Creative Growth Art Center

Creative Growth Art Center The house that art built! Since 1974, we’ve been fueling the creative sparks of artists with disabilities. Ready to be inspired?

Our Oakland-based nonprofit isn’t just a gallery—it’s a movement, a community, and a celebration of creativity.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make Beyond Trend 2026 such an extraordinary success.To our artists, famili...
06/12/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make Beyond Trend 2026 such an extraordinary success.

To our artists, families, caregivers, staff, volunteers, sponsors, donors, hosts, and community supporters—thank you for your creativity, generosity, enthusiasm, and belief in Creative Growth.

Beyond Trend is about more than fashion. It’s a celebration of self-expression, artistic freedom, and radical self-love. As Creative Growth artists like to say, “Fashion is the sunshine that spotlights everyone.”

On Saturday night, that sunshine was everywhere.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our artists and support the creative lives and careers they deserve. ✨



Photos by Sean Santos

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make Beyond Trend 2026 such an extraordinary success.To our artists, famili...
06/12/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make Beyond Trend 2026 such an extraordinary success.

To our artists, families, caregivers, staff, volunteers, sponsors, donors, hosts, and community supporters—thank you for your creativity, generosity, enthusiasm, and belief in Creative Growth.

Beyond Trend is about more than fashion. It’s a celebration of self-expression, artistic freedom, and radical self-love. As Creative Growth artists like to say, “Fashion is the sunshine that spotlights everyone.”

On Saturday night, that sunshine was everywhere.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our artists and support the creative lives and careers they deserve. ✨


Photography by Sean Santos

THANK YOU ALL FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE, EXCEPTIONAL, AND AMAZING BEYOND TREND 2026 🌟 of the SF Chronicle just shared a beaut...
06/02/2026

THANK YOU ALL FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE, EXCEPTIONAL, AND AMAZING BEYOND TREND 2026 🌟

of the SF Chronicle just shared a beautiful recap of the event. Yup! indeed was in the audience and there to celebrate with us.

Stay tuned. We’ll be sharing more about the event, the people, fashion, and highlights in the coming weeks.

WATCH BEYOND TREND LIVE! We’re streaming the runway show live at 5pm PST for everyone to tune in from wherever they are ...
05/30/2026

WATCH BEYOND TREND LIVE!

We’re streaming the runway show live at 5pm PST for everyone to tune in from wherever they are in the world. Please find the link via our Instagram bio. We suggest a donation of $35 to help support our fundraiser.

We can’t wait to share all this joy and fabulous fashion with all of you 💖

Beyond Trend is stacked with a rockstar lineup ✨In addition to our 100+ Creative Growth artist runway show, you’ll be se...
05/28/2026

Beyond Trend is stacked with a rockstar lineup ✨

In addition to our 100+ Creative Growth artist runway show, you’ll be seeing guest performances from our talented friends , , , ,

The evening opens beneath a canopy of plants and immersive live soundscapes by Oakland native FELA KUTCHii. During the runway show, beloved Oaklash’s Sally Limón and Iman will make a guest appearance.

For VIP guests and sponsors, the night closes with an intimate performance by three-time Grammy Award winner Fantastic Negrito!!

There are less then 20 tickets left. If you’ve been waiting to grab one. Nows the time.
____
Image Credits:
1. Image Photo courtesy of Fantastic Negrito
2. Christine Szo, photographed by Julie Plasencia
3. Dan Miller, photographed by Julie Plasencia
4. Photo of Sally Limon taken by .mov
5. Barbara Mealey, photographed by Julie Plasencia
6. Rosena Finister, photographed by Julie Plasencia
7. Photo courtesy of FELA KUTCHii and the Oakland Souls
8. Dania Leyva, photographed by Julie Plasencia
9. Ben Lieberman, photographed by Julie Plasencia

Introducing the one and only, Matthew Higgs as our Beyond Trend Honoree! 🌟Outside of being our longtime friend, Matthew ...
05/22/2026

Introducing the one and only, Matthew Higgs as our Beyond Trend Honoree! 🌟

Outside of being our longtime friend, Matthew is the Director and Chief Curator of White Columns Gallery in New York. Over more than two decades, Higgs included our artists in over twenty exhibitions across Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Berlin. Most recently, Higgs was the catalyst that sparked our partnership with SFMOMA.

This year’s Beyond Trend promises to be our most spectacular celebration yet, featuring over 100 stunning looks modeled by Creative Growth artists on the runway at Ciel Creative Space on May 30th,2026. The evening will showcase the extraordinary creativity and talent of our artists, demonstrating the truth Higgs recognized decades ago, that art at Creative Growth is “a tangible and life-affirming force.” 

We love you Matthew and can’t wait to celebrate you and alongside you!
——
MatthewHiggs

The SF Chronicle just called Beyond Trend “one of the most joyous fashion and art events in the Bay Area” and honestly, ...
05/20/2026

The SF Chronicle just called Beyond Trend “one of the most joyous fashion and art events in the Bay Area” and honestly, we couldn’t agree more!

Tony Bravo’s feature captures what makes this runway show so special: Creative Growth artists designing and modeling garments that are imaginative and full of life.

Read the full piece and grab your tickets (limited quantity remaining!) at the link in bio 🎟️ or
CreativeGrowth.org/BT2026
——

01/12/2026

“It’s magic, it’s the unknown part.”

That feeling is why Franna Lusson is always pulled towards wildlife and wants to capture it on paper.

Naturally, it just made sense that Franna was invited to illustrate the Wood Stork for the ’s conservation series. Learn more about Franna and her feature in their latest winter magazine edition at the link in our bio.

Video Production by Alison Yin and the National Audubon Society.

12/23/2025

This is what December at Creative Growth looks like: a bright and happy time 🎶

We’ll be carrying this joy into a short and festive break for the holidays.

Our gallery will be closed from now through January 6th, 2025 to rest and recharge.

We’ll be back so soon. The gallery reopens January 7, 2026. 🤘

——
Video Description: Facilitator Maddy sings and plays “Jingle Bell Rock” on the ukulele. Dan Miller paints in the back as friends dance beside him. Artist Heather Edgar paints tiny details and smiles as she notices the camera.

Address

355 24th Street
Oakland, CA
94612

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(510)8362340

Website

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