Have you ever wanted to see the world through someone else’s eyes?
By John Patrick McKenzie. Marker on Paper. Photos by Kellie Hanna & Greg Roberts
At I Wish I Had a Window at Narrative Oakland, you can. This first-of-its-kind exhibition—featuring more than 500 works from 200 artists across seven progressive art studios nationwide—offers an intimate glimpse into the experiences, emotions, and creative visions of artists with disabilities. But it’s more than just an art show; it’s an invitation to look deeper, truly see, and rethink who gets to be celebrated in the art world.
“Organizing shows of this scale is critical to changing the overall conversation on what is ‘worthy’ to collect—and who is ‘worthy’ in broader society.” – Rachel Weisman, Gallery Director, Fountain House Gallery & Studio, New York
The show, which runs through April 19, is the vision of Greg Roberts, curator and longtime advocate of the artists and studios represented in the exhibition. Roberts told me the idea for the project percolated in his head for six years until it got the green light in late October. He says the show is meant to break down silos and bring national attention to the artists represented.
“People in the Bay Area might know Creative Growth or NIAD, but they often weren’t familiar with artists from across the country. I wanted to show on a larger, integrated, immersive scale the wide variety of art created nationwide.” Roberts explained.
Determined to bring together a diverse and expansive collection, Roberts worked in collaboration with Creative Growth, Creativity Explored, NIAD Art Center (Bay Area); ECF Art Centers (Los Angeles); Fountain House Gallery & Studio, Pure Vision Arts (New York); and Project Onward (Chicago).
Within just a month, he flew across the country—Chicago, New York, Los Angeles—digging through archives, selecting works, and photographing pieces, all necessary steps to make his long-time dream a reality.
Roberts explained his process, “I sorted through over 30,000 unique works to select the 550 in this show. I only paid attention to my feelings in the moment of seeing the art. With a few artists that I am very familiar with, I was allowed access to their stored work that I have never seen before and the public has never seen before.”
The result? An extraordinary collection of artistic styles and mediums: expressive and colorful paintings, elegant textiles, abstract mixed-media pieces, raw and emotional sculptures, and collages that invite closer inspection. Each piece offers a compelling glimpse into the deeply personal reflections of the artists behind them.
Walking through the exhibit on March 14, I felt immersed in the perspectives of the artists on display. I Wish I Had a Window is about visibility and recognition.
“The vision for the show was to curate works that I found appealing and representative of the wide array of styles, perspectives, media, and content that artists with disabilities create,” Roberts told me. “I wanted to blend multiple artworks from the largely unseen creations of amazing artists who are marginalized by the status quo.”
Roberts says that some visitors have no exposure to art created by artists with disabilities. Those (like me) who have are blown away by the range, depth, and originality on display at this show.
“The insight and perspectives and even the media is well beyond anyone’s expectations. Myself included.”
One of the most unique aspects of I Wish I Had a Window is its accessibility and dynamic nature. Visitors are encouraged to purchase pieces straight from the walls, so the show is ever-evolving, allowing more artists to have their work seen and collected.
For those interested in taking a piece home, exhibition books list available works along with their (relatively affordable) prices, so visitors can buy something that speaks to them and take it with them the same day.
I Wish I Had A Window March 14 – April 19, 2025 Narrative Oakland 590 2nd St, Oakland. 94607
To see the show’s entire catalog of works visit: Web: gregrobertsart.com And you can follow along on Greg’s Instagram as well: @gregroberts6
