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Creativity Explored

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Creativity Explored

Creativity Explored is a studio-based collective in San Francisco that partners with developmentally Art changes lives!

Creativity Explored was founded on a belief that art is essential to life. We exist to provide developmentally disabled people access to the human right of creative expression. Creativity Explored was founded in San Francisco in 1983 by Florence and Elias Katz, an artist and a psychologist. Sparked by the nationwide deinstitutionalization of disabled people, the duo launched a movement that expanded defined notions of artistry when they founded three Bay Area organizations – Creativity Explored, Creative Growth, and NIAD (Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development). Our organizations honor the Katzs’ legacy in the Bay Area by continuing to collaborate, co-curate exhibitions, and share resources. Together our programs serve as a model for the field of art and disability worldwide. Creativity Explored now serves 130 artists and has facilitated the careers of hundreds of disabled artists. Creativity Explored artists have seen their work exhibited in museums, galleries, and art fairs in over 14 countries and have earned over $2 million from their art. Our life-changing programs continue to open doors of inclusion to center the personhood and creative vision of people with developmental disabilities. Most importantly, Creativity Explored is a source of community, empowerment and dignity. At Creativity Explored, we believe in a future society with an enlightened understanding of its relationship with neurodiverse people—one that has evolved from one-way support to mutually-enriching growth. We see a society strengthened by an authentic appreciation of all people’s creative contributions. In times of great transition, we continue to center the personhood and agency of our artists in all our efforts, asking, “What is important to you?” We will continue to innovate to provide safe and virtual services that enrich the lives of our artists, their families and supporters, on their terms. Our dedicated staff, board, and volunteers are also expanding our commitment to racial justice and disability advocacy by amplifying the voices of studio artists of color and artists who are immigrants. We are proud to create space for our artists and staff to learn about and honor diversity by examining and celebrating the intersections of disability, race, ethnicity, class, gender, and other facets of our identities.

11/17/2025

We lost one of our heroes over the weekend, the inspiring and relentless disability activist Alice Wong.

She shared a powerful final statement on her social media: "As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin."

Many of the artists in the studios at Creativity Explored have shared Wong's journey, and we're proud to do the work to provide them with a safe, welcoming space where they can express themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin.

At this precarious time when safety, benefits, and support for people with disabilities are in danger, it's more important than ever to advocate for those in need. Organizations like ours and the Disability Visibility Project (), the organization Alice Wong founded, need your help to make sure this work continues!

11/11/2025

❄️🎁 It's time for one of our favorite events of the year!

In just a few weeks, we're excited to bring back the Holiday Art Shop! We'll be featuring hundreds of one-of-a-kind artworks and unique products, plus drinks, music, and community. Your presence (and purchases) will directly support our community of artists with disabilities. Contribute to a great cause AND find thoughtful holiday gifts for everyone you love in one go!

Our Holiday Art Shop Opening Party will be full of festive fun — hundreds of artworks, artful gifts, and fashionable patches made by CE artists, with a live sewing station run by Teaching Artist Alex Hernandez!

Holiday Art Shop Opening Party
Friday, December 5
5:00–8:00 pm
CE Gallery, 3245 16th Street, SF

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-art-shop-2025-opening-party-tickets-1964592531146

Image: Jesus Huezo Cardenas, Abominable Snowman, 2015, ink and acrylic on paper, 15.75 x 22.5 inches

11/06/2025

⏰ Last chance! ⏰

"Places for People," our current exhibition of work by CE artists curated by , closes this Saturday!

This group exhibition offers multiple and varying expressions of our right to the city. Whether recasting familiar guideposts and landmarks, expressing political activism and protest, or showcasing the diverse groups of people that call San Francisco their home, these artists provide unique vantage points from which to reconsider our shared environment, and demonstrate the creative promise that the city continues to offer.⁠
⁠
CE artists on view include Antonio Benjamin, Ming Choi, Liam Garsin, Ricardo Gomez, Loren King, Grayson Kop, Andrew Li, Delia Liu, Gabriel Maduena, Yolanda Ramirez, Roland Record, Irene Rivas, Lance Rivers, Armando Sanchez, Enkh-Amar Shagdarguntev, Charles Stanberry, Kate Thompson, Rosemary Tufo, and Michael Washington.

Creativity Explored Gallery
3245 16th Street, SF⁠

Thursdays: 3:00–6:00 pm⁠
Fridays: 3:00–6:00 pm ⁠
Saturdays: 12:00–5:00 pm

11/03/2025

✨ ¡Vive la Magia! ✨

This week, join us for the opening of "Cuentos en Colores," a special exhibition at Adobe Books () curated by Erik Barrios-Recendez () featuring the vibrant work of CE artists Jesús Huezo Cárdenas, Isaías Gómez, Ricardo Gómez, Maribel Guzmán, Gabriel Maduena, Nubia Ortega, Irene Rivas, and Selene Pérez.

Location: Adobe Books, 3130 24th St., San Francisco,
Exhibition Dates: November 6 – December 7, 2025
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 6, 5–7 PM
Gallery Hours: Daily, 12–7 PM

RSVP to the opening here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cuentos-en-colores-tickets-1956077974879?aff=oddtdtcreator

Through the works of CE artists, "Cuentos en Colores" foregrounds voices too often excluded from cultural conversations. The exhibition celebrates the many ways Latine identity can be expressed — boldly affirming that no single definition can contain its fullness.

This show marks a special collaboration between CE and one of the Mission’s most beloved community spaces, Adobe Books. We'd love to see you all at the opening this Thursday to celebrate with us!

Image: Jesus Huezo Cardenas, Untitled, 2025, marker and watercolor on paper. 18 x 14.25 in.

10/31/2025

👻💀😱 Happy Halloween from CE's Youth Artists!

Halloween is a time when imagination runs freely. Festive costumes, lively celebrations, and maybe a sugar rush to garner inspiration. At CE, we go all in for Halloween, as we host a series of parties for our youth and adults filled with dancing, festive snacks, and the joy of make-believe.

For teens like Ryland, spaces like Creativity Explored are vital to their development. When Ryland first came to CE for Camp Imaginate, his family had struggled to find a space for teens that suited his passions and met his individualized care needs.

By the end of Camp Imaginate, Ryland had totally “come out of his shell,” said his mom, Kimberly Draper. “He was super excited to know that the camp he was in over the summer was starting up again in the school year. He was excited to see the same teachers,” she continued.

For a population too often relegated to the margins, CE meets each artist where they are with a paint palette and brushes in hand. Our work expands access to the arts for young people — and makes our community more inclusive for every single one of us.

You can support CE's work with neurodivergent youth artists by making a donation: https://creativityexplored.networkforgood.com/projects/260331-creativity-explored-s-end-of-year-fundraiser

10/31/2025

💀🎶 If you're going to the for this weekend's Día de los Mu***os concert or anytime in the next couple weeks, be sure to check out their installation of local art, including the altar made by CE artists! Our crew had a lot of fun putting it together, and seeing it along with the other installations is really special!

On view inside Davies Symphony Hall through November 12!

10/22/2025

Creativity Explored's Youth Programs offer teens like Ryland Draper the space to build autonomy and explore their creative freedom. Our team has designed a program where youth have the opportunity to expand their networks in a safe, caring environment.

Ryland's family describe CE's youth programs like Imaginate Teen and Camp Imaginate as deeply meaningful and important to his development into young adulthood, much like his travel to Latin America earlier this year (pictured here!)

Ryland's mother Kimberly told us, “he really connected with the folks [at CE] and enjoyed being around his peers. Everything he does helps him become more independent — [CE] is a nurturing environment that made him feel safe enough to come out of his shell.”

You can help more young artists with disabilities expand their horizons and reach their potential by making a donation to Creativity Explored this giving season. Give now and make a difference today!

https://creativityexplored.networkforgood.com/projects/260331-creativity-explored-s-end-of-year-fundraiser

10/20/2025

We're hiring! Join the team at Creativity Explored and be a part of a thriving nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists with disabilities. Check out the open positions and submit applications on our Careers page: https://www.creativityexplored.org/careers

CE’s Human Resources Manager will oversee HR practices at CE, supporting the employee experience, including maintaining a positive staff culture and strong DEI initiatives in a unionized environment. They will sustain the success of CE’s long-tenured and passionate staff, and deepen engagement with CE’s staff philosophy, with the ultimate goal of excellent person-centered service for the disabled artists CE serves.

The Substitute Teaching Artist supports developmentally disabled artists, both youth and adults, as they develop an arts practice. Ideally the candidate will be a practicing artist who has experience teaching, with the ability to facilitate growth for artists with diverse needs and practices. They need to be skilled in developing relationships with artists, as well as CE staff.

CE’s Gallery Associate, On Call, will focus on customer service and support direct art sales during onsite and offsite exhibitions, pop-ups, and other events. The Gallery Associate, On Call, will maintain a safe/clean sales space and complete other assigned tasks related to our gallery and external sales. The position is on-call, with variable hours up to 10 hours a month, scheduled between Thursday–Sunday, with the possibility of additional hours during busier seasons.

10/17/2025

👀 Now on view 👀

Just a few weeks left to catch the latest exhibition at the CE gallery! While the styles in these artworks could hardly be more different, they all share one thing: they were expertly framed by our beloved framing partner ! Their generous support allows us to present these artworks with high-level, museum-quality exhibition standards, which is the treatment they deserve!

Our current show "Places for People" offers multiple and varying expressions of our right to the city. Whether recasting familiar guideposts and landmarks, expressing political activism and protest, or showcasing the diverse groups of people that call San Francisco their home, these artists provide unique vantage points from which to reconsider our shared environment, and demonstrate the creative promise that the city continues to offer.

This group exhibition includes the work of Andrew Li, Antonio Benjamin, Armando Sanchez, Charles Stanberry, Delia Liu, Enkh-Amar Shagdarguntev, Gabriel Maduena, Grayson Kop, Irene Rivas, Kate Thompson, Lance Rivers, Liam Garsin, Loren King, Michael Washington, Ming Choi, Ricardo Gomez, Roland Record, Rosemary Tufo, and Yolanda Ramirez. Curated by Tausif Noor.

Come visit:
3245 16th Street, SF

Gallery hours:
Thursdays: 3:00–6:00 pm
Fridays: 3:00–6:00 pm
Saturdays: 12:00–5:00 pm

10/16/2025

💪 We stand with & at this critical time for disability rights! We can't stand by while the young people we serve lose the crucial support they need.

The administration has gutted the federal office that protects the rights of students with disabilities in schools. Without people in place to enforce the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states could ignore their responsibilities to students with disabilities, putting millions of students at risk of losing vital services and supports.

We can’t let this happen. Tell Congress to protect the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: https://action.thearc.org/BPzcfsy?p2asource=ig-2025-1013-comment

10/15/2025

Your Gift Provides Safety for Youth Like Ryland - https://mailchi.mp/creativityexplored/eoy25-rylanddraper-101525

10/13/2025

📺 🎬 Breaking news: CE is awesome!

We're thrilled that our organization was featured on KTVU News last night — our artists had a chance to articulate what makes the studio such a special place, and we got to share a bit about how we do what we do. Big thanks to reporter Andre Torrez for taking an interest in CE!

You can watch the segment here: https://www.ktvu.com/news/san-francisco-creativity-explored-artists

Address

3245 16th Street
San Francisco, CA
94103

Opening Hours

Friday	3pm - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 2pm

Telephone

+14158632108

Website

http://www.creativityexplored.org/

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