ABOUT ARTWORK 

Founded in 1992 [as ARTwork Magazine], ARTwork is dedicated to helping emerging artists gain the confidence and exposure necessary to become successful "art businesses", enhancing the sales of established artists, and selling and renting original art in every media to individuals and businesses at affordable prices. ARTwork is funded by commissions from art sales, rentals fees, exhibit fees and membership fees.

Currently ARTwork's portfolio includes over 100 Bay Area artists — both emerging artists and mature, established artists whose works are exhibited and collected throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Japan. This unique mix of artists has produced hundreds of successful exhibits and offers an excellent opportunity for networking and mentoring among members.

ARTwork provides exposure and sales opportunities every day through rotating exhibits in a variety of business venues. ARTwork also makes slide presentations to corporations and individuals interested in purchasing or renting art, negotiates commercial art commissions, and promotes every member on our website. Periodically, ARTwork sponsors large, thematic, membership shows in traditional gallery venues.

ARTwork's founder and director, Johnny Davis, is a fine artist and an accomplished commercial photographer. For over 10 years, Johnny has actively promoted and participated in the efforts of Bay Area art organizations as a volunteer for Camerawork and the Ansel Adams Gallery. He has been a speaker, committee member, consultant for ArtSpan, National Poetry Assoc., and other non-profit organizations. Johnny has curated, installed, and promoted over 3,000 exhibits and events.

Community Involvement

• Sponsored Benefits for Artists Equity & Art Reach
• Group Donations to KTEH TV Auction
• Sponsor San Francisco Cafe Arts Month, 1992-1997
• Producer of 5th Annual SF Cafe Arts Month, 1997
• Auction/Donations to ArtSpan/Open Studios

Professional Associations & Affiliations

• San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Fine Art Museums Beat Culture Consortium '96
• California Lawyers for the Arts
• Artists Equity
• ArtHouse
• National Poetry Association

Johnny Davis, founder/director of ARTworkSF is an entrepreneur with many interests and a cornucopia of business experience. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina he worked as a city planner, and used his AAS Degree  Architecture to do residential design work before moving to San Francisco.

 The creative seed was planted while attending The Business of Art at Fort Mason/City College in 1987, where he began to network with other artists and learn ‘how to survive as an artist’ from author Toby Klayman. In 1992 he founded and published ARTwork Magazine – a forum for artist and business professionals to exchange art and business issues. Artwork began to curate art exhibits in cafes and businesses that soon expanded to include an artist run gallery and his commercial photography studio.

Named one of “50 SF Arts Leaders” SF Top of the Arts by SF Live Magazine, in 1996, Johnny was also honored by the City of San Francisco in 2003 with a proclamation for his ‘exemplary work and contributions to the artistic landscape of The City.

Johnny has volunteered time with other Bay Area art organizations, including SF Camerawork the Ansel Adams Gallery and ArtSpan. He has been an invited speaker for Open Studios, board member for Artist Equity, and a member of the consortium for the Beat Culture exhibit at the DeYoung Museum. Johnny has curated, installed, and promoted over 4,000 exhibits and events for local artists and other non-profit groups, including the 5^th Annual Café Arts Month for the National Poetry Association, a city wide, month long arts festival which organized and promoted 300 exhibits and performances at over 100 locations.