Downtown Doors 2025
22 Years of Art. 20 New Doors. Infinite Inspiration.
The San Jose Downtown Foundation’s signature program, Downtown Doors, transforms ordinary service doors and utility boxes into vibrant public art galleries — showcasing the unique perspectives of local high school students. Each year, 20+ winning artworks are enlarged and displayed at 100+ locations throughout Downtown San Jose, sparking curiosity and conversation among passersby.
Over the past 22 years, 391 original student artworks from 28 schools have brought color, creativity, and meaning to our city’s streets.
On May 15, we celebrated the 2025 Class of Downtown Doors at the San Jose Museum of Art. This year’s event marked the debut of the Dr. Jerry Hiura Next Gen Visual Artist Award, created in memory of former Trustee Dr. Jerry Hiura — a beloved community leader, dedicated artist, and passionate advocate for youth and the arts. The award was presented alongside our annual recognition of 20 outstanding student artists.
Here are a few moments from the reception:
Traditional Category Winners
A Storybook of Dreams
By Pauline Nguyen
Location: 150 S First St.
School: Yerba Buena High School
Instructor: Maria Furman
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Papa Bear
By Ashley Hein
Location: 1st and San Fernando (near Rookies)
School: Lynbrook High School
Instructor: Matthew Reynolds
Sponsor: Councilmember Peter Ortiz
Site Host: City of San Jose
Farmer’s Market
By Yunhee Shin
Location: 150 S First St.
School: Westmont High School
Instructor: Amanda Borges
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Subtle Melancholy
By Melodie Lee
Location: 396 S First St.
School: Archbishop Mitty High School
Instructor: Peggy Lemak
Sponsor: Ernest and Irene Pestana Charitable Foundation
Site Host: The Studio Climbing
Future Nostalgia
By Chloe Gao
Location: Third Street and San Carlos Street
School: Branham High School
Instructor: Mr. Duran-Hulton
Sponsor: Adobe
Site Host: City of San Jose
Ribcage Tunnel
By Adam Noke
Location: 301 S First St.
School: Leigh High School
Instructor: Kimberly Bartel
Sponsor: Adobe
Site Host: City of San Jose
Still Growing
By Maria Anisimova
Location: 150 S First St.
School: Archbishop Mitty High School
Instructor: Ryan Olein
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Sweet Glaze
By Hyunji Park
Location: S Third St. and E San Fernando St.
School: Leigh High School
Instructor: Kimberly Bartel
Sponsor: Republic Services
Site Host: City of San Jose
Boundless Dreams
By Sophia He
Location: 150 S First St. (by Starbucks)
School: Piedmont Hills High School
Instructor: Krystal Hart
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Plasmic
By Arthur Hu
Location: Second Street by Paseo de San Antonio
School: Leigh High School
Instructor: Kimberly Bartel
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Shadow Puppets
By Eulina Ji
Location: Second Street by Paseo de San Antonio
School: Branham High School
Instructor: Leslie Do
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Life In The Dreamhouse
By Alexis Kim
Location: 65 Post St. (Across from Splash)
School: Westmont High School
Instructor: Amanda Borges
Sponsor: Adobe
Site Host: Harvest Properties
Something Never Changes
By Vy Truong
Location: 150 S First St.
School: Independence High School
Instructor: Brandi Fabricius
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Molding Me
By Zoey Crisan
Location: 118 Paseo de San Antonio
School: Archbishop Mitty High School
Instructor: Ryan Olein
Sponsor: SV Creates
Site Host: Devcon
Peach²
By Yan-Yi Ku
Location: 151 S Second St.
School: Leigh High School
Instructor: Kimberly Bartel
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Digital Category Winners
Off Track
By Casey Kim
Location: 115 Paseo de San Antonio
School: Westmont High School
Instructor: Amanda Borges
Sponsor: SV Creates
Site Host: Devcon
Passion
By Haley Ocumen
Location: 151 S Second St.
School: Willow Glen High School
Instructor: Sandra Holland
Sponsor: Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP
Site Host: Hines
Inspiring Point of View
By Julerie Suralta
Location: Hammer Theatre on Third St. (101 Paseo de San Antonio)
School: Independence High School
Instructor: Virginia Ingelfinger
Sponsor: Knight Foundation
Site Host: Hammer Theatre Center
Photography Category Winners
Closed Off
By Ben Kiznyte
Location: 396 S First St.
School: Westmont High School
Instructor: Rachael Bradley
Sponsor: America Online Giving Fund
Site Host: The Studio Climbing
Fast Forward
By Aiden Le
Location: Hammer Theatre on Third St. (101 Paseo de San Antonio)
School: Piedmont Hills High School
Instructor: Ian Tippetts
Sponsor: Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Site Host: Hammer Theatre Center
Find the Doors
Explore the locations of Downtown Doors installations with our interactive map
Support the Next Generation of Artists
Downtown Doors is made possible by individual giving and local grants.
Every contribution helps amplify student voices and bring art to downtown streets.
School tally of selections, 2003-2025
East Side Union HS District
Andrew P Hill – 14
Evergreen Valley – 19
Independence – 25
James Lick – 4
Mount Pleasant – 12
Oak Grove – 4
Piedmont Hills – 25
Santa Teresa – 26
Silver Creek – 8
Yerba Buena – 16
(153) East Side Subtotal
All other area high schools
Abraham Lincoln (includes Saturday Art Academy) – 54
Archbishop Mitty – 5
Bellarmine College Prep – 8
Branham High School – 2
Castillero Middle – 1
Cupertino – 6
Del Mar – 17
Downtown College Prep – 4
Gunderson – 14
Homestead – 12
Leigh – 29
Leland – 1
Lynbrook High School – 1
Notre Dame – 42
San Jose High Academy – 5
San Jose High School – 3
Westmont High School – 10
Willow Glen – 16
(230) All other district schools Subtotal
Sister Cities
Okayama, Japan – 2
Pune, India – 2
Tainan, Taiwan – 2
Dublin, Ireland – 1
San Jose, Costa Rica – 1
(8) International Subtotal
(391) TOTAL
2025 Downtown Doors supporters
Ernest and Irene Pestana Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Thank you to the San Jose Museum of Art for hosting the reception
