1202 Contemporary, formerly Gallery 1202, is a cornerstone art institution located in the South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Situated in downtown Gilroy, 1202 Contemporary has brought high-quality exhibitions to the area for the past 4 years, shown at art fairs across the United States, and assisted in placing works in museum and private collections across the globe.
In 2022, Gallery 1202 transitioned to a 501(c)3 organization in order to further support artists in their career, and to bring contemporary art into Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister and surrounding areas.
The gallery's mission is to be an inclusive, welcoming space for the community while focusing on promoting marginalized artists. We strive to amplify the silenced voices in the art-world, including womxn, and BIPCOC artists, artists with young families, and artists who deal in alternative mediums, and subject-matter.
1202 Contemporary new location will be located in The Clove Art Complex, within the historic Millias building on the corner of 6th and Monterey Road . The gallery is currently looking to add 2 new board members to its Founding Board. Please e-mail emily@gallery1202.com for more information.
Emily McEwan-Upright
Founder | President | Board Meber
Emily McEwan-Upright is our Founder and current President of 1202 Contemporary. She is a leading figure in the Gilroy arts scene, recognized for her dedication to cultivating a vibrant and accessible artistic landscape.
Her journey began in 2017 with the founding of 1202 Contemporary, our non-profit gallery showcasing diverse contemporary art practices. This initiative was driven by a desire to provide a platform for underrepresented voices and push the boundaries of artistic expression.
Abby Rose Bettencourt
Board Member
Abby has been with 1202 Contemporary since 2021 where she held the position of Gallery manager until our transition into a nonprofit, and the move of our physical space.
She's on our Board of Directors and runs our Artist Highlight shows on @Artsy, professionally installs our shows and has AMAZING registrar skills while teaching at @mpcmonterey, and being a full time artist! We would not be where we are without her!
Rachel-Anne Palacios
Board Member
Rachel-Anne Palacios is an Afro-Chicana Oakland native, multi-cultural arts educator, and self taught folk artist. She has been creating and sharing art that reflects her respect for culture, spirituality, traditional values, elders and the cycle of life and death with the community for more than 20 years.
She is currently working as the Multicultural arts instructor at Bella Vista and Cleveland Elementaries and at Oakland International High school in Oakland.
Joan Spencer
Board Member
Joan Spence launched the Spence Gallery as a part-time venture in 2005. In 2017, she transitioned from her career as a public policy professional to operate the gallery full-time. The Spence Gallery showcases an eclectic collection, supporting a diverse group of professional artists at various stages of their careers. Joan's love of travel complements her passion for art. Since 2010, she has presented gallery artists at over 60 international art fairs across 10 countries.
Joan’s commitment to fostering artistic talent and cultural exchange has made the Spence Gallery a prominent fixture in the Toronto art scene. She loves to bike to the gallery and explore Toronto’s vibrant art and cultural scene, finding inspiration and new artists along the way.
Joan lives and works in downtown Toronto, Canada.
Amber Atteberry
Board Member
Amber, an organizational psychologist and recent arrival from Austin, Texas, developed a passion for art during high school, delving into art history throughout college. Her appreciation spans various art forms such as poetry, music, and theatre. She can easily get lost in an art museum, and she gravitates towards cities steeped in historical culture. As a board member of 1202 Contemporary, Amber takes pleasure in contributing to its mission of providing a platform for marginalized artists and promoting contemporary art in the South Bay area.
“Art is the meeting ground of the world inside and the world outside” - Elinor Ulman
Cristy Aguilar
Marketing | Graphic Design
Cristy Aguilar is a San José State University alumni with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media Art.
Born in the South Bay, she is a multimedia artist and designer with experience as a graphic designer, illustrator, web designer, and more.
Kayla Vo
Intern
Previous Interns
Previous Interns Here at 1202 Contemporary
Eva Greene, 2023 Intern
Cristy Aguilar, 2022 Intern
Internship Opportunities
We are not offering internship opportunities at this time.