Newsroom

The latest at CCA

From student spotlights and faculty stories to recent media coverage and current events, catch up on what’s new.

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Press release / March 22, 2024

California College of the Arts gala honoring Jack Wadsworth raises over $1.24 million

CCA celebrated long-time supporter Jack Wadsworth at its annual gala, raising over $1.24 million for student scholarships.

Left to right: David Howse, Susy Wadsworth, Jack Wadsworth, Dee Hover, Stephen Beal.

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A newly donated robot opens up possibilities for architecture and design

A large industrial KUKA robot joins CCA Architecture’s Digital Craft Lab, paving the way for faculty and students to extend their explorations of digital fabrication and material innovation.

Photo of a large orange arm-shaped KUKA robot

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A state-of-the-art campus for today’s makers has arrived

Picture what it’s like to explore the newly expanded California College of the Arts this fall.

An architectural rendering depicting a sweeping contemporary campus entrance adorned by trees.

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Three questions with BFA Interaction Design student Colin Chan

The senior in the BFA Interaction Design program discusses what belonging feels like as an international student, holding on to hope in times of rapid change, and grounding his design practice.

A headshot of the student smiling and in front of a bright yellow backdrop.

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CCA@CCA energizes campus voting ahead of the primary elections

Creative Citizens in Action (CCA@CCA) inspires democratic engagement and creative activism year long and during efforts to get out the vote.

Students painting “vote” on a white wall, working together to amplify voting efforts.

Media coverage / March 4, 2024

NBC Bay Area news features CCA's multi-year partnership with Greenville where students help rebuild for resilience

Architecture faculty members Janette Kim and Peter Anderson, along with students Melissa Gomes, Bennett Grisley, and Manthan Rasal share about their Greenville projects and vision to rebuild for resilience, longevity, and sustainability.

Architectural rendering of a four-way intersection with a wood-framed modernist structure in the center.

Press release / Feb. 28, 2024

California College of the Arts presents the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

This two-part exhibition debuts work from 20 emerging artists in CCA’s graduate program in fine arts.

California College of the Arts presents the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions.

Press release / Feb. 27, 2024

Daisy Nam appointed director of the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

Daisy Nam is announced as the new director and chief curator of the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts at California College of the Arts.

Portrait of Daisy Nam.

Media coverage / Feb. 27, 2024

Artforum highlights Daisy Nam to lead CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

Artforum shares more about Daisy Nam's previous role at Ballroom Marfa, where she has worked as a curator since 2020 and as director since 2022.

Daisy Nam sits on a white ladder with a desert backdrop behind her.

Media coverage / Feb. 27, 2024

San Francisco Chronicle spotlights Daisy Nam as the new director of CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

CCA has named Daisy Nam the new director and chief curator of the school’s Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts museum.

Daisy Nam sits on a white ladder with a desert backdrop behind her.

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View the creative side of the people who help keep CCA moving

The exhibition Alter Ego offered a glimpse at staff talents outside of their work for the college.

A photo of a large-scale print in white and black hues surrounding the text ALTER EGO.

Media coverage / Feb. 22, 2024

A futuristic half-story-tall sculpture by CCA Architecture professors displayed in Mission Bay

Orbital by Jason Kelly Johnson and Nataly Gattegno, both professors of Architecture, represents an era of rapid change and uncertainty, while also inspiring curiosity and playful interaction.

A tall, highly reflective serpentine structure that bounces sunlight from its geometric, shiny, stainless-steel tiles.

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Get to know CCA alum Maia Kobabe, a comics author who wrote one of the most challenged books in the United States

Graduating from CCA with a MFA in Comics in 2015, Maia Kobabe has won a Stonewall Honor and an Alex Award for eir book Gender Queer: A Memoir.

Multicolored lines weaving in and out against a black background, showing the many paths that take shape for CCA alumni.

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CCA faculty lead their fields and earn top honors and fellowships

Recent faculty accolades include Artadia Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Architectural League’s Emerging Voices Award, and the CAA’s Distinguished Teaching of Art Award, among many others.

Curtis Arima (chair of Jewelry and Metal Arts), Stories from Camp: A stone’s throw (detail), 2023.

Press release / Feb. 7, 2024

California College of the Arts appoints Jacqueline Francis as dean of Humanities and Sciences

CCA is pleased to announce Jacqueline Francis as the new dean of Humanities and Sciences. Francis will oversee the division’s 10 programs and its collegewide curriculum in which all students participate.

Portrait of Jacqueline Francis.

Media coverage / Feb. 6, 2024

CCA alum decorates his walls with heirloom farm tools

Navin Norling (BFA Illustration 1995) adds texture to his white walls with his grandfather's heirloom farm tools, representing a piece of the Norling family history and identity.

Photo of Navin Norling in his studio.

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Ten questions for CCA’s 10th president, David Howse

Get to know President David Howse and why he’s excited to lead the college in this next chapter in its history.

David Howse chatting in Illustration classroom.

Media coverage / Feb. 1, 2024

KQED reviews Rodrigo Hernández’s with what eyes? at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

Rodrigo Hernández’s show is a series of maze-like walls and enclosures with hand-hammered steel and sculptures, evoking the viewer to feel like they are just another animal in this dreamlike atmosphere.

Rodrigo Hernández, 'I would not think to touch the sky with two arms,' 2023 in 'with what eyes?' at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Media coverage / Jan. 18, 2024

CCA hosts a celebration party to welcome President David Howse

City leaders in the arts come together to welcome and celebrate President Howse at Villa Taverna in San Francisco. Nob Hill Gazette showcases some highlights and photos from the event.

Left to right: David Soward, David C. Howse, and Lorna Meyer Calas

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A peek into faculty pursuits outside of the classroom

Faculty from across the Design Division share the other parts of their practice and life — exhibitions, industry work, publications, special projects, and more.

A fluid shaped table and a landscape photo of a crane in action are overlayed and in a tiled pattern.

Lindsay Wright

Director of Integrated Communications

+1 530-906-8805

[email protected]