Founders Gallery
Located on the lower level of Art Works Downtown, the Founders’ Gallery offers an expansive space well-suited for sculpture, installation, and innovative group or solo exhibitions by a diversity of Bay Area artists. Surrounded by working artist studios, it invites visitors to experience art in close dialogue with the creative process.
Upcoming Exhibits
November 28–January 24, 2026: AWD Members' Salon
February 13–March 27, 2026: Art of the African Diaspora 2026
AWD Members' Salon
November 28, 2025–January 24, 2026: Exhibition Dates
December 12 and January 9, 5–8 pm: receptions and 2nd Friday Art Walk
This year’s salon-style AWD Member Showcase, just in time for the festive holiday gift-buying season.
This incredible exhibition highlights the creative talent of the Art Works Downtown members throughout the Founders’ Gallery and Donors’ Gallery.
Featuring:
Diane D. Amil, Suzanne Anderson-Carey, Lucy Arnold, Ilene Avery, Annie Bates-Winship, Barry Beach, Irene Bee Kain, Adrienne Biggs, Jenny Blackburn, Molly Blauvelt, Tamara Buck, Gail Caulfield, Yuan Chen, Duane M Conliffe, Nikki Contini, Michèle Misino de Luca, Carol Duchamp, Lucie Dupuis, Kathleen Edwards, Sara Engle, Randy Engle, Licita Fernandez, Janey Fritsche, Geraldine GaNun, Wendy Goldberg, Ron Golden, Mirto Golino, Deborah Darling Gray, Gail Gurman, Corazon Guzman-Thornton, Joanne Harwood, Marjory Horton, Claude Ibrahimoff, Nancie Jordan, Lisa Knoop, Marie Krajan, Mara Lantz, Leslie Laurence, Antonia Tuppy Lawson, Carol A Levy, Nini Lion, Donna Loftus, Jacqueline López, Sanda Manuila, David McElwee, Advay Mengle, Gail Morrison, Lara Myers, Cecily O'Connor, Marianne Owens, Jeff Palmer, Lorin Santaloci, Patakota, Cindy Pavlinac, Joy Phoenix, Damon Powell, Susan Press, Sheilah Renaud, Anna Rochester, Kay Russell, Susan Searway-Fertig, Anne Shaheen, Debra Cook Shapiro, Gordon Sizelove, Ida Skomorokho, Dobee Snowber, Alice Stewart, Valerie Stilson, Will Toft, Vaidis Valaitis, Rebecca Wallerstein, A. Werby, Keith Wilson, Melissa Woodburn, E A Zappa
Art of the African Diaspora 2026
February 13–March 27, 2026: Exhibition Dates
February 13 & March 13, 5–8 pm: receptions and 2nd Friday Art Walk
Celebrating 29 Years
Art of the African Diaspora is the longest running event of its kind in the Bay Area. For 28 years it has supported hundreds of artists of African descent through representation, professional development and building a creative community.
This year over 130 artists showcase their work at the Richmond Art Center, as well as in open studios and satellite exhibitions at over thirty different venues across the Bay Area.
Art of the African Diaspora originated from a salon for African American artists known as Colors of Black that was organized in 1989 by artist and professor Marie Johnson Calloway. In 1996 artists Jan Hart-Schuyers and Rae Louise Hayward, influenced by Calloway, established the exhibition The Art of Living Black at the Richmond Art Center. After the deaths of Hart-Schuyers and Hayward, organizing efforts were carried on for many years by their families. Today, with a new name to reflect a new era, Art of the African Diaspora is organized by a steering committee of participating artists.