CREATIVE GROWTH TURNS 50!
Welcome to the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Creative Growth Art Center, a milestone that marks 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. This year, we're commemorating our journey with special events, an unprecedented exhibition in partnership with SFMOMA, and stories of inspiration that have defined our legacy. Stay tuned as we share updates and highlights throughout the year, celebrating the spirit of creativity that has been the cornerstone of our mission for five decades.
FEATURED CREATIVE GROWTH GALLERY EXHIBITION
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 April 6th, 2024.
Born in 1963 in Marks, Mississippi, John Martin now resides in Oakland and works at the Creative Growth Art Center. His diverse art, spanning drawings, ceramics, and woodwork, seamlessly weaves together memories from his family farm in Mississippi and his present urban life in Oakland.
Martin's artistic journey, which began in 1987 at Creative Growth, prominently features images such as trucks, snakes, pocket knives, cell phones and various found objects. These items, integral to his work, have evolved over the years. His art not only captures the essence of these objects but also explores their practicality in imaginative ways, creating extraordinary animal combinations, oversized Leatherman tools, and mysterious text.
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024 - APRIL 6TH, 2024
GALLERY HOURS: WED - SAT, 10-4PM
CAN’T MAKE THE SHOW IN-PERSON? SHOP A CURATED SELECTION OF JOHN MARTIN WORKS HERE.
UPCOMING MUSEUM EXHIBITION
SFMOMA Additionally Acquires Vibrant Range of Artworks from Locally Based Organizations Creativity Explored and NIAD
image description: William Scott, 2005, ink on paper
Footage of Creative Growth, Creativity Explored and NIAD artists at work in their respective studios courtesy of OMCA



