Works/San José, art and performance center

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Works/San José, art and performance center Works/San José is Silicon Valley's inclusive, volunteer-run, non-profit art and performance center.

Works/San José is your community art and performance center, a non-profit, volunteer-run creative laboratory dedicated to providing an environment where artists, audience, and ideas interact to expand the scope of cultural and artistic experience. Works presents visual arts exhibitions, literary readings, performance art, music, and educational events. Guest curator exhibitions present a broad variety of viewpoints and creative statements. Applications for exhibitions must have a minimum of three exhibiting artists brought together to communicate a conceptual message.

Overtime: The Work of Living closes October 16. Final days to catch the show.hours: Fridays 12–6pm, Saturdays and Sunday...
10/10/2026

Overtime: The Work of Living closes October 16. Final days to catch the show.
hours: Fridays 12–6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12–4pm

Overtime: The Work of Living, genARTS Silicon Valley’s 6th annual experimental exhibition, is juried by genARTS and presented with and at Works/San José. The exhibition includes 38 artists examining life outside the conventional workday, and asks: what do we do when no one is managing, watching, or judging? The artists explore creative practice, domestic and emotional labor, rest, refusal, dreams, play, grief, care, the rhythms of everyday life, and the body outside of productivity. The work celebrates the quiet moments that sustain us, challenges systems that consume our time, and illuminates the richness and contradiction of life beyond the workday.

🥰 Some of the artists in the Afterlife: Celebrating Life and Remembrance show at MHP 💚
10/09/2026

🥰 Some of the artists in the Afterlife: Celebrating Life and Remembrance show at MHP 💚

10/09/2026

Afterlife: celebrating life and remembrance” at MHP
Artists: Geetika Bansal, Danny Sauce, Jemal Diamond, Cuong Dinh, Vera Fainshtein, Mythili Kattupalli, Helena Ljoljic, Stephen Longoria, Valentino Loyola, Jonilyn Ly, Eva Olsen, Roxana Rox, Steven nizzotes Rubalcaba, Samantha Saldana, Becca Smidt, Nicola Stela, Lia Tealdi

Mexican Heritage Plaza
1700 Alum Rock Ave at King Rd, San José
gallery is on the Alum Rock side of the plaza

“Afterlife” Opening Reception at MHP
Thursday, October 8, 6pm-8pm
with refreshments, food, and conversation with the artists

The artists of “Afterlife: celebrating life and remembrance” offer glimpses into imagined afterlife experiences, and celebrations of remembered people, and reflections on life experiences. Afterlife 2026 features 17 local artists and will also be part of the massive Avenida de Altares/Avenue of the Altars festival on October 31, 5:30-10:30pm (register free for the festival - follow Mexican Heritage Plaza for all the info).

Afterlife is presented by Works/San José in partnership with Mexican Heritage Plaza. Free parking is available in lots on Alum Rock Ave and on King Rd. VTA 522, 22, and 23 busses stop at the Plaza.

A few scenes from opening night of Overtime: The Work of Living 🥰opening reception: with First Friday artwalk, September...
09/05/2026

A few scenes from opening night of Overtime: The Work of Living 🥰

opening reception: with First Friday artwalk, September 4, 5–9pm
exhibition: September 5–October 16
hours: Fridays 12–6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12–4pm
reception and exhibition hours always free
workshop info to come

Overtime: The Work of Living, genARTS Silicon Valley Silicon Valley’s 6th annual experimental exhibition, is juried by genARTS and presented with and at Works/San José. The exhibition includes 38 artists examining life outside the conventional workday, and asks: what do we do when no one is managing, watching, or judging? The artists explore creative practice, domestic and emotional labor, rest, refusal, dreams, play, grief, care, the rhythms of everyday life, and the body outside of productivity. The work celebrates the quiet moments that sustain us, challenges systems that consume our time, and illuminates the richness and contradiction of life beyond the workday.

Overtime: The Work of Living opens September 4opening reception: with First Friday South September 4, 5–9pmexhibiti...
09/02/2026

Overtime: The Work of Living opens September 4
opening reception: with First Friday South September 4, 5–9pm
exhibition: September 5–October 16
hours: Fridays 12–6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12–4pm
reception and exhibition hours always free
workshop info to come

Overtime: The Work of Living, genARTS Silicon Valley 6th annual experimental exhibition, is juried by genARTS and presented with and at Works/San José. The exhibition includes 38 artists examining life outside the conventional workday, and asks: what do we do when no one is managing, watching, or judging? The artists explore creative practice, domestic and emotional labor, rest, refusal, dreams, play, grief, care, the rhythms of everyday life, and the body outside of productivity. The work celebrates the quiet moments that sustain us, challenges systems that consume our time, and illuminates the richness and contradiction of life beyond the workday.

BIG L💚VE to our members and so many thank yous from our Works Working Board Lauren Crittenden Amy Beans 🐡Pezra Felice💃 J...
08/23/2026

BIG L💚VE to our members and so many thank yous from our Works Working Board Lauren Crittenden Amy Beans 🐡Pezra Felice💃 Joe Miller Steven nizzotes Rubalcaba ( not pictured Clayton Moraga Nona Weiner Art Karthika Baiju Wendy Lowengrub Tachiya Bryant )

You all made the Hold Fast member exhibition, annual member meeting, and closing party incredibly loving and meaningful 🥰

Works has been rockin for 49 years because of you and our beautiful community.

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.

Annual member meeting is today 8/22 starting 4pm after final viewing of "Hold Fast!" Pick up your member perk pack (show...
08/22/2026

Annual member meeting is today 8/22 starting 4pm after final viewing of "Hold Fast!" Pick up your member perk pack (shown here with new sketchbook!) and hear a brief 'state of Works' with the Board at 4:30. All interested are welcome and refreshments served! Pick up art till 6pm

Address

38 S 2nd Street
San Jose, CA
95113

Opening Hours

Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+14083006405

Website

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