San José Museum of Art

See what you think.

Welcome from the Director

  • A black and white photograph of an Asian woman with bangs looks at the camera with a slight smile. She is outdoors and surrounded by plants.

    Patty Chang. Photo by Amy Sadao.

  • A photograph of a white man with arms folded and wearing white glasses. He looks directly at the camera and stands against a grey background.

    David Kelley. Photo by Veronika Sidorova.

  • A black and white close up portrait of a Black man who looks directly at the camera. His lips are closed and his hair is braided.

    Kambui Olujimi. Photo by Anthony Alvarez.

     

    Experimentation, innovation, transformation, metamorphosis—all are key concepts in Silicon Valley’s tech industry and beyond. And this fall, we can also see these ideas explored and interrogated by the artists on view at San José Museum of Art.

    We launched the exhibition Calder: at home, among friends in September to kick off the fall season along with a companion exhibition featuring four artists who won the Calder Prize. This award ‘honors a contemporary artist whose innovative work reflects the continued legacy of Calder’s genius.’ We are thrilled to present works by groundbreaking artists Tara Donovan, Jill Magid, Tomás Saraceno, and Aki Sasamoto.

    Experimentation continues with the November opening of Beta Space: Patty Chang and David Kelley, continuing SJMA’s long-standing series which invites artists to take a risk, explore a new idea, and connect to innovation and community. Focused on climate and the deep-sea mining industry, the artists are building a work of art with San José State University students. This work will probe themes from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in collaboration with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 

    Kambui Olujimi: North Star takes us to a universe without gravity in a new audiovisual installation along with a site-specific mural and paintings in the Central Skylight Gallery.   

    Explore the concept of weightlessness and the politics of the deep sea when you join us for the Member Reception for both exhibitions on Friday, November 1, 6–7pm, with remarks at 7pm. The artists will be present and eager to share their thoughts and processes with you.

    Artists are insightful observers who measure and probe singular ideas in their research, often in the hope of making change.  We are proud to present the artists in Seeing through Stone, exploring the concept of Visualizing Abolition, on view through January 5, 2025. As a recent visitor comment card stated:  

    "Seeing Through Stone was one of the best exhibits I've been to. While the San José Museum is small, it is most certainly mighty. Each trip here is a new experience. If you don't make it here, you're missing one of the greatest gems of art."

    S. Sayre Batton
    Oshman Executive Director