In partnership with San José State University (SJSU), a series of temporary public art activations will coincide with Super Bowl, NCAA Championship, and FIFA World Cup

February 6 - 8 at City Hall

Esteban Garcia Bravo with students from SJSU CADRE Media Lab, Digital Media Art, and Spatial (sculpture) Program, Minis  

Artist and SJSU Professor Esteban Garcia Bravo, in collaboration with students from SJSU’s CADRE Lab, Digital Media Art, and Spatial Art (Sculpture) programs, will create illuminated sculptures inspired by 2026 athletic events in San José.

• For the SJ26 concert series, the team will present Minis, two light-based sculptures with programmed LED effects.

• For the NCAA Championship Games during March Madness, the team will present a third light-based sculpture.

• For FIFA, Esteban Garcia Bravo will develop Buckyball, a large, walk-in soccer ball sculpture featuring interior projection mapping that transforms the surfaces into an immersive visual experience.

March 26-28 at the SAP Center 

G. Craig Hobbs with SJSU CADRE Media Lab, Free Throw  

Artist and SJSU Professor Craig Hobbs will collaborate with students from the CADRE Lab and the Digital Media Art program to present Free Throw, an interactive projection mapping installation. Participants will take three free throws using internally lit, glowing basketballs at an LED-illuminated freestanding hoop, activating dynamic visuals projected onto the SAP Center façade.

San Jose 2026 Wayfinding Project: 

CURATUS, SJDA, DOT, OED, Sports Authority 

San Jose Downtown Association will launch a dynamic and intuitive wayfinding experience that turns downtown San José into a vibrant, discoverable map. A cohesive visual system—featuring emotive district colors, iconic signage, and custom amenity icons—will guide visitors seamlessly between neighborhoods like SoFA, Little Italy, and San Pedro Square, highlighting the unique artistic and cultural character of each. This campaign, a collaboration between CURATUS and the San José Sports Authority, will not only enhance navigation during major sporting events but will also create an engaging legacy of connectivity and civic pride, inviting everyone to explore the heart of our city with confidence and excitement.

100 Sharks – Stitching Districts – Sharks Way

Jim Fonseca, SJDA, DOT, OED, OCA

Sharks Way continues the vibrant legacy of the 2025 Woven Threads mural—a community effort involving nearly 2,000 participants—by transforming the corridor from San Pedro Square to the Shark Tank into an immersive artistic experience. Starting at the corner of San Pedro Street and St. John Street, the installation features a dynamic pathway of 100 sharks swimming toward the SAP Center, visually guiding fans and visitors to event destinations like a school of sharks moving toward their “feeding grounds.” Designed to balance bold, flat color with the texture of the sidewalk, the artwork creates a striking sense of movement underfoot. From eye level, pedestrians will experience the illusion of sharks gliding just above the pavement, casting subtle shadows and refracting light across their forms. From a bird’s-eye view, the installation reveals a powerful, cohesive visual flow that enhances wayfinding and activates public space. To further elevate the experience, an augmented reality (AR) layer will be introduced at Barack Obama Boulevard and St. John Street. Here, the sharks will come to life digitally—animated with light, depth, and texture within the same curated color palette—creating a memorable intersection of physical art and virtual engagement. This project is a key component of the citywide Stitching Districts initiative, uniting art, placemaking, and civic pride to create a more connected, walkable, and inspiring San José.