Ying Ge Zhou’s enigmatic watercolor portraits. “The history of the Bay Area art scene is incomplete without recognition of the work and stories of the artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth, and NIAD Art Center,” said Carin Adams, curator of the exhibition and senior curator of art at OMCA. “Through this acquisition, OMCA will be better equipped to tell a more reflective and nuanced story of California through OMCA’s interdisciplinary approach and the rich perspectives of these existing and emerging artists in our community. It has been a deeply meaningful experience for me and for our team at OMCA to work with these studios and the artists over many years, to get to know their work and their working processes, and then to culminate this project by bringing these exceptional objects into our collection to steward and present long into the future.”

This acquisition is announced during the final weeks of the Into the Brightness exhibition. Visitors are invited to view the show before it closes. Due to popular demand, the exhibition’s run was extended to Sunday, January 28, 2024. The OMCA Garden will be aglow in lights starting Wednesday, January 24 to Sunday, January 28 in celebration of the exhibition’s closing.

Photos and checklists of the acquired artworks can be found here.


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Creative Growth 2023 Year in Review

2023 was an exceptional year for Creative Growth Art Center, with a slew of remarkable achievements and recognition from the press, major institutions, and art fairs. Here is a recap of the Center's standout moments: 


WE HIRED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR!

  • In 2023, Creative Growth appointed Ginger Shulick Porcella to lead the organization as its new Executive Director. Porcella joined Creative Growth from Franconia Sculpture Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Porcella has been selected to further the organization’s vision of bringing art and access to everyone, fostering a culture of care and respect, and amplifying the disability arts community through radical visibility and artistic expression. 

SFMOMA Partnership

  • Creative Growth made headlines in The New York Times with a groundbreaking story highlighting the largest museum acquisition in its history. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) acquired a significant collection of artworks from Creative Growth artists, solidifying the Center's impact on the contemporary art scene on the eve of its 50th Anniversary of 2024. 

Into the Brightness Exhibition at Oakland Museum of California:

  • In collaboration with three profound Bay Area institutions, Into the Brightness: Artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD celebrates myriad works from contemporary artists with developmental disabilities. From painting to sculpture to multimedia, these world-renowned artists are producing work of incredible power, exuberance, humor, complexity, and joy.

    Into the Brightness presents a variety of dynamic perspectives from the artists’ personal experiences of the world. This original, collaborative exhibition is the largest museum exhibition in over a decade featuring artists from the three local organizations –Creativity Explored in San Francisco, Creative Growth in Oakland, and NIAD (Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development) Art Center in Richmond. 

External Exhibitions and Art Fairs

Creative Growth Art Center participated in prestigious exhibitions, art fairs and events around the world including two fine art fairs, three museum acquisitions, six gallery consignments, four outgoing loans, three marketplace events, three Oakland exhibitions, eight artist-led installations, three artist workshops, five first fridays, three Beyond Trend events, three brand collaborations, two artist murals, and one Artist-Curated Exhibition. Key highlights are listed below:

Collaborations and Partnerships

  • Throughout the year, Creative Growth cultivated meaningful partnerships with leading global brands, further establishing itself as a leader in the disability arts movement. 2023 brand partnerships of note included a graphic T-shirt collaboration with Madewell, a limited-edition capsule with Baggu, a sustainably-minded partnership with luxury brand Erica Tanov and an eye-catching collab with New York-based 6397 The News. 


Community Involvement

  • Creative Growth remained deeply committed to its local community, hosting artist talks and workshops, outreach programs, and educational initiatives that empowered individuals of all abilities to tap into their creative potential.


Awards and Recognition

  • Creative Growth Art Center has been selected to participate in the prestigious Art in Embassies program, shining a spotlight on its exceptional contributions to the world of art and inclusivity. Through this partnership, Creative Growth will showcase the unique talents of its artists, emphasizing the power of creativity to transcend boundaries and connect diverse communities. As an ambassador of artistic expression, Creative Growth continues to bridge the gap between disability and artistry, inspiring global audiences and promoting a more inclusive and diverse cultural landscape.


In 2023, Creative Growth Art Center reached new heights, solidifying its position as a global leader in supporting artists with disabilities. With groundbreaking museum acquisitions, successful exhibitions, and participation in prestigious art fairs, the Center continued to redefine the boundaries of contemporary art while fostering inclusivity and diversity in the art world. 2024 marks the center’s 50th anniversary and promises even more remarkable achievements and opportunities for its talented and inspiring artists.


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Creative Growth Art Center Presents 2023 Holiday Show




 Embroidery on canvas artwork by Sherry Stanley

            

Creative Growth Art Center Presents 2023 Holiday Show

 A Gift-Giver's Paradise Celebrating Community, Creativity and Disability Pride

(November 14, 2023) – Creative Growth, a renowned center for artists with disabilities, is excited to announce its much-anticipated Annual Holiday Show. This historic community celebration promises to be a festive extravaganza that brings together art, music, and the spirit of giving.

Creative Growth's Annual Holiday Show is a beloved tradition, known for drawing crowds from across the Bay Area and beyond, with lines often stretching around the block. The event will take place at the Creative Growth Art Center, where the space will be magically transformed into a gift-giver's paradise, featuring a stunning array of one-of-a-kind holiday treasures created by the center's talented artists.

Guests can expect a lively and inclusive atmosphere suitable for all ages. The event will be filled with the joyful sounds of live bands, ensuring a rockin' party for all attendees. The festive decorations will transport visitors into a holiday wonderland, igniting the holiday spirit and warm feelings of togetherness.

What makes this Holiday Show even more special is its mission to support artists with disabilities. Every purchase of a unique holiday gift directly contributes to supporting these artists and allows them to continue their creative journeys. Creative Growth has a long history of fostering artistic expression and providing a platform for artists with disabilities to shine, and this event is a perfect embodiment of that mission.

Key Event Details:

  • Online Sale: Starting November 22nd, 2023 at www.creativegrowth.org

  • In Person Show: Friday, December 1st, 2023 and Saturday, December 2nd, 2023

  • Time:

    • MEMBER PREVIEW:

      • December 1st, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

    • PUBLIC OPENING:

      • December 1st, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

      • December 2nd, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Location: Creative Growth Art Center, 355 24th Street, Oakland, CA 94612

  • Live Bands: Fantasy the Band

  • Admission: Free and open to the public

"We are thrilled to once again host our Annual Holiday Show, a cherished event that celebrates the creativity and resilience of our artists while bringing our community together," said Ginger Shulick Porcella, Executive Director at Creative Growth. "It's a perfect opportunity to find unique and meaningful holiday gifts while supporting a great cause."


Creative Growth invites everyone to join in the festivities and share in the joy of giving. Make this holiday season memorable by attending the Annual Holiday Show and discovering extraordinary gifts that are sure to delight your loved ones.

 
For more information about Creative Growth and the Annual Holiday Show, please visit www.creativegrowth.org or contact ibby@creativegrowth.org.

Accessibility

Mask Policy

Masks are optional but encouraged!

Restrooms

Multiple stall gendered restrooms are on the first floor. To access a single-stall gender-neutral bathroom, please ask a volunteer or staff person. There are no diaper changing stations available. Ask staff for assistance.

Sensory Room

The event will likely be crowded and loud. To access the sensory room (on the second floor accessible by stairs and elevator), please ask a volunteer or staff person.

Language Access

ASL, Mandarin and Spanish interpretation will be provided on Friday, December 1. 

Para apoyo en español, póngase en contacto con Emma: emma@creativegrowth.org.

Contact Information

For questions or comments about accessibility, please contact Emma Peyton: emma@creativegrowth.org

Stay tuned for more updates about accessible Holiday Show experiences.

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Introducing the Creative Growth x Madewell Graphic T Collection

Cool artsy news: Creative Growth has partnered with Madewell on a limited run of graphic tees featuring the work of artists Nicole Storm, Ying Ge Zhou and Gina Damerell. In honor of the collab, Madewell is donating $10,000 to Creative Growth and their goal of advancing the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art by providing a supportive studio environment and gallery representation.

San Francisco, join us tonight 10/26 to meet artist Nicole Storm and learn more about Creative Growth. RSVP via link here.

Can’t make it, shop the collaboration online or in-store all holiday season!

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SFMOMA AND CREATIVE GROWTH ART CENTER ANNOUNCE UNPRECEDENTED PARTNERSHIP IN CELEBRATION OF CREATIVE GROWTH’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 

SFMOMA Additionally Acquires Vibrant Range of Artworks from
Locally Based Organizations Creativity Explored and NIAD

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 23, 2023)—The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and Oakland-based Creative Growth Art Center announced today an unprecedented partnership that honors the emergence of the art and disability movement in the Bay Area and brings to the fore a critical and often overlooked aspect of the region’s artistic richness. Coinciding with Creative Growth’s 50th anniversary, the partnership encompasses the acquisition of more than 100 works created by artists associated with Creative Growth; the development of two exhibitions with Creative Growth artists; and the presentation of a series of events that will be activated over the course of three years. Additionally, SFMOMA will acquire works from Creative Growth’s two Bay Area peer organizations, with 31 objects from San Francisco-based Creativity Explored and 12 from Richmond-based NIAD (Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development). Together, the acquisitions make SFMOMA home to one of the largest collections of art by artists with disabilities, a historic moment of recognition for a group of artists long underrecognized by the art world. 


We are thrilled to embark on this remarkable partnership with SFMOMA that further diversifies the museum’s collection to include more than 100 works by marginalized Bay Area artists," said Tom di Maria, Director Emeritus at Creative Growth Art Center. “This collaboration builds critical bridges between different communities of artists, disability activists, and cultural leaders and viewers, strengthening the artistic landscape of the Bay Area.

SFMOMA's investment marks a historic milestone in the contemporary art world,” said Ginger Shulick Porcella, Executive Director at Creative Growth Art Center. “It has been far too long that art institutions have ignored or underrecognized artists with disabilities. These talented creators can no longer be relegated to the category of 'outsider artists' as they firmly occupy the walls of museums worldwide.


Creative Growth was founded in 1974 by Elias Katz and Florence Ludins-Katz as a pioneering non-profit art center providing a platform for artists with disabilities to express themselves. One of the first U.S. organizations dedicated to supporting artists with disabilities, Creative Growth serves as an international model for the field of art and disability. The organization remains artist-run, serves over 140 artists in its studio weekly, and presents artists’ work in galleries and exhibition venues around the globe. Creativity Explored and NIAD (Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development) were also founded by the Katzes—in 1983 and 1984 respectively—and are similarly devoted to artists with developmental disabilities. The three organizations, with their trailblazing histories and deep connections to decades of practicing artists, are together one of the most distinguishing facets of the Bay Area arts ecology and equally hold international importance.  


“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with a groundbreaking organization like Creative Growth and to establish another lasting relationship with a cultural leader in our community. This partnership celebrates the work of an extraordinary group of artists as well as the visionaries who have championed them for decades, well before the international art world began to take critical notice. We are thrilled to provide an additional platform for the work of these highly talented creators and to bring much deserved visibility to their distinct voices, perspectives and works,” said Christopher Bedford, the Helen and Charles Schwab Director of SFMOMA. “This partnership is part of our ongoing effort to fulfill SFMOMA’s vision to present and collect a more diverse range of artists, expanding our understanding of art history and the narratives and artists that have shaped it. It is one important step of many in the museum’s overdue commitment to prioritize accessibility and artists with disabilities.”


EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

In Spring 2024, SFMOMA will open an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Creative Growth and featuring a selection from the 114 works by 10 Creative Growth artists acquired by the museum this fall. Among the artists are Joseph Alef, Camille Holvoet, Susan Janow, Dwight Mackintosh, John Martin, Dan Miller, Donald Mitchell, Judith Scott, William Scott and Ron Veasey. The exhibition will also include gifts and promised gifts, as well as a selection of archival materials. Together, the works date from 1980 to 2022, and range in media from acrylic and oil pastel to video, ceramic, drawings and papier-mâché. 


The exhibition program will also include a commission by Creative Growth artist William Scott, as part of SFMOMA’s ongoing Bay Area Walls series. Well-known for his paintings and drawings of detailed cityscapes that express faith and hope in San Francisco, as well as portraits of family members, public figures and fantasy people, Scott will create a mural at the entryway to SFMOMA’s second floor galleries, located within SFMOMA’s free art-filled public space.  

SFMOMA will also host a series of events with Creative Growth, including the 5th annual Creative Growth Creating Community symposium. Several talks for the symposium will be jointly organized by Creative Growth and SFMOMA; talks will be hosted both at SFMOMA and in Oakland in Spring 2024. The museum will additionally host Creative Growth’s extraordinary Beyond Trend Gala, marking the organization’s milestone anniversary. The gala is slated to include the annual must-see showcase that features original designs created and modeled by Creative Growth artists. 


CREATIVE GROWTH ACQUISITIONS
SFMOMA’s acquisition of 114 works from Creative Growth includes objects by 10 artists long associated with the organization:

  • Joseph Alef (b. 1981, Berkeley, California), who has practiced at Creative Growth 2001–2008 and 2013 to the present, creates layered, organic abstract paintings filled with bright colors, graphic lines and an expressive vocabulary of mark making.  

  • Before moving to Creativity Explored in 2001, Camille Holvoet (b. 1952, San Francisco) practiced at Creative Growth from 1988 to 2001. While her current work focuses on cakes, Ferris wheels and other favorite motifs of pleasure, the imagery from her time at Creative Growth is autobiographical, with a distinct narrative impulse emphasized by descriptive titles such as “feeling asleep when i obsessing.”  

  • A Creative Growth artist since 2003, Susan Janow (b. 1980, San Francisco, California) creates work across a range of media, including drawing, ceramics and video. Her methodical and meditative drawings begin with an open grid that she meticulously fills in with graphic lines and bright colors that create patterns and forms with an expressive linear rhythm. Her best-known work, Questions (2018), is a 10-minute single-channel video that shifts between standard interview-like questions and personal inquiries.  

  • Dwight Mackintosh (b. Hayward, California, 1906–1999) was 72 years old when he began working at Creative Growth after a lifetime of living in institutions. During his 20 years at the organization, he developed a remarkable visual language to depict favored imagery: self-portraits, buses and rows of figures. Mackintosh also explores text as abstracted imagery, turning letters into flowing graphic elements that tumble across the composition.  

  • John Martin (b. 1963, Marks, Mississippi) has practiced at the organization since 1986. Using vividly colored drawings, ceramics and woodwork, Martin combines memories of his childhood on a farm in Mississippi with his present life in Oakland. 

  • Featured in the 2017 Venice Biennale, Dan Miller (b. 1961, Castro Valley, California) is one of Creative Growth’s most widely known artists. A Creative Growth artist since 1992, Miller works ambidextrously, using both hands to create densely layered paintings and works on paper. Dan has a rich practice of paintings and drawings that feature thick clouds of words, numbers, lines, symbols and colors aggregated into a central mass.

  • Donald Mitchell (b. 1951, San Francisco, California) explores the motif of the figure in his drawings, which the artist depicts as thick, square bodies that are often thronged into a dense crowd. A Creative Growth artist since 1986, Mitchell deftly alternates between color and black-and-white in his work.  

  • Judith Scott (b. 1943, Columbus, Ohio; died 2005, Dutch Flat, California) is an internationally known Creative Growth artist. Her work was featured in a retrospective organized by the Brooklyn Museum in 2014 and she was included in the 2017 Venice Biennale. Scott started working at Creative Growth when she was 43 years old and created art there for the next 18 years, until her death in 2005. Her intricate, layered sculptures use yarn, twine and strips of fabric to wrap and knot around an array of mundane everyday objects.  

  • William Scott (b. 1964, San Francisco, California) has worked at Creative Growth for over 30 years and his work is already held in SFMOMA’s collection. Working across painting, drawing and sculpture, Scott is known for poignant portraits of family members, musicians, actors and politicians.  

  • Ron Veasey (b. 1957, Las Vegas, Nevada) has been a Creative Growth artist for over 40 years. He develops brilliantly colored portraits that are sourced from magazines and books on photography. He distills his reference materials into images of people with strong outlines, bold colors and geometric patterns.  

CREATIVITY EXPLORED + NIAD (Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development) ACQUISITIONS 

SFMOMA also acquired an outstanding slate of works from San Francisco-based Creativity Explored and Richmond-based NIAD (Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development). 


“Creativity Explored, NIAD and Creative Growth were dreamed into existence by our visionary founders, Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz. Their innate understanding of the value that disabled artists bring has meant better lives for people with disabilities worldwide, and a richer, realer art world for everyone. This historic acquisition by SFMOMA recognizes the historic significance of the Katzes' dream and underscores the museum's commitment to a more inclusive arts landscape,” said Linda Johnson, Executive Director of Creativity Explored.

“NIAD is thrilled to play a part in SFMOMA's strategy to diversify its collection and widen inclusion within its walls. It has been an honor to work with the curatorial and acquisitions teams, and their work, commitment and consideration have been evident throughout the process,” said Amanda Eicher, Executive Director of NIAD. “Collaboration and partnership are at the heart of NIAD's work. Many NIAD artists would echo the sentiment that inclusion in one of the most significant collections of modern art worldwide is incredibly meaningful to their work and its visibility. Artists practicing in our studios are passionate about their leadership roles in the art world, and this acquisition reflects yet another way in which NIAD artists are redefining contemporary art.”


Among the 31 acquisitions from Creativity Explored are works by Mary Belknap (b. 1944, San Francisco, California), Peter Cordova (b. 1966, Philippines), Daniel Green (b. 1985, San Francisco), Walter Kresnik (b. 1957, Ontario, Canada), John Patrick McKenzie (b. 1962, Philippines), Bertha Otoya (b. 1979, Peru) and Evelyn Reyes (b. 1957, San Francisco, California). 


The selection of acquisitions from NIAD includes 12 works by Julio del Rio (b. 1988, El Tepehuaje, Michoacan, Mexico), Karen May (b. 1950, Fresno, California), Marlon Mullen (b. 1963, Richmond, California) and Arstanda Billy White (b. 1962, Richmond, California).


This significant acquisition of over 150 works from Creative Growth, Creativity Explored and NIAD will join several objects already in the museum’s collection by artists associated with each of these organizations: Judith Scott (Creative Growth), William Scott (Creative Growth), Alice Wong (Creative Growth), Marlon Mullen (NIAD) and Dan Michiels (Creativity Explored), as well as several promised gifts from supporters in the community. 


SFMOMA plans to feature a diverse range of these acquired works in galleries throughout the museum over time, bringing the artists and their voices into active artistic and institutional dialogues with other artists in the collection.


San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

151 Third Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. Our remarkable collection of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design and media arts is housed in a LEED Gold-certified building designed by the global architects Snøhetta and Mario Botta. In addition to our seven gallery floors, SFMOMA now offers more than 62,000 square feet of free art-filled public space open to all.

Visit sfmoma.org or call 415.357.4000 for more information.

** Follow us on X for updates and announcements: @SFMOMA_Press


About Creative Growth
Creative Growth is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California that advances the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art and strengthens community by providing a supportive studio environment and gallery representation. Founded in 1974, Creative Growth is a leader in the field of arts and disabilities, establishing a model for a creative community guided by the principle that art is fundamental to human expression and that all people are entitled to its tools of communication. 


About Creativity Explored

Creativity Explored was founded in 1983 in a Mission District garage by two visionaries of the art and disabilities movement, Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz— and has since grown to support 140 artists in San Francisco, including some who have worked at the studio for all 40 years. Creativity Explored has been an enduring community cornerstone, facilitating the careers of hundreds of disabled artists who have seen their work exhibited in museums, galleries, high-end luxury properties, affordable housing projects, art products, and art fairs in over 14 countries. San Francisco's artistic community is deeply intertwined with and influenced by Creativity Explored, with many professional artists participating at some point in their careers as staff, volunteers, and collaborators. 


NIAD

Now in its 41st year, NIAD Art Center is a progressive art studio that promotes creative expression, independence, inclusion, and community integration for adult artists with disabilities. NIAD facilitates both a Virtual and a Richmond, California-based studio and exhibition space, programmed by and with NIAD artists. 

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Media Contacts

Clara Hatcher Baruth, chatcher@sfmoma.org, 415.357.4177 

Ibby Sasso, ibby@creativegrowth.org, 415.652.8821

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