Art Object Gallery

This is a really special place. You can really feel all the love and care put into it when you walk in the door. The art is always thought-​provoking and inspiring. If you’re ever in Japantown, stopping here is a must!

If you are in Japantown SJ you have to visit this gallery. There are pieces on display from local artists, and some of Ken’s amazing work. Great venue to rent for events too!

I absolutely love this gallery, which triples as artist Ken Matsumoto’s studio/​workshop with a garden/​bonsai shop in front. It is extremely UNpretentious and laid back, truly down-​home Japantown atmosphere, which is so refreshing in a gallery; yet the gallery itself is extremely well-​kept and the installations are always immaculate and professional. The space has an interesting layout with lovely skylights, and great track-​lighting for the art. Most importantly, the art I see here is always top-​knotch, and spreads itself evenly between 2-​D work and sculpture. Ken Matsumoto is himself, a truly great artist.
My only criticism is that from the outside, the gallery is not inviting to newcomers unfamiliar with the setup, but this is not done on purpose. It is simply hard to tell if the gallery is there, or even open if you aren’t used to it already, and for this reason I passed by it for a good year or two, thinking it was an old sign and the gallery had shut down… I felt like I was intruding when walked into the front space. But oh how pleasantly surprised I was when I first walked in, and I’ve loved coming back again and again ever since. A San Jose treasure!

JAPONICA NURSERY — Its only been open, officially, for a couple of weeks or so now, but found it a wonderfully peaceful oasis. A community within a community, this shop is one of a few diverse artistic studios in one location within Japantown. Beautiful selection, although limited by space, of plants and arrangements for yourself or a friend. Take in the positive, green energy of the nursery, strike up a conversation with the resident artists and enjoy the charm of the neighborhood!

This will sound a little funny… but Ken, the owner of the art gallery, helped me get engaged. In fact, he damned well saved the whole proposal!
Here’s the story… it’s long, but the more you read, the more you’ll learn how awesome Ken is:
I’m proposing to GF. I lock down a venue in Milpitas on contract a month prior. BUT 6 days before proposal, the venue pulls out on me (sidenote: the Milpitas manager turned out to have issues and attacked me and gf personally).
Frantically looking for another place, I stumble onto Ken & his gallery, told him the story, and he instantly was like «You know what, dude? don’t even worry about it. Come on in and tell me what you think of the place.»
So he shows me around. The art gallery is beautiful; very clean & elegant and it was exactly what I was looking for. I asked him if it was okay for me to bring in plants, interior decorators, 500+ balloons, sound, etc. He pauses mid step, looks at me, smiles, and says:
«dude…you can do whatever the fuck you want.» Haha AWESOME.
So my decorating crew rolls in, we set up décor from ground up. Ken was supposed to leave early, but we were behind on set up schedule. I tell Ken. He pauses mid step, looks at me, and says: «oh…don’t even worry about it.» AWESOME. Dude stuck around on his own time just to make sure I had everything I needed.
BUT THEN PLOT TWIST. Proposal had to be delayed due to a family tragedy. So I sheepishly go back to Ken, explain it all, and ask for the décor to stay just awhile longer. And again, he just goes «dude…it’s all good, don’t even worry about it.» Respect. Ken was very understanding and a great guy during that time.
The GF, on the other hand, didn’t know abt ANY of this. She just showed up, got surprised, and said «yes.» (best day of my life).
And that is how Ken helped salvage my proposal. Yknow, despite all the obstacles, I have to say things ended up way better than originally planned. You rock, Ken!!!

I practically grew up in Jtown, so I’m glad there’s a gallery/​studio like this, especially run by a guy like Ken Matsumoto. He’s down to earth and great to interact with.
Definitely check it out during the openings or other events, they turn the outside into a pretty neat socializing place!

Of course! In a valley where the last walnut orchard went away decades ago, what is the coolest use to which you can put the remains of an abandoned-​looking old walnut shelling plant with its corrugated equipment sheds and workers shacks sitting on cracked concrete driveway on the edge of Japantown? Why, you can turn it over to artists! Let’em make it into a studio and gallery. They’ll find some way to make the place interesting and inviting.
I didn’t even know this place existed until, balloons hung outside the Art Objects gates during Nikkei Matsuri festival kind of alerted me to the fact that there was actually something for idlers like me on the other side of the univiting cyclone fence that fronts the property. Wandered in there again during the SakeFest… At the big open doored shed towards the back of the property the crowds could gather and watch the glass blowing artisans heating up. blowing, snipping, and molding blobs of molten colored glass into decorative drinking and eating utensils.
You can wander into the gallery proper, a shed on the other side of the driveway. and view painting and sculptures in a relaxed, ramshackle setting. Plenty of open and semi-​open places. A real kick-​back place to view works.
Looks like they have a few tables and chairs under a covered area in front of the gallery. for people just to sit around and drink tea and gab. must be great on a lazy summer day.
Last place in San Jo where’d you *expect* to find an art gallery … which makes it a *great* place to *have* one!