Galleries & Exhibits

From Downtown to Jingletown and even inside OAK airport, Oakland is home to well over 50 art galleries. No matter your aesthetic preference we have a gallery to fit your taste. Thousands of artists proudly display their work at these local gems so grab a map, hit the streets, and find some inspiration!

Betti Ono Gallery: Betti Ono is an experimentally minded space for art + culture + community headquartered in Oakland, California. The gallery is 100% Black women led and operated, dedicated to amplifying the work and voices of under-represented artists. Their vision and creative practice embodies the bold, curious and unapologetic spirit of our name-sakes Betti Mabry Davis and Yoko Ono. We value art making as a form and function of activism, self-determination, community transformation and cultural resilience. Learn about their current exhibit "My Art, My Culture III" on their website. 

Creative Growth: Creative Growth Art Center is a non-profit that serves artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, providing a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition and representation and a social atmosphere among peers. These artists have been internationally featured as well and seven in-house exhibits are featured annually at the Lake Merritt location.  

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Art Exhibit: EBMUD hosts regular art exhibitions in the gallery on the 2nd floor of its Oakland administrative building. Exhibits are open and free to the public. They feature seven shows a year, four in partnership with EBMUD’s affinity groups celebrating Black History Month, Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Pride Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Gray Loft Gallery: Winner of the "best art gallery" in Oakland Magazine's readers poll for 2016 and 2017, Gray Loft Gallery is located in Jingletown and focuses on creating a relaxed and beautiful space. The gallery is part of the SF Art Dealers Association and is currently featuring the exhibit Magnificent.

Jingletown Art Studios: This artist co-op workspace is open to the public on 2nd Fridays from 6pm to 9pm as well as by appointment. The building houses (inside and out) the mosaics from the past artist tenants, students and renowned instructors from around the globe. The Enchanted Garden is a lush outdoor garden featuring many wonderful wall mosaics and sculptures.

Joyce Gordon Gallery: Joyce Gordon has been bringing fine arts to the black arts district for over a decade. They exhibit art that reflects the social and cultural diversity of the Bay Area and international artists. The aim of the gallery is to respect the creative pursuits of the individual and seeks to make such work accessible to a broad audience. Please check their website for a list of upcoming exhibits.

The New East Bay Open Studios: The Annual East Bay Open Studios Event has been an ongoing tradition in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years. The art-loving, art-buying public enjoys one-on-one interactions with the artists and artisans and have the opportunity to learn about what inspires the artists, connect with the artists one-on-one and purchase art directly from the artists. Artist venues can range from gallery settings, art studios, home studios, outdoor venues and other alternative exhibition spaces

OMCA: The Oakland Museum of California’s mission is, “…to inspire all Californians to create a more vibrant future for themselves and their communities.” OMCA nurtures its deep ties to the community by offering many educational, outreach programs, as well as in their galleries and exhibits. After some exploring you’ll find displays that touch on a variety of topics relevant to Oakland’s culture and history.  OMCA will be hosting a special exhibit during Art Month, RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom. Discover the unexpected story of how Hip-Hop changed the world, starting from its roots on the streets, before rap, DJing, street art, breakdancing, and street fashion launched into mainstream popular culture. Learn about the West Coast’s and San Francisco Bay Area’s influences on this global phenomenon. 

Pro Arts: Pro Arts is an Oakland-based organization that champions new art practices and emerging forms of cultural production through an institutional platform which fosters collaboration and the cross-pollination of ideas. Pro Arts shows contemporary art in all its forms. Annually they present over 200 artists, working in diverse artistic fields, conduct over 700 art education programs for youth, and reach an audience of over 10,000. Pro Arts is the home of the New Great Wall of Oakland and make sure you check out their calendar for upcoming events during the month.

SLATE Art: SLATE Art is a boutique creative firm. They exhibit and sell the work of their favorite artists armed with an in-depth knowledge of contemporary art, as well as an interest in curating, architecture, and interior design. The Uptown Oakland gallery, called SLATE contemporary, delivers six themed exhibitions per year. Gallery exhibitions are open Thursday–Saturday 12–5, and by appointment. The gallery is also open until 9pm on the first Friday of every month for the popular Oakland Art Murmur art walk.