about works for detailed information (pdf download)
Works is your nonprofit, all-volunteer, community art and performance center.
Location and Contact:
Works/San José
38 South 2nd Street, San José, CA 95113
Email: gallery@workssanjose.org
Voicemail only (no physical phone): 408.300.6405
Gallery Hours (only open during exhibitions):
Fridays 12–6 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 12–4 pm
Follow Works:
for event updates, like and follow Works on Facebook: facebook.com/workssanjose
join and post on our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/49741841733/
follow Works and tag photos #workssanjose on Instagram: instagram.com/workssanjose
follow Works and tweet with #workssanjose on Twitter: twitter.com/workssanjose
Founded in 1977 by local artists, Works/San José is an all-volunteer, non-profit, alternative art and performance center dedicated to providing a venue for artists, ideas, and images that expand the scope of cultural and artistic experience.
Mission statement: Works/San José believes that thriving communities support artistic experimentation. Therefore, we serve as the South Bay community’s creative laboratory where people can experiment, exhibit and engage with art and with each other. We achieve our mission by providing an accessible, supportive and welcoming art center.
exhibiting at Works:
Most exhibitions at Works are presented through our “guest curator” program described below. Works also hosts occasional open call exhibitions (usually once a year) and an annual member exhibition that are non-juried. Join Works’ e-list and follow Works on Facebook and Instagram for notices of these and other opportunities.
guest curator/gallery exhibitions:
Works hosts conceptual group exhibitions who seek to relate to community through human, societal, or artistic concerns. This program is responsible for most of Works’ programming, and allows us to present a broad variety of viewpoints and creative statements. Applications to this program must include at least three artists brought together in a strong conceptual framework. We encourage prospective applicants to discuss concepts in advance of submission with Board of Directors members, and to visit and see documentation of curated exhibitions (as opposed to member and open call exhibits). Download the criteria and application instructions here:
works_exhibit_criteria
works exhibit application
floor plan of Works’ main gallery space
Individuals and groups are encouraged to talk with us at any time about proposing a group exhibit, but our next application deadline is November 1, 2025.
other programs:
works presents the studio hall gallery: Works has begun to program the common hallway space at Open San José adjacent to Works’ main gallery space. We are developing criteria and looking to install track lighting in this space as soon as practical.
performance and music: since its inception, Works/San José has been the performance art venue in the south bay presenting an eclectic array of artists. This program includes monthly Well-RED readings presented with Poetry Center San José (pcsj.org), and quarterly Flash Fiction Forum (flashfictionforum.com). Contact Works about presenting performance art, music, film, spoken word, etc.
artist development: Works provides educational professional development opportunities for artists at every level of career development, including workshops, lectures, and creative events. The exhibition programs at Works/San José are unique professional development opportunities in which artists/curators are assisted and/or mentored through the production of their exhibition.
Works/San José board of directors:
Joe Miller, president
Amy Street, vice president, treasurer
Wendy Lowengrub, secretary
Lauren Crittenden
Danny Feliz Hanson
Susan Harding
Clayton Moraga
Steven Rubalcaba
Maggie So
Nona Weiner
Works’ board is a “working board” meaning that the directors are the functional staff of the organization. Along with other volunteers, they run exhibitions and events, recruit participants, write grants, fundraise, patch and paint walls, etc. Contact us if you have interest in fostering community art exhibits and events.
our funders
Works is supported by individual members and donors, and is funded in part by:
City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, by SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara, by Applied Materials Foundation, and a significant bequest from the Ray Ashley Trust.
Chopsticks Alley Art – https://www.chopsticksalleyart.org/ at the same location as Works
1 Culture Gallery – https://1culturegallery.com one block away
San Jose Museum of Art – http://www.sjmusart.org/ two blocks away
Anno Domini – http://www.galleryad.com/ three blocks away
Kaleid – https://www.kaleidgallery.com/ three blocks away
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/ five blocks away
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art – http://www.sjica.org/ five blocks away
MACLA – http://www.maclaarte.org/ five blocks away
Empire Seven Studios – https://www.empiresevenstudios.com/ Japantown
Know Future Gallery – https://www.knowfuturegallery.org/ Japantown
Triton Museum of Art – http://www.tritonmuseum.org/ Santa Clara
New Museum of Los Gatos – https://www.numulosgatos.org/
downtown San José First Friday art walks – https://www.southfirstfridays.com
University Museums/Galleries
Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery (SJSU) – https://www.sjsu.edu/art/places/thompsongallery/
SJSU student galleries – https://www.sjsu.edu/art/resources/student-galleries.php
de Saisset Museum (Santa Clara University) – http://www.scu.edu/desaisset/
SCU Department of Art gallery – https://www.scu.edu/cas/art/gallery-exhibitions/
Cantor Center for the Visual Arts (Stanford) – http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva
Cabrillo gallery (Cabrilllo College) – http://www.cabrillo.cc.ca.us/divisions/vapa/artgellery/
Euphrat Museum (De Anza College) – http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/euphrat