Downtown Doors

10 more 'doors' added to downtown landscape in 2022

Ten more artworks from San Jose-area high school students have been selected to enhance the downtown San Jose public landscape as part of San Jose Downtown Foundation’s Downtown Doors program, now in its 20th year.

Downtown Doors starts as a pure artwork competition among students at on average 15 high schools representing the San Jose, East Side and Campbell districts, plus two private schools.  The latest class of artworks submitted their entries in spring and were celebrated Sept. 29 in the new school year.

The works are enlarged and transferred onto a vinyl coating and installed on downtown’s otherwise stark service doors and utility boxes.

Since the program began in 2003, 319 works from students at 23 different schools have been added into downtown’s highest pedestrian areas to make the walks of passersby more enjoyable.  The student artists learn a great deal about the business of art and the challenges of creating art for the general public, as well as gain confidence in their creative abilities. 

The Downtown Foundation is a charitable organization supporting arts and educational programming.  Students selected each receive a $300 honorarium plus a one-year subscription to  Adobe Creative Cloud products.

This year’s selections were from Willow Glen, Mt. Pleasant, Independence, Andrew Hill, Leigh, Del Mar, Westmont and Notre Dame high schools as well as Bellarmine College Prep.

Since 2020 and the start of the pandemic, SJDF – along with the teachers and students – kept the Downtown Doors going. It was one more positive for people returning to work downtown to see the new Downtown Doors in place.  Meant to be a temporary installation, some Downtown Doors artworks have maintained their vibrant colors and conditions for more than three years.

Look for another new set of Downtown Doors as we celebrate our 20th year in 2023.

During its successful run, Downtown Doors has received the highest award from the International Downtown Association for enhancing Public Spaces in 2012, and was honored by the City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs for Creative Impact at the 2019 Cornerstone of the Arts ceremony.  In 2012, Downtown Doors was also recipient of a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ ArtWorks program.

The program is mostly funded by local grants and individual giving. Donate here

2022 Downtown Doors Reception

2022 Downtown Doors

Del Mar High School
Title: Ice Cream Sundae
Artist: Varsha Vimal
Location: Second Street at Paseo de San Antonio near Starbucks
Site Host: Hines
Sponsor: Republic Services

Independence High School
Title:
A Mother’s Touch
Artist: An Vu
Location: San Salvador Street and Market Street (alcove on San Salvador Street)
Site Host: 360 Residences
Sponsor: Deloitte Services LP

Leigh High School
Title: Seeking Transformation
Artist: Suzy Kim
Location: Second Street near Paseo de San Antonio on former Pavilion
Site Host: Hines
Sponsor: Deloitte Services LP

Mt. Pleasant High School
Title: My Sunshine
Artist: Erianna Solchaga
Location: 170 S. Market St.; west side of hotel near main entrance
Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose
Supported by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose

Andrew Hill High School
Title: Tormenta
Artist: Cynthia Murillo
Location: 170 S. Market St., west side near entrance
Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose
Supported by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose

Notre Dame High School
Title: Our Hair is our History
Artist: Dylan Crooks
Location: Third Street side of The 88 at San Fernando Street
Site Host: The 88
Supported by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose

Mt. Pleasant High School
Title:
Blossom Fish
Artist: Ivy Nguyen
Location: Almaden Boulevard traffic island at West Santa Clara St.
Site Host: City of San Jose
Sponsor: Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Donor Circle for the Arts

Willow Glen High School
Title:
Dare to Dream
Artist: Elsa Engebretson
Location: 8 N. San Pedro St.
Site Host: Meacham/Oppenheimer Inc
Sponsor: Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Donor Circle for the Arts

Westmont High School
Title:
Opposites
Artist: Nikki Shekhtman
Location: San Carlos Street at South First Street
Site Host: City of San Jose
Supported by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose

Bellarmine College Preparatory
Title: Under the Bridge
Artist: Theoren Brouillette
Location: 301 Market St.
Site Host: Marriott San Jose
Supported by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose

2021 Downtown Doors

Independence High School
Title:
Floating Tears
Artist: Valerie Khau
Location: 150 S. First Street
(Between San Fernando & Paseo de San Antonio)
Site Host: Digital Realty Trust
Sponsor: Thanks to our individual donors

Independence High School
Title:
Black Girl Magic
Artist: Briana Wade
Location: San Salvador Street and Market Street, alcove on San Salvador Street
Site Host: 360 Residences
Sponsor: Comcast

Leigh High School
Title:
Entangled
Artist: Suzy Kim
Location: 150 S. First Street at Paseo de San Antonio
Site Host: Digital Realty Trust
Sponsor: Thanks to our individual donors

Gunderson High School
Title:
Prolific World
Artist: Erica Johnson
Location: 301 S. Market Street
Site Host: San Jose Marriott 
Sponsor: Thanks to our individual donors

Dedicated to the Memory of Dennis Skaggs, 1953-2021
SJ Downtown Foundation Board Member and supporter of Downtown Doors

Santa Teresa High School
Title:
Mind Visualization
Artist: Myky Chau
Location: 1st and San Fernando near Rookies
Site Host: City of San Jose
Sponsor: Thanks to our individual donors

Willow Glen High School
Title:
Good Ole’ San Jose
Artist: Annika Engebretson
Location: Northeast corner of Second and St. John streets
Site Host: City of San Jose
Sponsor: Comcast

Yerba Buena High School
Title:
Nighthawks In Chinatown
Artist: Bramble Do
Location: Fourth Street parking garage at City Hall, between Santa Clara and San Fernando streets
Site Host: City of San Jose
Sponsor: Thanks to our individual donors

Yerba Buena High School
Title:
Mexican Farms Near Auvers
Artist: Alejandra Ibarra
Location: 135 San Carlos Street and Market Street
Site Host: San Jose Civic
Sponsor: Adobe

Bellarmine College Preparatory
Title:
Is This A Game?
Artist: Ryan Milligan
Location: San Salvador and Market Streets, alcove on San Salvador Street
Site Host: 360 Residences
Sponsor: Republic Services

Andrew Hill High School
Title:
Floral Tiger
Artist: Tracy Le
Location: AC Hotel, 87 off-ramp and Santa Clara
Site Host: AC Hotel by Marriott
Sponsor: JP DiNapoli Companies Inc.

Fall 2020

Silver Creek High School
Title: 
Beauty and Destruction
Artist: Madison Sciba
Location: Hammer Theatre on Third Street
(101 Paseo de San Antonio )
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Willow Glen High School 
Title:
 Expand Your Horizons
Artist: Cindy Ly
Location: Hammer Theatre
(101 Paseo de San Antonio)
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Leigh High School
Title: 
The Boy in Red
Artist: Dinhe Calamateos-Abarca
Location: The Fairmont
(First Street/Fairmont Hotel)
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Santa Teresa High School 
Title: 
The Noodle Revolution
Artist: Allison Young
Location: Paseo Plaza (Paseo de San Antonio, between Third and Fourth Street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Evergreen Valley High School
Title:
 Timeless
Artist: Selena Huang
Location: Studio Climbing Gym
(396 S. First Street – San Salvador/First Street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Gunderson High School 
Title:
 Ananda
Artist: Alex Hayner
Location: Fairmont Hotel
(170 S. Market Street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Silver Creek High School 
Title:
 Solace
Artist: Heidi Shin 
Location: Cesar Chavez Park utility box @ Paseo de San Antonio
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Leigh High School
Title: 
Girl in Daisy
Artist: Michaela Sampas
Location: Philz Coffee
(Paseo de San Antonio between Third and Fourth streets)
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Andrew Hill High School 
Title: 
Untitled
Artist: Lilian Tran
Location: Fairmont Hotel
(170 S. Market Street )
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Del Mar High School 
Title:
 The Beauty in Blue
Artist: Sonia Portillo
Location: Utility box on Third Street @ Paseo de San Antonio
Sponsor: City of San Jose

Spring 2020

Bellarmine College Prep
Title:
 Untitled

Artist: Oscar Diaz
Location: The Fairmont
(Circle of Palms Plaza at First Street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Gunderson High School
Title:
 My Identity

Artist: Jeanne Clark
Location: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs (Third Street/San Carlos Street)
Site Host: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Silver Creek High School
Title:
 Perpetuity

Artist: Jordan Almaguer
Location: Hammer Theatre Center (101 Paseo de San Antonio, facing the plaza and Second Street)
Sponsor: Ernest and Irene Pestana Charitable Foundation

Del Mar High School
Title:
 The All Seeing Eye

Artist: Audrey Torres-Padilla
Location: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs
(Southeast corner of Market and Santa Clara street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Piedmont Hills High School
Title: 
Pandora’s Basement

Artist: Angela Li
Location: Hammer Theatre Center (Third Street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Silver Creek High School
Title: 
Untitled

Artist: Kristiene Pagaragan
Location: Hammer Theatre Center (Paseo de San Antonio/Third Street)
Sponsor: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Del Mar High School
Title:
 Light Creates Memory: Self Portrait

Artist: Cleo Cole
Location: The Westin
(San Carlos/First Street –
Il Fornaio)
Sponsor: SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara.

Santa Teresa High School
Title:
 Breaking from Routine

Artist: Allison Young
Location: 50 West
(Passageway between 50 W. San Fernando and the San Jose Museum of Art)
Sponsor: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Del Mar High School
Title: 
The Monarch’s Journey

Artist: Audrey Simone Garcia
Location: The Studio Climbing Gym (San Salvador/First Street)
Sponsor: SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara.

Santa Teresa High School
Title:
 Fan Lights

Artist: Thy-Thy Do
Location: Hammer Theatre Center (101 Paseo de San Antonio, facing the plaza and Second Street) 
Sponsor: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs

Downtown Doors Walking Maps

School tally of selections, 2003-present

East Side Union HS District

Piedmont Hills – 23
Santa Teresa – 23
Evergreen Valley – 17
Independence – 16
Andrew P Hill – 14
Yerba Buena – 13
Mount Pleasant –  11
Silver Creek – 8
James Lick – 3
Oak Grove – 3

(131) East Side SubTotal

All other area high schools

Lincoln (includes Saturday Art Academy) – 53
Notre Dame – 35
Del Mar – 16
Leigh – 17
Homestead – 12
Gunderson – 14
Willow Glen – 12
Cupertino – 6
San Jose High Academy – 5
Bellarmine College Prep  – 8
Downtown College Prep – 4
San Jose High – 3
Westmont – 3
Leland – 1
Castillero Middle – 1

(190) All other districts subtotal

Sister Cities


Okayama, Japan – 2
Pune, India – 2
Tainan, Taiwan – 2
Dublin, Ireland – 1
San Jose, Costa Rica – 1

(8) International Subtotal

(329) TOTAL

Downtown Doors supporters

Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Donor Circle for the Arts

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