Join us for the ICA San José’s 2025 Benefit Art Auction and 45th Anniversary Celebration

Come be a part of one of Silicon Valley’s signature events. This year we will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the founding of ICA San José. The Benefit and Art Auction will be held at the ICA on Saturday, November 1, from 5-9 PM where we’ll honor patrons Nicki and Pete Moffat, along with artist Naomie Kremer. Join us for an unforgettable night of tempting bites, vibrant drinks, shared learning, and warm connection. Catering will be provided by Smashing Dishes.

The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art’s annual auction has long been considered a premier event in the South Bay for art lovers to add interesting pieces to their collection…Executive Director James Leventhal wants the event to do more than just raise money for the downtown gallery and its artists. He wants to use the event to celebrate art and artists — and to maybe unlock the artist in everyone who comes through the doors. “We all need uplifting right now,” he said….As part of that, the auction will have a very different feel than in the past. It’ll start with a big celebration with music, cocktails. “Slowly but surely, we want to focus a bit more on the event itself, reinforcing the mission of the SJICA: supporting artists and the SJICA’s role as a place for learning, a collaborative platform and incubator,” Leventhal said.

– Sal Pizzaro, San Jose Mercury News

Please note: The works to be included in the Benefit & Art Auction will be fully installed by Friday evening on October 3, 2025 when the ICA will host its annual Artists’ Mixer event to showcase the works and bring all of the artists together. Please stop by any time, Thursday through Sunday from 12-5, to preview the works. For a private showing or questions, please contact Haley Kerrigan at haley@sjica.org.

This year’s auction will feature a wide range of exceptional artworks and unique experiences. Confirmed artists include Jim Campbell, Wanxin Zhang, Pantea Karimi, Kara Maria, and Natalya Burd, with more artists and experiences to be announced soon.

All works are now available for online bidding on Clickbid! Please see the instructions and link below to start bidding.

Registering on Clickbid

Click the Clickbid link below, which will take you to the 2025 ICA Benefit and Art Auction bidding page.
Tap “register to bid” and enter your contact information. When you’re done, hit submit. Log in by entering in your bidder number, phone number, or email address and tap GO.
Confirm you are the name listed (a password may be required at this time) then hit “Continue”.
Once completely logged in, you can search by item number, keyword, or by category. All auction artworks will be listed in alphabetical order by the artist’s last name, with experience lots being listed at the end.

How to Bid

Swipe up and down to browse items. You can also filter items using the MENU or search buttons.
To place a bid tap on the blue “Bid/Info” button. There you can place a fast bid, swipe/click and choose an amount to bid, or set a max bid, and read details about items. Tap on MENU > MY ITEMS to view your activity throughout the event.
You can place current bids or max bids for any item. A max bid tells ClickBid to bid up to your max. If you are not able to make it to the event on November 1st but would like to bid, this is a great option.
When the auction ends, tap on MENU and then the thumbs up to see what you won.

Remember, bid high and bid often!

Please note that you will be prompted to provide your credit card information during the registration process. This is necessary for bidding and purchases, so we encourage you to complete this step to participate fully. Everything is fully secure. Additionally, the gallery currently features temporary labels for the items on display. For more detailed information on each item, please visit the ClickBid page by clicking the link below.

Clickbid: Bid on Artworks Here!

Auction Preview

Community Support Levels

Purchase 2 Tickets – $500

Includes:

Admission to Benefit Art Auction and 45th Anniversary for 2

PURCHASE 2 TICKETS

Purchase 1 Ticket – $250

Includes:

Admission to Benefit Art Auction and 45th Anniversary for 1

PURCHASE 1 TICKET

Community Ticket – $100

Includes:

Admission for to Benefit Art Auction and 45th Anniversary for 1 (After 6PM)

PURCHASE COMMUNITY TICKET

Host Committee Levels

Benefactor – $10,000

As a Benefactor, you will get:

10 Complimentary Tickets
Listing on an exhibition
Complimentary Director’s Circle Membership
Full-page ad/listing in the printed program
Name on Auction invite
Invitation to special art preview cocktail reception
Onsite event recognition at the ICA

JOIN AS A BENEFACTOR

Investor – $5,000

As an Investor, you will get:

10 Complimentary Tickets
Complimentary Patron level Membership
Half-page ad/listing in the printed program
Name on Auction invite
Invitation to special art preview cocktail reception
Onsite event recognition at the ICA

JOIN AS AN INVESTOR

Supporter – $2,500

As a Supporter, you will get:

10 Complimentary Tickets
Complimentary Activist level Membership
Quarter-page ad/listing in the printed program
Name on Auction invite
Invitation to special art preview cocktail reception
Onsite event recognition at the ICA

JOIN AS A SUPPORTER

Fund-a-Need

If you’re unable to join us on November 1st for the Benefit & Art Auction, you can still make a meaningful impact on the ICA’s future. A gift through Fund-a-Need directly supports our exhibitions, programs, and the artists who inspire our community. It also helps ensure that unlike most institutions, we’re free of charge to the general public. Your generosity ensures that the ICA remains a space where bold ideas, diverse voices, and transformative experiences thrive.

If you wish to make your contribution via check, Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), wire transfer, or a gift of stock, please reach out to Haley Kerrigan at haley@sjica.org.

2025 Honorees

Nicki and Pete Moffat

Longtime patrons of the arts, Nicki and Pete Moffat have played a pivotal role in supporting ICA San José. Their passion for creativity and community enrichment is evident through their generous contributions to youth programming, art exhibitions, and inclusive cultural initiatives. As collectors and advocates, the Moffats continue to shape the region’s contemporary art landscape with purpose and vision.

2025 Artist Honoree

Naomi Kremer

Naomie Kremer, Artist

Naomie Kremer has a long and meaningful history with the ICA. In 2005, her first retrospective Keeping Time: Naomie Kremer Works 1992-2004 included a substantial, full-color catalogue. As her career flourished, Kremer had a second exhibition with more media-based works at the ICA in 2015. Naomie is a celebrated painter, video artist and stage designer whose innovative “hybrid paintings” merge traditional painting with video to create immersive, multidimensional experiences. Her work draws on themes from nature, architecture, and literature, and is included in major public and private collections, including the Whitney Museum and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She is represented by Modernism, Inc. (SF).

Learn more about Naomie Kremer →