San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

The 31-year old San Jose ICA is an exciting art space that presents challenging, forward-looking and thought-provoking contemporary art by emerging and established artists from the SF Bay Area and beyond. In addition to fostering freedom of expression, critical thinking, and open dialogue, the ICA’s contemporary art exhibitions and education programs illustrate the creativity and innovation that have become hallmark characteristics of Silicon Valley.

Each year the ICA presents 10 – 12 visual art exhibitions in our three galleries that feature drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and digital works addressing a range of subjects and themes. These solo and group shows present the work of well-known regional talents alongside emerging artists just starting their careers. Admission to our exhibitions is always free.

In addition to our exhibition programs, the ICA has the only public-access printmaking facility in the South Bay where artists can come to experiment and produce work in the 500 square foot on-site printmaking studio. We offer regularly scheduled workshops, open lab days for artists, and the opportunity to work individually with the master printer. Each year, we invite up to three artists to participate in an artist’s residency during which each artist creates a suite of monotypes, an edition of etchings, or other print-based project of his or her choice.

The Lounge is a contemporary art library located at the entrance of the gallery that provides access to materials that directly complement our exhibitions and programs, including international art journals, exhibition catalogs, artists’ monographs, and multimedia education resources. The Lounge also features video interviews with exhibiting artists, as well as recorded footage of ICA workshops and discussions.

Our educational programming includes Talking Art panel discussions, outstanding printed and web-based exhibition didactics, publications, free exhibition tours and excursions, as well as artist studio and gallery visits and field trips offered as exclusive membership benefits.