I Wish I Had A Window

Artists from seven of the nation’s top progressive art studio programs will be featured in I Wish I Had A Window, a group exhibition opening in Oakland, California on March 14, 2025. Organized by collector and gallerist, Greg Roberts, the exhibition provides an opportunity to expand public exposure to the artwork artists with disabilities are creating in progressive studios across the nation. “Bringing attention to the variety of artworks, the important missions of each of the featured studios, and foremost, keeping artists with disabilities in the forefront of collectors’ minds and conversations is the primary goal of the exhibition,” notes Roberts. 

I Wish I Had A Window will feature more than 500 works by over 200 artists with disabilities from Creativity Explored (San Francisco), NIAD Art Center (Richmond, CA), Creative Growth (Oakland), EFC Art Centers (Los Angeles), Pure Vision Arts and Fountain House Gallery & Studio (New York), and Project Onward (Chicago). “More than an exhibition,” states Christian Alvarez, Director of ECF Art Centers, “I Wish I Had A Window is a celebration of artistic achievement and a call to recognize the vital role these artists play in shaping contemporary art. By bringing together works from artists from across the country, this showcase underscores a simple but powerful truth: art is for everyone. The artists we represent are not only accomplished but indispensable contributors to the cultural landscape.”

Last year was a breakthrough year for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Bay Area. SFMOMA’s widely acclaimed acquisitions and an exhibition honoring 50 years of Creative Growth, the presentation of artworks by Bay Area progressive studio artists at FOG Design + Art, and Oakland Museum of California Art’s groundbreaking show Into the Brightness featuring artists from all three of the Bay Area’s progressive studios brought unprecedented attention to artists with disabilities and their artwork. 

Compelled to bring a larger selection of works by artists with disabilities from across the country to the Bay Area, Roberts, who over the past three decades formed relationships with each of the seven participating progressive studio organizations, began reaching out to his contacts in early 2024. The resoundingly positive responses from the studios and artists resulted in a year of cross-country coordination and the selection of over 500 artworks. “Some people don’t know what the disabled person can do. I’m an artistic person. I love to draw. I do faces. It don’t have to be nobody in particular. It comes from the heart,” comments Vincent Jackson, Artist, Creativity Explored.

“It is essential that we recognize artists from progressive art studios as accomplished and capable. This exhibition is a timely celebration of their broad reaching contributions to the contemporary art dialogue,” emphasizes Rachel Weisman, Gallery Director, Fountain House Gallery & Studio. “Greg has been a longtime champion of these artists, their stories, and has keen understanding of their value in the contemporary arts sector. Organizing shows of this scale is critical to changing the overall conversation on what is “worthy” to collect –- and who is “worthy” in broader society.” 

I Wish I Had A Window will include paintings, sculptures, mixed medium works, textiles, and works on paper. Visitors will be encouraged to remove purchased exhibition works from the walls, creating an engaging and dynamic rotating space for the 500 plus featured artworks. I Wish I Had A Window opens Friday, March 14 and runs through Saturday, April 19, 2025.

NIAD ART CENTER

Aileen McCourt

Ann Meade

Carlota Rodriguez

Christian Vassell

Danny Thach

Donald Walker

Dorian Reid

Erika Martinez

Esmeralda Silva

Evelyn Davis

Faithe Leyandre

Janay Futch

Jeremy Burleson

Jon Fukui

Jonathan Valdivias

Jonathan Velazquez

Julie Macdonald

Julio Del Rio

Karen May

Kaya Davis

Kiesha White

Lisa Blevens

Matt Von Dongen

Matthew Wilson

Michael Nunez

Miguel Chacon

Mireya Betances

Nathan Lam

Peter Harris

Rebecca Jantzen

Rosita Pardo

Samantha Kershnar

Sara Malpass

Saul Alegria

Shana Harper

Shantae Robinson

Susan Wise

Sylvia Fragoso

Tre'Von Silva

CREATIVE GROWTH

Alice Wong

Allan Lofberg

Anthony (Tony) Pedemonte

Aurie Ramirez

Cedric Johnson

Dan Miller

David Parsons

Dwight Mackintosh

Franna Lusson

Jade Saren

Jean Paul Vallance

John Hiltunen

John Martin

Joseph Alef

Larry Randolph

Latifa Noorzai

Monica Valentine

Nick Pagan

Nicole Storm

Ron Veasey

William Scott

William Tyler

Zina Hall

CREATIVITY EXPLORED

Allura Fong

Camille Holvoet

Christina Marie Fong

Elana Cooper

Enkh-Amar Shagdarguntev

Ian Adams

James Miles

John Patrick McKenzie

Joseph "JayD" Green

Joseph Omolayole

Kate Thompson

Kevin Roach

Marcus McClure

Michael Washington

Nita Hicks

Pablo Calderon

Tranesha Smith-Kilgore

Vincent Jackson

ECF ART CENTERS

Adriana Homsi

Angela Alvarado

Angelica Alvarado

Antwan Jones

Brandon Matua

Christopher Akubulio

Debra Alexander

Derek Thompson

Diana Lopez

Don Gibbs

Humberto Saldana

Jameel Linzy

James Archuleta

James Young

Jamie Arenas

Jamison Rizzo

Jennifer Joval

Jesse Warford

Jillian Frankel

Jose Martinez

Jose Zamora

Justina Ko

Kai Fukuyama

Kelvin Belt

Larry Dunbar

Leticia Arrendondo

Maria Alvarado

Maria del Mar Peneda

Mirna Rodriguez

Octavio Diaz

Onyekachi Chinwah

Paul Greeley

Ruby Kim

Ryan Kim

Sarah Gerke

Sarah Telkamp

Sarahi Moreno

Shaka Gaston

Tammy Brackens

Willie Walls

FOUNTAIN HOUSE

Alyson Vega

Ambar Martinez

Angela Rogers

Anna Macon

Anthony Newton

Ariel Navarrete

Arturo Sitjar

Ashwood Kavanna

Barry Senft

Bernadette Corcoran

Betty Eastland

Boo Lynn Walsh

Christine Albane

Christopher Polgar

Donna Faiella

DubbleX

Elizabeth Atlas

Garvin Henry

Glenn Goldstein

Issa Ibrahim

Jorge Pablo Hernández

Laura Anne Walker

Louise Kavadlo

Marina Marchand

Mark Dendy

Maxx Reith

Miguel Colón

Nancy Caton

Nelia Gibbs

Ray Lopez

Roger Jones

Solange Singer

Suzette Lehrer

Terrenceo Hammonds

Tzu Moy

Zeus Hope

PROJECT ONWARD

Adam Arquilla

Adam Hines

Alfred Banks

Bill Douglas

Cherylle Booker

Elizabeth Barren

Frederick Nitsch

Hailee Tyner

James Hall

John Behnke

Julius Batista

Kayla Jean

Kenneth Williams

Krishaun Williams

Lindsey Brashler

Louis DeMarco

Luke Shemroske

Michael Hopkins

Michael Smith

Michelle Livingston

Molly McGrath

Noon Slaps

Ruby Bradford

Sereno Wilson

Sheila Smith

Stephen Doby

Swen Swihart-Decoster

John Behnke

Julius Batista

Kayla Jean

Kenneth Williams

Krishaun Williams

Lindsey Brashler

Louis DeMarco

Luke Shemroske

Michael Hopkins

Michael Smith

Michelle Livingston

Molly McGrath

Noon Slaps

Ruby Bradford

Sereno Wilson

Sheila Smith

Stephen Doby

Swen Swihart-Decoster

PURE VISION ARTS

Alba Somoza

Armando Nunez

Barry Kahn

Benjamin Margulies

Carmen Esparza

Carmen Sanchez

Chase Ferguson

Daniel Monrose

Dennis Yee

Eric Sadowsky

Evan Gozali

Harry Carrasquillo

Lakiera Finklea

Leon McCutcheon

Max Khutoretsky

Oscar Azmitia

Roy Gabbay

Simone Johnson

Susan Brown

William Britt