Portrait of Dean of Fine Arts Sunny A. Smith
Learning through question and critique
Dean of Fine Arts Sunny A. Smith on art as a force for change, connection, and creative agency in the 21st century.
Sunny A. Smith, dean of Fine Arts
Art connects students to a supercharged dialogue
When Sunny A. Smith stepped into their role as Dean of Fine Arts at California College of the Arts (CCA) in August 2018, they brought with them a deep commitment to art as a tool for storytelling, social critique, and personal transformation. Having previously served as Chair of CCA’s Sculpture program, they had already built a strong foundation in academic leadership. Their tenure at CCA has been marked by a dedication to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, equity-driven pedagogy, and a culture of material exploration.
As an artist, Smith’s work has been widely exhibited in solo and group shows at institutions such as MoMA PS1, Palais de Tokyo, MASS MoCA, and The Tang Museum, among others. Their practice examines the role of craft in constructing identity, often engaging with underrepresented histories to challenge dominant narratives.
As higher education faces economic, technological, and cultural shifts, we sat down with Smith to discuss the evolving value of an arts education, the unique role of CCA, and what it means to sustain a thriving creative community in today’s world.
“Art has always been a way for me to make sense of the world, to challenge ideas, to process history, and to imagine the future. At CCA, we talk about “making art that matters,” and that resonates deeply with me. Art is a form of storytelling, a way to make meaning, and a force for healing.”
Dean of Fine Arts
The decision to become an artist
Do you remember when you realized you would pursue art professionally?
I do. I was one of those students who knew early on that I wanted to be an artist, activist, and educator. I also studied psychology and art therapy. Looking back, I think each requires a deep curiosity about human experience and a commitment to service.
Art has always been a way for me to make sense of the world, to challenge ideas, to process history, and to imagine the future. At CCA, we talk about “making art that matters,” and that resonates deeply with me. Art is a form of storytelling, a way to make meaning, and a force for healing.
Art as a tool for questioning and reinvention
The landscape of higher education is changing. From your perspective as an artist, educator, and dean, what is the broader value of an arts education today?
We’re at a moment of immense challenge and opportunity in arts education. Institutions everywhere are facing hard questions: How do we sustain creative programs when enrollments are shifting? How do we prepare students for careers in a rapidly evolving job market? What does an art school need to be in the 21st century?
One of the biggest values of an arts education—especially at a school like CCA—is learning how to ask hard questions. Art allows us to grapple with ambiguity, contradiction, and complexity. It’s one of the few spaces in education where there isn’t always a right answer—where it’s possible to hold multiple truths at once. That ability to navigate uncertainty is a crucial skill, not just for artists, but for anyone working in today’s world.
At CCA, we’ve worked hard to create a space where this kind of questioning thrives. Our students are exploring critical topics: climate justice, ethics in AI, the economics of labor, gender and racial equity, decolonization, and the role of free speech in democracy. They’re using art to critique systems, imagine alternative futures, and tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
Art, capitalism, and financial literacy as agency
Art is often in conversation with capitalism—sometimes resisting it, sometimes participating in it. How do you help students navigate this tension?
This is a really important conversation. We want our students to critique capitalism and question dominant economic systems, but we also want them to have the tools to support themselves and their creative practices.
Financial literacy is not separate from creative agency—it’s part of it. Learning how to advocate for fair pay, navigate contracts, secure funding, and build sustainable careers is essential. Whether our students go into independent studio practice, animation, game arts, filmmaking, curation, arts administration, or creative tech, we want them to understand how money moves through the industry, so they can participate on their own terms.
There’s a myth that being an artist means being financially unstable. That doesn’t have to be true. Art school should be a place where you experiment, question the status quo, and also learn how to create structures that support your work.
AI, ethics, and the future of art
Technology is rapidly transforming the creative landscape. How is CCA engaging with AI and digital media?
AI is raising profound questions about authorship, labor, and ethics. It’s changing how we think about creativity itself. At CCA, we’re not just teaching students how to use these tools—we’re helping them critique and shape them.
We have faculty working at the forefront of AI-generated imagery, virtual reality, immersive storytelling, and interactive media. Our students are asking critical questions: Who owns an image created by AI? How do we ensure that technology is used ethically and equitably? What does it mean to make something truly original?
But even as we embrace digital innovation, we remain deeply committed to craft, materiality, and traditional forms of making. Our students might be animating in Blender one day and hand-weaving the next. That intersection is what makes CCA so exciting.
The importance of free speech and democracy in the arts
We’re living in a time of increasing political polarization. What role does art play in democracy?
Art has always been a space for free expression, dissent, and imagining new futures. It challenges power structures, amplifies marginalized voices, and holds space for difficult conversations.
At CCA, we believe that freedom of thought, inquiry, and debate are essential to a thriving creative community. Our students are learning to engage with complexity—to hold differing perspectives, navigate ethical dilemmas, and make work that sparks dialogue.
In a world where books are being banned, history is being rewritten, and speech is being restricted, art remains one of the most powerful tools for truth-telling. That’s why places like CCA matter. They are spaces where students can think critically, create freely, and build communities rooted in justice and innovation.
“If you feel called to make art, trust that instinct. The world needs artists—people who can imagine new possibilities, challenge systems, and bring people together through creative expression.”
Dean of Fine Arts
Final thoughts
What advice would you give to prospective students considering an arts education today?
I’d say this: If you feel called to make art, trust that instinct. The world needs artists—people who can imagine new possibilities, challenge systems, and bring people together through creative expression.
Art school is a place where you can experiment, take risks, and build a foundation for whatever path you choose. It’s not just about learning to make things—it’s about learning to think in ways that can shape the world.
If you’re ready to engage deeply, be challenged, and join a community committed to making work that matters, then CCA is an incredible place to do that.