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San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Museums Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Museums, Art Galleries [Edit]
560 S 1st StSan Jose, CA 95113
(408) 283-8155
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 10 am - 5 pm
Sat 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Ellie F. said: "I had so much fun here! I couldn't wait to share many of the cool things I learned, and definitely want to go back to see more. I didn't even get to the game area before I had to leave! Imagine my devastation. It is a little dry…" read more »
13 reviews for San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Review Highlights
"and I came to the First Fridays Art Walk in DTSJ."
(in 3 reviews)
"...walking the neighborhood of the SoFa District in San Jose."
(in 3 reviews)
"...as Anno Domini and somehow ICA feels more exclusive..."
(in 4 reviews)
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13 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer B.
Los Angeles, CA
10/12/2011
Please be sure to make the trek down here during South First Fridays! This gallery is spacious, and they utilize that space to showcase so many contemporary artists and the pieces, spanning a variety of media.
One of the greatest perks to this gallery is that certain pieces of art have a phone-in number and identification code on its placard. By using your mobile and dialing in, you hear a message from the artist about the work you're seeing. It really adds a personal touch to hear the artist's statement versus only reading the text (which is fine, too!).Listed in: I Heart Art
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Review from Andrew S.
3/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came across the ICA while walking the neighborhood of the SoFa District in San Jose. As a fan of Contemporary and Post-Modern art I had to pay a visit. The gallery has free entry but closes at 5 PM and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Their current exhibit has a overarching theme that expores ideas related to scale and size. The exhibit is comprised of three "mini showings" including a sculpture of thorns carved from wood titled urgency, a media short film titled Powers of Ten and a collection of other works in their main gallery titled Size Matters.
I truly appreciated the overarching theme throughout the gallery and thought that each art piece, while different in style, structure and form made for a great cohesive collection of work.
I'm looking forward to the next exhibit and highly encourage all art fans to explore and enjoy the SJ ICA. -
Review from Natalie Q.
San Jose, CA
5/27/2011
So cool.
Talk about smart art, it is quintessentially modern art. I have been here a few times now and have never been let down. IT is a small and intimate, but they have great installations that range from still art, site specific, and multimedia. Such amazing work in a small space! Love love love! -
Review from Phil C.
San Jose, CA
2/17/2006 1 photo
Very cool little gallery within walking distance of many great restaurants and bars. Located in downtown San Jose in the SOFA district, this place is a nice little stop before dinner or on a lunch break.
The display was very creepy when I was there, all art made from or about human hair, including one piece that was colored using the artist's own blood! This place in totally worth checking out if you are in the area, but probably not worth a trip all by itself as it is rather small. However, it is definitely within walking distance of the big San Jose Museum of Art, as are several other art galleries, so you could make a day of visiting the art galleries of SJ. -
Review from Ann L.
5/2/2009 1 photo
They had Sprinkles cupcakes, some savory cheese thing, and pigs in a blanket for food! I think they had wine too - not sure how much, but the food was FREE.
Cool exhibit called "It's Not Us, It's You" about rejection in our lives.
I liked the one Chinese artist that made Downtown SJ look cute w/ bunny, hearts, pink, so cute!
There were paintings, sculpture, videos, & multi-media work.
Cool - Recommended.
Hrs:
Closed Sun & Mon
Tues-Fri 10-5; Sat 12-5 -
Review from Michael H.
Hayward, CA
3/4/2008
In the SOFA district of downtown San Jose, this place is the last in the line of art galleries on 1st street. It's right after MACLA and a couple of blocks before the freeway.
This place used to be where the WORKS gallery now is. ICA's new place has a really cool metal sign with it's type cut out. It appears like a really high end place. There are two windows on either side that usually have some kind of art pieces (sometimes digital). The glass doors are huge and the walls are pristine white.
As you walk in you'll find an information person with a computer to your left. Depending on the person, the people can be either nice or timid. The place is about as big as the WORKS gallery, but it has a dividing wall so it makes it feel less spacious. The wall also allows the space to feel more intimate. It helps you connect with smaller artworks but bigger pieces kinda suffocate.
The work here is always, ummm, contemporary? If you like contemporary art, this is your place. I always look forward to this place because they host local contemporary artists. The work is almost always strong and interesting.
It's not as progressive as Anno Domini and somehow ICA feels more exclusive; nonetheless it's still a great place for art.
Oh I forgot to mention, it's FREE. Can't go wrong there. -
Review from Jen S.
6/9/2008
My partner-in-crime, Anna L., and I came to the First Fridays Art Walk in DTSJ. This was the first gallery that we stepped into. It featured works from SJSU Master of Fine Arts students. One exhibition caught my eye by Brendan Lott titled, "Memories that I'll Never Have." He had found images on the internet from Myspace to other popular websites. He sent these images to artists in China where they created a true to life oil painting. It looked like an actual photograph! The exhibits were incredibly creative and visionary that I was just blown away by all the creations. Come on the first Fridays of each month where you have access to all the art galleries, mostly located on 1st St.
Listed in: Things to do in the Bay Area
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Review from Carrie A.
10/9/2009
Years ago when the ICA was next to a *porn* type store, I used to say, "Good luck with to this place, that cool art gallery is gonna go out of business!" I couldn't believe a place so awesome was next to a porn store. And lo' and behold! They are still around! (Thank goodness the porn store is gone.) This place has the coolest art found anywhere, and they have a new spot just down the street. I love First Friday's, the art openings, the ambiance, the people ... this place actually puts San Jose on the map! Thank you, once I make a ton of money, I'm going to be one of your biggest contributors! Keep up the great work!
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Review from z h.
Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2009
Lends credibility to San Jose's scene. I always save this for last during the South First Fridays art walk, to get that Anno Domini taste out of my mouth.
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Review from Anita C.
San Francisco, CA
8/6/2007
A free gallery...I went to see the Next New exhibit, however the artist I was most interested in seeing was putting up her installation until the following monday. I was bummed about that, but there was some great stuff; percussion-like instrument made from a bicycle, a large glacier-like structure made from Styrofoam and some intricate doodles...I would like to go there again to see the artist i'm interested in seeing...
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Review from Mary Anne C.
Aptos, CA
6/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I adore this space. They have inspired exhibitions, art talks and some great auctions. Easy to find and nearby good eats! Highly recommend checking it out. A great place to view and purchase original works to add to your collection!
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Review from deb n.
Palo Alto, CA
9/12/2009 3 photos
A medium sized gallery, a lot of exhibits going on. Street metered parking. Was my first gallery I hit with the SubZero Fair in June.
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Review from John D.
San Jose, CA
2/12/2011
The San Jose ICA is an amazing space that always has cool events and incredible artists/exhibitions. Check out the Tony May show before it's gone! ( http://www.sjica.org/d... )--- "Easily one of the best art exhibitions I've seen in years." Ben Marks, KQED
