Civic Center Art Gallery

October 1, 2026, to January 7, 2027

Marin County Civic Center 1st and 3rd floor Galleries

Marin's iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center becomes home to the work of Marin-based designers Simon Ungless and Jody Niederkohr, founders of sustainable luxury brand When Simon Met Ralph (WSMR).

Known for their "rehabbed" luxury wear and one-of-a-kind home accessories, this exhibit gathers WSMR's expansive creative vision under one roof. Selected by the artists in collaboration with Marin Cultural Association, the works span signature feather-print suit jackets, lace dresses treated with a rubberized overlay, felted wall-hangings, and never-before-seen graphic prints. Archival pieces beloved by fans around the globe sit alongside entirely new work, because, as Niederkohr puts it, the brand is always moving forward creatively.

The exhibit also debuts a collaboration with ceramicist Susan McKinney, who worked with WSMR to source glass beads from vintage 1920s dresses and embed them into clay. Fired at Cone 5 heat, the beads melt into the stone, leaving softly variegated color woven through geometric forms inspired by the Civic Center building itself.

Ungless's print work, created with early collaborator Alexander McQueen, is part of the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Filling the Civic Center galleries on the first and third floors, this is a rare chance to see the full range of WSMR's vision up close.

May 14 - September 24, 2026

Marin Civic Center 1st Floor Gallery

Surf, Skate, Street brings together three powerful currents of creative expression—surfing, skateboarding, and graffiti—each born from movement, rebellion, and a deep connection to place. This exhibit explores how cultures rooted in coastlines and city streets have shaped a visual language that is raw, kinetic, and unmistakably alive. These art forms are not confined to studios; they unfold in motion—on water, on pavement, and across concrete surfaces—where creativity meets risk, freedom, and identity.

Surf, Skate, Street features local artists alongside artists from the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, all of whom blur the line between sport and art. Together, their work reveals how style, innovation, and self-expression ripple across communities and generations.

Image detail: "Malibu Trandum" by Michael Knowlton

May 14 - September 24, 2026

Marin Civic Center 3rd Floor Gallery

Behind every public service role is a human story, shaped by identity, resilience, and belonging.

The Art of Public Service features work by Marin County employees who came together to make art, share personal stories, and reflect on how their identities shape their work. Through painting, collage, and conversation, they explored how creativity can deepen relationships, surface meaningful narratives, and strengthen a shared sense of purpose.

Marin Civic Center

1st and 3rd Floor Galleries

3501 Civic Center Drive

San Rafael, CA 94903

Hours: 

• 9am to 6pm
• Monday through Friday

The Civic Center Gallery is closed on the following holidays:

• January 1
• January 20
• February 17
• March 31
• May 26
• June 19
• July 4
• September 1
• November 11
• November 27
• November 28
• December 25