Local Color SJ is not an arts organization; it’s an artists’ organization. Founded in 2015 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) by San Jose-based artist Erin Salazar, Local Color is for artists, by artists. This ethos drives their mission to build equitable pathways for artists to thrive. “I care about supporting local artists getting paid equitably for work that beautifies and signifies the community that they live in,” Salazar shares.

Their public art program has brought together a community of local artists to celebrate San Jose’s cultural diversity. Vital to their program, Salazar shares, is “the ability to have your community represented back at you and to ensure that artists have the things that they need to thrive.” She adds, “Because we work with such a diversity of artists—we work with artists who have a variety of different backgrounds, cultures, histories, and lived experiences—when people come to San Jose, they see themselves reflected in their public spaces, too.” From celebrating 100 artists in 100 Block SJ to bringing the community together to paint the Threads Woven street mural, Local Color has redistributed over $1.8 million back to creatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing San Jose’s
artistic community.  

Local Color
300 S. 1st Street 
localcolorsj.org
IG: localcolorsj