Kala Art Institute

Kala Art Institute http://kala.org - Residencies, Exhibitions, and Education programs in Berkeley.
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Kala Art Institute helps artists sustain their creative efforts over time through its Artist-in-Residence and Fellowship Programs, and to increase appreciation of this work through gallery exhibitions, public programming and educational efforts. Kala also offers artworks for sale through the Kala Art Sales & Consulting Program, viewable during gallery hours and by appointment.

Exciting news! Kala has been awarded a three-year grant of $150,000 for general operating support from the Phyllis C. Wa...
05/24/2026

Exciting news! Kala has been awarded a three-year grant of $150,000 for general operating support from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation!

We are grateful, energized, and really excited about the work we’re doing supporting artists and engaging the community.

This grant means so much to us given the challenges so many nonprofits face with the current funding ecosystem.

Many thanks and deep appreciation to for this grant that will help sustain Kala’s artist residencies & fellowships / exhibitions & public programs.

With this support we have many programs free and open to the public year-round. This coming week, you’re invited to

~ Open Studios (project spaces by the Kala Gallery), Thurs, May 28, 4-6pm to see the work made in May residencies at Kala by McKnight Fellow Chris Rackley - , Fellowship artist Priya Suresh Kambli - and Visiting Artist-in-Residence Halo Starling - .starling

~Opening Reception, Sun, May 31, 2-4pm (Kala Gallery) for We’re a Mystery Which Will Never Happen Again, curated by Mayumi Hamanaka - .hamanaka featuring work by

Woody De Othello -
Jane Hambleton -
David Huffman -
Lucy Puls -
Meghan Shimek -
Maryam Yousif -

Special thanks to for the David Huffman and Woody De Othello editions

~Opening Reception, Sun, May 31, 2-4pm (Kala Print Room), Thurs, May 28, 2-4pm, Amrita Singhal, Hello, Moon - paintings by / curated by

See you soon at Kala!

Onward ~ 💕

April was a super fun month with the West Berkeley Community Print Festival, Art Kala 2026 - Kala’s auction benefit, and...
05/03/2026

April was a super fun month with the West Berkeley Community Print Festival, Art Kala 2026 - Kala’s auction benefit, and a creative, kind, open, helpful + fun cohort of visiting artists-in-residence (Adrian Weiss, Mark Micchio, and Kuei-Pi LI).

We kicked off the month with happy hour, now the first Thursday of each month up in the Heinz studios, screenprinted T-shirts and totes, lots of studio time, and ended the month with open studios.

Adrian and Mark were both awarded Veterans artist residencies, part of Kala’s veterans initiative in the Arts which comes with a stipend, free class, and a month long Kala residency with a project space and housing across the street at the Higby. Thanks to funders and

We’re thrilled to receive the news that we’re receiving funding from UC Berkeley Chancellors’s Community Partnership Fund for this program for the coming year!

We’ll miss the April cohort of visiting artists-in-residence, but are looking forward to meet the incoming May AIRs on Monday.

Another one in the books! Our teaching artists hosted Family Art Night at Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM) - and it was a blas...
05/01/2026

Another one in the books! Our teaching artists hosted Family Art Night at Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM) - and it was a blast (as it always is)! Students and their families made gelli plate monoprints using various flora, created their own unique butterflies and contributed to a large collective drawing which will be displayed at BAM for everyone to enjoy. A huge thank you to our incredible teaching artists Joey Rose, Gideon, Jennifer and Sara for creating a memorable, art-filled night!🌸🌸🌸

BAM is one of the BUSD schools that we partner with through our Artists-In-Schools program. Kala’s AIS program brings together students, teachers, and families from the East Bay and beyond. Kala’s teaching artists work closely with teachers to develop curricula and art activities that foster curiosity for learning and spark their imaginations.

We also want to take the opportunity to make a Camp Kala announcement - we still have a few spots left for the following camp weeks!

🌞Teen Studio: Acrylic Painting (ages 11-17)
🌞Storytelling Through Art (ages 6-11)
🌞Art in Motion! (ages 6-11)

For questions about Camp Kala, AIS or any of our Youth Arts programming, please reach out to [email protected]!

What a beautiful crowd last night for the culmination of Kala’s 2026 auction benefit.Thank you for showing up and thank ...
04/26/2026

What a beautiful crowd last night for the culmination of Kala’s 2026 auction benefit.

Thank you for showing up and thank you for supporting Kala!!

We’ve raised over $228,000 so far and more on the way - and had fun doing it - thank you!

If you were outbid or missed out on buying art or contributing to fund-a-need, there is still time.

Link in bio to purchase available work at the opening bid or go to ~ https://ArtKala2026.givesmart.com - to navigate to the DONATE tab to make a tax-deductible contribution to Kala.

Thank you to Kala’s small + dedicated staff, to a truly supportive and generous board of directors, to all auction committee members who work on this event over 6 months and come up with new, creative ideas, to Jody Knowlton, Kerri Hurtado, and Tessa Wilcox from for being honorary chairs and bringing so many friends, to Libby Black and Ron Saunders - the honored artists this year and your wise words and beautiful art, to the honorary auction advisory, advisory council, ARTISTS, auction bidders, live auction paddle raisers, fund-a-need champions (we’ve never seen so many paddle raises), volunteers, SPONSORS, local businesses, framers, COLLECTORS, friends and family who made this epic event a BIG SUCCESS!

Thank you to Aaron Bastien from Bonhams for the live auction drama + magic, for DJ Robin Applewood for keeping the vibes up, for for the beautiful spread, and to Venus David, for the drinks.

We love + appreciate you ALL!

If you are the winning bidder of art or other silent auction items, you can pick up your work at the gallery, Tues-Fri, 12-5pm or Saturday, 12-4pm during the next two weeks,

Images here from the phone of and looking forward to the official party 📷 taken by

THANK YOU for supporting Kala!

💕

6-day countdown to Kala’s BIG Art KALA 2026 Auction Party. We’d love for you to join the fun!Art KALA 2026Saturday, Apr...
04/19/2026

6-day countdown to Kala’s BIG Art KALA 2026 Auction Party. We’d love for you to join the fun!

Art KALA 2026
Saturday, April 25, 6-9pm
Kala Gallery, 2990 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley

Kala’s auction is our biggest party AND fundraiser of the year, and directly supports Kala’s arts education, artist residencies, and exhibition programs.

This year the honorary co-chairs are Kerri Hurtado, Judy Knowlton, and Tessa Wilcox from and the Kala Board event co-chairs are Julie McCray, Perrin Meyer, and Jules Roman. We all invite you to join us on April 25th for Art KALA 2026 - an exhibition, auction, and benefit to support Kala!

We’ll raise a glass to toast Kala’s 52nd anniversary and celebrate Kala’s rich history, resilience, and all the inventive and meaningful art being made right here and now in the Bay Area.

Get your tickets today for the auction benefit party on April 25th!

We’ll have delicious food by drinks to toast Kala’s creative community and 52nd year, silent auction, a short program celebrating 2026 honored artists and , DJ sets by and a live auction with auctioneer Aaron Bastian from Bonhams.

April 25 Event Schedule:
6pm - Doors open
7:15pm- Short program honoring Libby Black and Ron Moultrie Saunders
7:30pm - Live Auction
9pm - Silent Auction closes

Big thanks to Kala’s board and staff, auction committee, honorary auction advisory, auction sponsors, framers, supporting galleries & presses, local businesses, and the many talented artists who together have given their time, art, and support to bring you this event.

Looking forward to celebrating with you on Saturday, April 25th. Link in bio to get tickets, browse and bid online, make an auction donation or do what you can to support Kala’s auction and Kala!

Thank you - 💕

Images are from Art Kala 2023-2025. Photo credit: and

Come one and all to Kala this Saturday, April 11, 12-4pm for the annual west Berkeley Community Print Festival!Free and ...
04/05/2026

Come one and all to Kala this Saturday, April 11, 12-4pm for the annual west Berkeley Community Print Festival!

Free and fun for all ages!

Start at the Kala Gallery, 2990 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley. Explore the historic Heinz ketchup factory where Kala is located, discover all Kala’s art-making spaces, try different printmaking techniques, and bring a t-shirt to print on. Let’s celebrate the power of print.

There will be hands-on printmaking activities, artist demos, artist vendors, and tours of the print studio.

Gelli plate and Lego printing, screenprinting on ceramic tiles, weaving, printing on t-shirts, and more!

Copy and paste link below to sign up for print studio tours and to view details of the schedule of activities.

https://www.kala.org/event/west-berkeley-community-print-festival-2025-2/

Bring family and friends for a jam-packed afternoon of free printmaking activities. See you all Saturday!

Image: detail of West Berkeley Community Print Festival poster by

Come one and all to Kala Art Institute, Saturday, April 11, 12-4pm for the annual West Berkeley Community Print Festival...
04/05/2026

Come one and all to Kala Art Institute, Saturday, April 11, 12-4pm for the annual West Berkeley Community Print Festival. Free and fun for all ages!

Meet at the Kala Gallery to start: 2990 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, CA 94702.

Celebrate spring, community, and the joy of printmaking. Explore the historic Heinz ketchup factory where Kala is located, discover all of Kala’s art-making spaces, try out different printmaking activities, and bring a t-shirt to screenprint on.

Join us between 12-4pm for a fun day of art activities from hands on art workshops and artist demos to visiting with artist vendors and print studio tours.

There will be gelli plate & lego printing with Kala teaching artists, print on your own t-shirt, weaving, and make your own screenprinted ceramic tiles. Bring family and friends for an afternoon of printmaking, mark-making, layering, and more!

Copy and paste link below or visit link in bio to sign up for print studio tours and to see details of the schedule.

https://www.kala.org/event/west-berkeley-community-print-festival-2025-2/

See you all this Saturday!

Poster design by

What a week. Preview party, open studios with March visiting artists-in-residence, annual advisory council meeting, and ...
03/29/2026

What a week. Preview party, open studios with March visiting artists-in-residence, annual advisory council meeting, and auction officially launched - thanks for coming to the kickoff and getting the party started!

The annual auction fundraiser always starts as a lot of work and turns into a lot of fun. It takes an incredible amount of teamwork to make this event happen.

Coming together inspires us each year. Everyone is so generous, creative, supportive and lots of good will circulates as people volunteer to take on different roles, sponsor the auction, buy tickets, donate to fund-a-need, participate as artists, visit the gallery, bid on art, buy art; local businesses support the cause donating framing, wine, beer, gift certificates, experiences, and so many other items.

Thank you!

We love being surrounded by all this beautiful art and good energy.

Bidding is open. You can bid online or in person until 9pm Sat, April 25. Link below and in bio.

https://ArtKala2026.givesmart.com

All proceeds support Kala’s mission and work ~ supporting artists over the long arc of their careers and engaging the community through artist residencies, arts education for all ages, and exhibitions and public programs.

Thank you for celebrating and supporting Kala! 💕

Congrats Berkeley High Arts and Humanities Academy on another fantastic exhibition!We love this partnership. Kala’s Arti...
03/08/2026

Congrats Berkeley High Arts and Humanities Academy on another fantastic exhibition!

We love this partnership. Kala’s Artists-in-Schools program has worked with Miriam Klein Stahl - - Berkeley High and AHA students, teachers, teaching artists and community since 2007. 💕

If you haven’t had a chance to see the show, we’ve extended the dates through Thursday, March 12th.

Kala’s Gallery is open Tues-Fri, 12-5pm and Saturdays 12-4pm.

Next up is Art Kala 2026 - Kala’s Auction Exhibition and Benefit, March 26-April 25. 💕

Mark your calendars for the free, fun, fabulous, family friendly kick off Thursday, March 26, 6-9pm.

Tickets are on sale for the big finale, Kala 52nd anniversary party, short program honoring Libby Black - - and Ron Moultrie Saunders - - plus silent and live auction, drinks, DJ Robin Applewood, food by California Rose and more - Saturday, April 25, 2026. 💕

See you soon at the Kala Gallery!

☀️What we love about Camp Kala☀️- It’s not just the awesome artmaking in the classrooms, but the friendships, laughs and...
02/27/2026

☀️What we love about Camp Kala☀️- It’s not just the awesome artmaking in the classrooms, but the friendships, laughs and conversations that happen between our campers. Play is an integral part of Camp Kala, whether we’re enjoying outside time at San Pablo Park or getting to know each other through group games; it’s what makes summers at Kala so special. We’re looking forward to another summer full of creative discoveries and connections!

Camp Kala offers artists ages 6-17 a fun, supportive and creative experience through week-long camps in painting, drawing, mixed media, digital photography and more. Weekly sessions are led by Kala’s amazing teaching artists who work with campers to explore new art projects and develop artistic skills.

Dates: June 8 - August 7, 2026 (weekly camps)
For: Ages 6-11 (youth) & Ages 11-17 (teen)
General Tuition: $475 (5 day week) ; $380 (4 day week)
Aftercare (3-5pm) is available for youth camp weeks

Reduce tuition and limited tuition assistance is available for all camp weeks - please visit our website (Education —> Camp Kala) for more information.

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]!

Address

Emeryville, CA

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15108417000

Website

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