Creative Growth
AT 50
Welcome to the Creative Growth Art Center as we reflect on our 50th Anniversary in 2024 and look forward with excitement to the next 50 years. This milestone marked half a century of fostering artistic expression, inclusivity, and community. Since our inception, we’ve been at the forefront of empowering artists with disabilities, providing a nurturing and joy-filled space for creativity to flourish. In 2024, we commemorated our journey with special events, an unprecedented exhibition in partnership with SFMOMA, and stories of inspiration that defined our legacy. Stay tuned as we continue to share updates, celebrate creativity, and build on the undeniable voice of art that has defined our mission for more than 50 years.
CURRENT EXHIBITION
FIRED UP
A CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS SURVEY
ON VIEW FROM July 25th, 2025 THROUGH SEptember 5th, 2025
Fired Up showcases ceramic works—both recent and historic—by artists from Creative Growth’s vibrant studio program. From bold forms to unexpected textures, the exhibition celebrates the playful, expressive, and endlessly experimental nature of clay. Ceramics has long been a cornerstone at Creative Growth, and Fired Up highlights the energy and imagination that continue to shape this dynamic practice.
Exhibition run has been extended to September 5th
MEMBER PREVIEW: Fri., July 25th, 5-6 PM
PUBLIC OPENING: Fri., July 25th, 6-8 PM
DESCRIPTIVE & TACTILE TOUR: Saturday, August 9, 2-3 PM
This tour is primarily for Blind and low vision visitors.
Contact emma@creativegrowth.org for questions or to RSVP.
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.
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