This October, Oakland Art Murmur joins NEXUS: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week with a special edition of Art Murmur on First Fridays. Step into Oakland’s galleries and experience exhibitions that celebrate Black creativity—honoring legacies of the past while envisioning bold futures.
Participating spaces include Johansson Projects, Mighty Mighty Studios, inStudios, Mercury 20, GearBox, and Transmission Gallery, each presenting dynamic exhibitions Friday, October 2, for Art Murmur on First Friday. This is a chance to connect with the power of Black art in Oakland.
2026 Nexus Events
- Gear Box Gallery
- “Our Prism of Dreams” by artist Caleb Dowdell
- First Friday Art Murmur, Oct 2: 12-5pm
- Sat, Oct 3, 1:30pm, musical performance
- Downstairs at 770 west Grand Ave., Suite B, Thur-Sat 12-5pm
- Transmission Gallery
- “Fear Not” by artist William Rhodes
- Art Murmur on First Friday, Oct 2: 12-5pm
- Saturday, Oct 3, 2pm: Artist talk and gospel choir performance
- Upstairs at 770 West Grand Ave., Suite A, Thurs-Sat 12-5pm
- Johansson Projects
- “Night Watch” by artist Gregory Rick @gregoryrickstudio
- Art Murmur on First Friday, Oct 2: 1-8pm; artist reception 5-8pm
- Also showing Sheena Rose and Nimah Gobir; https://www.sheenaroseart.com/; https://www.nimahgobir.com/
- 2300 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA, Gallery hours Thurs-Sat 1-5
- inStudio
- Group Show “The Distance Between: Traveling Beyond Count Time”
- Art Murmur on First Friday, Oct 2: 1-9pm; 6-8pm Panel discussion and Live Performance
- 473 25th St, Suite A, First Friday 5-9pm
- Mercury 20
- “Get Up Stand Up” by artist Patricia Guthrie textile artist and quilt maker
- Art Murmur on First Friday, Oct 2: 5-9pm
- 475 25th St, Oakland, Fri-Sat 12-5pm, First Friday 5-9pm
- Mighty Mighty Studio
- Opening reception of artist Selena Scott
- Art Murmur on First Friday, Oct 2: 5-8pm
- 480 23rd St, Oakland, Fri 5-8pm
2025 Nexus Highlights
Explore the full schedule of events below and join us in celebrating vision, history, and imagination through Black artistry.
- Johansson Projects: Better Dey Come, Nimah Gobir
- Artist Talk, Thursday, October 2, 5-6:30pm
- First Friday Art Walk, October 3, 1-8pm
- 2300 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA, Gallery hours Thurs-Sat 1-5
- Mighty Mighty Studios: Material Worlds, Constance Moore
- First Friday Art Walk, October 3, 5-8pm
- Artist Talk, Sunday, October 5, 1 pm
- 443 25th St, Oakland
- Joyce Gordon: My Future, My Choice by Celia Peters
- First Friday Art Walk and Opening Reception, October 3, 5-8pm
- Futurist Youth Program, Saturday, October 4, 1:30-3pm
- Artist Talk + Closing Reception, Sunday, 10.05, 2-4pm
- First Friday Street Fair Artist Booth, October 3, 5-9:30pm
Learn more about Nexus here and Oakland Art Murmur’s activation here.
