Enjoy an eclectic evening of art, music, and our amazing community as galleries, museums, and creative spaces stay open late for the FIRST FRIDAYS ArtWalk, all with free admission and all ages. Stroll through the venues with friends and family, meet talented artists, and get inspired by a wide spectrum of experiences hosted by our vital arts community.
SoFA District
ANNO DOMINI // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 S. First St. map
On view in galleryTWO:
Rider of Reverie
Susiyo (Indonesia) solo exhibition
In these new works, familiar everyday objects are inhabited with personality and energetic spirit. The real and the surreal move along a Möbius strip, with no distinction of where one begins and the other ends. Susiyo’s vivid imagination is brought to life through his highly skilled technical ability, utilizing composition and color to pull us into his sur/real worlds. Each painting offers a glimpse into a larger narrative, inviting us as viewers to imagine both the moments that came before and those still to come with unlimited possibilities. Ultimately, Susiyo reminds us that these imagined realms are not separate from our own and can help us expand how we see and shape our own world.
Susiyo was born on February 12, 1993, in Semarang Regency, Indonesia. Susiyo’s artistic journey began with his early experiences in the animation industry, where he was involved in the production process of 2D animated films. This experience opened his eyes to the world of visual arts and became a gateway to further exploring his creative potential.
Not stopping there, he continued his education at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta, majoring in Fine Arts with a focus on Visual Communication Design. His university years became a crucial period in shaping his artistic identity. He not only learned artistic techniques formally but also broadened his horizons by actively participating in various art communities.
His involvement in these communities provided Susiyo with opportunities to exchange ideas and hone his creativity, which eventually led him to the art exhibition stage. His participation in numerous group exhibitions marked a significant starting point in his professional journey as an artist, introducing his works to a wider audience and solidifying his presence in the art world.
Rider of Reverie at Anno Domini is Susiyo’s debut solo exhibition.
On view in galleryONE:
A love letter to all the cars that could have hit me, but didn’t.
Kazland (UK) solo exhibition
A brand new collection of works that I began making during my recovery after being hit by a car last year. The accident itself wasn’t too bad but while I was healing it gave me the chance to work (very carefully) on lots of smaller pieces from my home, everything became more careful, and more meticulous. Using pencils and pastels more than paint became very important while I couldn’t move so much. Since then I’ve kept with the same way of working in a more considered fashion, and stepping back from what I’m doing to feel out the next moves.
The collection focuses on the relationship between mortality and magic – and how we shouldn’t try to control the world around us.
“Waiting for the swamp to float back to earth – feeding on whatever lands first.
a cabin built from the leftovers, the collection above the fire is nearly complete.
Decorated with only the rarest flowers and jewels from the riverbed we wait our turn.
Through the gate – choose your own adventure – third times a charm.
Burnt into the stone, I can see what you were trying to do.
She’s made of shadows – you’ll never catch her – go live in the tree (starve on acorns)
Trapped in the barn we made from spent matches. The door doesn’t open – It doesn’t have to.”
About the Artist:
Kazland, born Callum J. Buckland, 1990, is a self taught, mixed media artist living and working in the south of England. A process based artist, rarely working with a plan, he starts each piece letting the work guide itself until an idea starts to form, and then pursuing it to the end (or a better idea takes over).
He is known for his distinctive mixed-media works that blend abstraction, symbolism and narrative. Kazland’s draws his influences from folk art, outsider art and surrealism. His art is characterised by unconventional shadows, shifting perspectives and bold colour contrasts. He lets each new piece evolve organically, with colours and forms transferring between canvases, reflecting a dynamic exploration of visual language.
KALEID Gallery – 320 S. First St. map
Artist’s Recepton:
As Rose Buds Blossom
Valentino Loyola solo exhibition
As Rose Buds Blossom is a personal reflection about family, cultural upbringings, fortitude and permanence, and the beauty of being from the streets. The rose that grew from concrete.
Valentino Loyola is an interdisciplinary artist. His work comprises photography, mixed and multimedia. Curiosity-driven, big world questions-motivated, and lived experience when focused on identity. He explores multiple paths to create art objects that embrace tangibility and transformation at the intersection of materials and concepts through research and performance.
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 S. First St. map
There Are New Suns
Last weekend to catch There Are New Suns, an interactive exhibition exploring cultural resilience and gentrification at the intersection of art and technology. Cecelia Perez uses current technology such as animation, augmented reality, and projection mapping. Referencing one of the first forms of animation, the phenakistiscope, Claudia Blanco creates a series of wall sculptures, and Samantha Saldana’s quilted cyanotypes combine craft and technology.
Voces del Campo Poetry Party – featuring new books by Mayra Flores & Cristal Gonzalez
Join us for an evening celebrating two powerful poets, Mayra Flores and Cristal González Ávila.
Teen Tech Center Youth Exhibition: Street View
Join us for our Teen Tech Center Youth exhibition, featuring photos depicting San José’s urban life. Photos were taken during our street photography workshop where youth got to explore downtown and capture the city’s everyday beauty with artist Jai Tanju.
‘Behind the Curtain‘ at Morgann Trumbull Projects – 447 S. First St. map
Memories & Dreams by Alfredo Muccino
The exhibit includes recent paintings, drawings, and mixed media works by Alfredo Muccino, reflecting on the fading hopes we dream up for our future as they dissolve into memories of what might have been.
Also on view: a curated selection of artifacts will be available for purchase at the Oddfrank Pop-Up Store within the gallery.
Opera San José at California Theater – 345 S. First St. map
Join us for Madama Butterfly Opera on First Friday November 7th with Opera singers live out on First Street!
Be swept away by powerful arias performed under the evening sky by our talented artists. Enjoy the magic of The Mighty Wurlitzer; our historic organ with live performances by Jerry Nagano. Complimentary popcorn and drinks available all evening. Participate in the Scavenger Hunt Adventure; explore the California Theatre and uncover fascinating history.
Doors open at 5:30 PM—bring your friends, family, and curiosity for a night of music and discovery. We look forward to seeing you there!
Phantom Galleries at The Pierce Apts. Lobby Gallery – 2 Pierce Ave. map
Artist’s Reception:
Mis Raises / My Roots
Leysar Garcia Sandoval solo exhibition
My work represents the Indigenous peoples of Guatemala, who are survivors of genocide and are striving to preserve their culture. They are people who struggle every day against a government system that neither supports them nor allows them to pass on their culture and traditions to future generations.
In addition to this, I also highlight the beauty of their clothing, which is made from natural resources. Through my paintings, I seek to teach and share stories of people who are still alive and continue to fight to preserve the cultural identity of Guatemala.
Phantom Galleries “Romance” Mural – Post St. btwn S. 1st St. & Lightston Alley
Romance mural by Danny Feliz Hanson.
Danny Feliz Hanson’s vision for the block long “Romance” mural was to create a meaningful public artwork that expresses love, resilience, and community in San Jose’s LGBTQ+ district, known as the Qmunity District. The mural draws inspiration from Hanson’s experience as a queer artist of color, as well as her connection to nature, cultural heritage, and underrepresented identities. Hanson’s artistic practice is known for bold color and intricate patterns, weaving influences from Aztec art, Mexican folk traditions, and her own explorations of meditative zentangle designs.
Through the city block long “Romance” mural, Hanson aimed to invite viewers to reflect on connection, identity, and the celebratory beauty of diversity. The piece uses vivid, Fauvist-inspired palettes and symbolic imagery to uplift queer and marginalized communities, emphasizing the transformative power of art for communal spaces and identity.
Curated and facilitated by Phantom Galleries.
Supporting artists: Steven Reece & Quynh Vy,
Sponsored by the San Jose Downtown Association.
Phantom Galleries “Urban Abstractions” Mural Project – San Carlos btwn S. Market & S. 2nd St.
Urban Abstractions
featuring artists: Apexer, Emoventur, Force129, Joey Reyes, Gwen Marcado-Reyes, Poesia and NoA–
Seven amazing artists have been painting “Urban Abstractions” murals on the sidewalk planters at the south gateway to SoFA District. These works are a signal to the passersby that we are an arts and culture district with galleries, music venues, residents and businesses that foster creativity and care about inspiring community well being. Stop by and check out this great project by Phantom Galleries in partnership with San Jose Downtown Association.
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art– 560 S. First St. map
Data Trust by Stephanie Dinkins
Stephanie Dinkins questions the current paradigms of AI development and forges paths toward more equitable and inclusive technological futures. Data Trust fuses artificial intelligence, DNA, and social practice to pursue a simple goal: to honor and preserve multigenerational stories in ways that are poetic, enduring, and technologically bold. Immersive projections, animated by real-time generative AI processing of collected oral histories, create a living narrative spanning around the walls of the gallery. Data Trust envisions a future where narratives are preserved in groves of trees and microbial ecosystems that serve as permanent sites of memory, integrating ancestral knowledge into the land itself.
The ICA will also have a tea sachet workshop led by Derek Bryant from We Start Gardens. Participants can get hot water at the ICA afterwards to enjoy their tea. The ICA will also have a drop in collage making workshop.
San Jose Jazz – 310 South First St. map
SJZ Break Room Jazz Jam with Special Guest Howard Wiley
Drop in during the South First Friday ArtWalk for an evening of live jazz anytime from 5:40–9pm. The evening features fresh music from our audition-based High School All Stars U19s, including arrangements of “Bittersweet” by Lianne La Havas, “At Last,” by Etta James and “Black Narcissus” by Joe Henderson. At 6:30, Michael Webster Quartet plays covers and Webster’s inspired originals, followed by an all-ages jazz jam featuring special guest saxophonist Howard Wiley.
A Berklee School of Music honors graduate, Howard Wiley has become an in-demand fixture in the Bay Area and Southern California music scenes. His love of jazz and arranging has led him to fuse his jazz sounds with funk and gospel. A soulful live musician, he has built a strong reputation for presenting jazz shows that you can dance to. Howard has toured internationally, recorded and performed with artists like Miss Lauryn Hill, Sheila E, Cory Henry and Christian McBride. As a solo artist, he has performed at festivals and venues like the Playboy JazzFestival, Monterey Jazz, North Sea Jazz, Grammy Museum, Yoshi’s Oakland and SXSW, to name a few. Howard recently served as a Resident Artistic Director for the San Francisco Jazz Festival under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director, Terrence Blanchard.
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 South First St. map
Quilt National ’25 Award Winning Quilts from Around the Nation
The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is exhibiting QUILT NATIONAL ’25, the Dairy Barn Arts Center’s biennial exhibition of award winning quilts. Quilt National was created to showcase the transformation taking place in quilt making. From the beginning, the goal has been to expand the definition of quilting and celebrate it as an art form.
While many works in Quilt National retain traditional techniques like piecing and patching, they also push boundaries with new materials and technologies. These contemporary quilts are not only technically impressive–they are emotionally powerful, giving artists a way to make personal, expressive statements.
Exhibition will feature selections from Quilt National, a juried biennial exhibition of contemporary quilt art, first held in 1979. The primary exhibition is held at the Dairy Barn Art Center in Athens, Ohio, in odd-numbered years. The full exhibition includes between 80-90 quilts. Quilt National is both the largest and one of the most prestigious shows of its kind.
Diversity in Basketry
The Bay Area Basket Makers Guild highlights a range of both traditional and contemporary basket-making techniques and materials. Members utilize natural fibers and reeds, along with synthetic materials such as rope and wire, employing methods like coiling and knotting. Contemporary baskets often emphasize conveying emotions and ideas over functionality, resembling sculptures instead. The exhibition “Diversity in Basketry” celebrates this vibrant art form.
Historic District
Chopsticks Alley Gallery – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Heart’s Delight: San Jose Stories
Heart’s Delight celebrates the heritage, community, and connections shaping San José through three creative projects.
Together, these projects invite us to continue building a San José that reflects and honors cultural stories, nurtures community, and embraces the connection between us all.
Collective Journeys: Cynthia Cao (lead Artist & Instructor), Hana Lock, An Luong, Leonila Mims, Crystal Nguyen, and MinhQuang Nguyen
San José Marquee: Finalists: Tachiya Bryant, Cynthia Cao, Hana Lock, Patron Paule, Elba Raquel. Honorable Mentions: Hadi Aghaee, Robin Lasser, and Eileen Wong Cevera
Spirit of San José: Anh Le, Annie Tran, Barbara Wang Tolentio, Brandon Cisnuos, Bryant Ramos, Evenlyn Eanuel, Gordon Schneiderman, Hoang Duong, Jake Yan, Karen Hennessy, Kim Nguyen, Megyn Yan, Natalie Smith, Peter Meylink, Peter Nguyen, Saron Tekeste, Thu Truong, Tuoi Truong, Zulma, Zapata, and Joy Chavarro
7 pm: An Evening with Author & Journalist Gary Singh
We invite you to join us for a special night of storytelling with San José–based writer Gary Singh. Known for his lyrical prose and thought-provoking perspectives. He will read selections from his anthology and columns—pieces that weave together memory, place, and culture into compelling narratives. Gary’s work has been published widely, including his Hidden Compass feature Truth is the Timeless One and Silicon Alleys.. Esther Young will be moderating the panel.
Works/San Jose – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Opening Reception:
Edge of Softness
Artists: Cynthia Yadira Gonzalez, Alyssarhaye Graciano, Lydia Rae Black, Mario Montes Pozo and Mary Morse
South First Friday is opening night for this much anticipated exhibition at Works. Guest curators Alyssarhaye Graciano and Cynthia Yadira Gonzalez present a collection of very new work that delves into complex layers of softness, challenging the conventional belief that strength must be synonymous with toughness. Often seen as an insult, being called soft is perceived as a lack of assertiveness, indecisiveness, or weakness. By reframing softness as a form of strength, these artists highlight its true power: vulnerability, empathy, and emotional intelligence.
Martha Gardens District
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 S. Sixth St. map
More the Merrier 2025
Join us for our most anticipated event of the year!
Discover and collect one-of-a-kind artworks for yourself or loved ones while celebrating the incredible creativity of our local artists and enjoying live music!
Participating Artists: Amadi Greenstein, Amanda Brannon, Amanda Trippler, Antonio Castro, April Burton, Bill Heiderich, Bob Rose, Carolyn Li, Chris Cassell, Christopher Denise, Cynthia Yadira Gonzalez, Deborah Kennedy, Diana C. Roberts, Erin Salazar, Gianfranco Paolozzi, Isaac Villanueva, Janet Appleton, Janice Lambert, Jennifer Villanueva, Ketaki Adi, Kevin Luck/ghost, Kit Kosaiku Luck, Kurt Salinas, Laura Morales Dolan, Lilly Horani, Mark Martinez, Michael Stewart, Nina Ulett, Nona Weiner, Piyali Samanta, Quality HDR Photography, Raji Musinipally, Richard Stark, Robert Claus, Robert Mende, Robert Windle, Rosa Art Studio, Silpa, Sue Rahn, Tamara Danoyan, TheGrinDragon, Therese May, Tom Shulruff, Valerie Sagun, Will Frances Art, Yeung Ha
FUSE presents at the Citadel Art Gallery- 199 Martha St. map
Fuse Presents is excited to host the 2025 San Jose Creative Ambassadors group show Creative Stories: As Told by the People of San José.
Join us in celebrating the voices and creativity of San José through stories, zines, collages, photographs, and artworks developed throughout the year by: Julie Cardenas, Matt Casey, Jessica Gutierrez, Miguel Ozuna and Steven Rubalcaba
MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas, Est. 1974 – 199 Martha St. map
DIA de los MUERTOS or DAY of the DEAD along with All Souls Day is commemorated throughout Mexico and Latin America in November of each year. It is dedicated to remembering the death and paying respect to one’s deceased family member and friends. It is also a time of sharing the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. Also, a time of joy for the happy memories their lives have brought to us.
In the spirit of this Latin American tradition, a special OFRENDA (Offering) has been constructed at Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas by Brian M. Smith (the gallery’s founder’s son) and the founder Olga Enciso Smith . A magnificent display of colors, aromas and typical artifacts including fresh marigold with papel picado (delicate cut paper), corn stalks, candles, gourds, and handmade skeleton figures that border on the humorous representing the occupation of the deceased persons. Various foods favored by him/her also are added in keeping with the belief of life after death.
The gallery’s original Ofrenda was dedicated to two Latino children and a college student who had tragically died in car accidents in 1986. Since then the Ofrenda is dedicated to the community. It has served as a process of healing for parents, families and friends who have experienced the pain of losing a loved one. The Ofrenda offers a place and time to share the pain and express sorrow with the larger human family. Family and friends rally to give comfort and also moments of joy to have had a loved one’s gift of life with us in earth.
Relatives or friends who wish to have a loved one’s memory commemorated are invited to bring a photo of him/her for the Ofrenda’s dedication which will take place Friday November 7, 5pm-9pm at Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas. The public is invited to bring the photo with a self-addressed envelope.
FIRST FRIDAYS ArtWalk SJ is produced by CURATUS in partnership with the participating galleries, museums and independent creative businesses.
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South FIRST FRIDAYS
366 S 1st Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408-271-5155
info@southfirstfridays.com