Don’t miss these must-see exhibits this month, showcasing art, innovation and genius in Silicon Valley.
Pao Houa Her, “Untitled (girl in the blue shirt),” (2020, archival pigment print), 25 inches by 20 inches from The Imaginative Landscape series
SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART
The San Jose Museum of Art recently unveiled Tending and Dreaming: Stories from the Collection, the first galleries dedicated to showcasing works from its permanent collection. Featuring pieces from SJMA’s holdings of over 2,700 works, these new spaces offer visitors unprecedented access to key artworks, creating opportunities for deeper engagement and a stronger sense of community connection and pride.
Pao Houa Her, “Untitled (real opium, behind opium backdrop),” (2020, pigment print), 52 inches by 65 inches from The Imaginative Landscape series.
The inaugural installation, on view for one year, will showcase iconic works from the collection, including Louise Nevelson’s “Sky Cathedral” (1957) and Hung Liu’s “Resident Alien” (1988), alongside recent acquisitions by Tishan Hsu, Yolanda López and Sarah Sze. Tending and Dreaming will present nearly 50 artists from the Bay Area and beyond, featuring various paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos and installations.
“What began with a regional focus has evolved into a collection that transcends geographic boundaries, tracking the ruptures of the digital age and the complexities of our collective cultural, political and social struggles and triumphs,” says S. Sayre Batton, Oshman executive director at SJMA. Through March 2026, 110 S. Market St., San Jose, 408.271.6840, sjmusart.org
Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa, “Es Moonlight”
ICA SAN JOSE
Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa (@wulffvnky), a Mexican-Guatemalan artist based in Oakland, makes his solo institutional debut with Blood Be Water, opening this month at ICA San Jose. Known for his deep exploration of cultural identity and heritage, Samayoa brings a bold and immersive vision to this highly anticipated exhibition.
Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa in his Bay Area studio.
A 2024 Artadia Bay Area awardee, Samayoa presents a dynamic mix of airbrushed paintings, charcoal drawings, oil pastels and ceramics, weaving together influences from muralism, street art, Latin American modernism and folk traditions. Curated by Zoë Latzer, Blood Be Water is a striking meditation on ancestry, transformation and identity fluidity, offering viewers a powerful and deeply personal experience.
Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa’s work reveals the ethnic tapestry of the region.
“Blood Be Water is a gift to San Jose,” says ICA executive director James Leventhal. “Our city has always been a vibrant mosaic of immigrant communities. From the farm workers who shaped the region’s past to the tech workers who now define its future, this exhibition celebrates the resilience and transformation of our diverse populations. Samayoa’s story resonates with so many of the communities we serve, and this exhibition speaks to both the weight and the beauty of those experiences.” March 22-Aug. 24, 560 S. 1st St., San Jose, 408.283.8155, icasanjose.org
Photography by: COURTESY OF THE SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART; COURTESY OF THE SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART; CINQUE MUBARAK; CINQUE MUBARAK; COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
