Rami’s Fountain

Rami Geller was a true champion for NIAD Art Center! His lifelong dedication was to nurture community and creativity as an artist, graphic designer, engineer, and business owner—it’s how Rami’s leadership and NIAD Art Center’s artists came together. Through his relationship with Yali’s Café on the UC Berkeley campus, Rami invited NIAD Art Center to install exhibitions of studio artists’ work for years. For many studio artists, this was their first exhibition outside of NIAD Art Center, and an incredible opportunity for our artists to show and sell their work! These exhibitions also provided a chance to celebrate art and community with Rami and their staff, with NIAD Art Center field trips to the exhibition openings.

Rami Geller
Jil Geller joined by Rami’s family and friends in NIAD Art Center’s 23rd Street Studio painting tiles for the fountain

Rami passed away on April 4, 2021. The entire NIAD Art Center community will miss him very much, and we are honored to join with Rami’s family and friends in honoring his legacy at NIAD. Together we are building a fountain to honor Rami in NIAD’s Courtyard Garden.

Jil Geller and NIAD artist Dorian Reid work together in the NIAD studio on creating Rami-inspired ceramic shoes for the fountain area.

NIAD Artists involved in the design and creation of Rami’s Fountain include:

Deatra Colbert
Luis Estrada
Heather Hamann
Peter Harris
Rebecca Jantzen
Sam Kershner
Shawna Kinard
Ann Meade
Michelle Nonnarath
Michael Nuñez
Dorian Reid
Julio Del Rio
Carlota Rodriguez
Alice Sampson
Shawn Sanders
Billy White

These artists have collaborated with Rami’s family and friends on the fountain’s design and creation over this past year, and we are all excited for the unveiling of this beautiful tribute project on July 23, 2022. We will come together to celebrate and honor Rami’s warmth, generosity, and his lifelong ability to create meaningful, lasting connections.

Tile collage created by NIAD Studio Artists for the interior of the fountain.
Carlota Rodriguez and Deatra Colbert, NIAD Art Center Studio Artists, paint the fountain wall blue
Rami’s ceramic shoes! Glazed and ready for the kiln.

You can donate to the Rami Fountain project here! Your support in honor of Rami’s memory and passion for NIAD will help keep our garden and fountain spaces beautiful for years to come.

Donate Online

Donate by Check

Please mail your check to:
NIAD Art Center
551 23rd Street
Richmond, CA 94804

Please write “Rami’s Fountain” in the check’s memo note.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact NIAD’s Development Director Rebecca Teague.

NIAD Studio Artist Billy White’s artworks installed at Yali’s Cafe, Stanley Hall.
NIAD Studio Artist Peter Harris with artworks installed at Yali’s Cafe, Stanley Hall.
NIAD Studio Artist Deatra Colbert building a planter for Rami’s Fountain.
NIAD Studio Artist Julio Del Rio’s pre-glazed ceramic piece for Rami’s Fountain

NIAD promotes creative expression, independence, dignity and community integration for and with people with disabilities.

Featured Image Artist: Garden Of Eden (D4606), Michael Nuñez