This month at CCA: March 2025
Explore a lineup of free public events at California College of the Arts in San Francisco
San Francisco, CA—February 27, 2024—California College of the Arts (CCA) invites the public to experience its newly expanded campus with an exciting lineup of free exhibitions, artist talks, lectures, and special events this March. CCA’s annual Spring Fair returns on Saturday, March 15, featuring hundreds of local artists from the community. Don’t miss newly-opened exhibitions, including Hello Trouble: CCA Illustration Biennial Alumni & Faculty Exhibition and the 38th annual Barclay Simpson Master of Fine Arts Award Exhibition. Featured programs include a special conversation with artists Michelle Lopez and Vincent Fecteau on Tuesday, March 11 in conjunction with the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts exhibition STEADY.
Lectures, talks, and readings
Lindsey White: What? Is? Higher? Arts? Education?
Thursday, March 6 | 7:15–9 pm
Timken Hall | 145 Hooper Street
On the occasion of the second printing of What? Is? Art?, by Lindsey White and Anonymous, CCA's Graduate Fine Art Department and Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts hosts a conversation alongside Sarah Hotchkiss, local writer, artist, and Senior Associate Editor at KQED's art and culture desk.
Tamara Suarez Porras on Parallax Errors
Monday, March 10 | 5:30–7 pm
Hooper Pavilion (N203) | 145 Hooper Street
As part of CCA’s Visual & Critical Studies Forum, artist, writer, and educator Tamara Suarez Porras (they/she) examines the dynamics of seeing, remembering, forgetting, and how photography attempts to know the unknowable.
Studio AHEAD Lecture
Tuesday, March 11 | 6–7:30 pm
Nave Presentation Space | 145 Hooper Street
Elena Dendiberia and Homan Rajai, principals of Studio AHEAD, give a compelling lecture on their innovative approach to art and design. They challenge the idea of universal functionality, emphasizing the importance of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural specificity.
Michelle Lopez and Vincent Fecteau in conversation
Tuesday, March 11 | 6–8 pm
Novack Lecture Hall (N203) | 145 Hooper Street
Artists Michelle Lopez and Vincent Fecteau discuss all things sculpture in this special conversation held in conjunction with the STEADY exhibition, on view at the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts.
Christian Roman: Pixar and the Art of Storytelling
Thursday, March 13 | 7–8:30 pm
Timken Hall | 145 Hooper Street
CCA Animation and Game Arts hosts a lecture with story artist Christian Roman, offering a glimpse into the storytelling process in his presentation, Pixar and the Art of Storytelling. Roman has worked as a storyboard artist on television shows including Lilo & Stitch, King of the Hill, The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat, and The Simpsons Movie.
Astria Suparak: From Punk to Pop
Monday, March 17 | 5:30–7 pm
Hooper Pavilion (N203) | 145 Hooper Street
As part of CCA’s Visual & Critical Studies Forum, artist and curator Astria Suparak addresses complex and urgent issues, including institutionalized racism, feminism, and colonialism, through a popular culture lens, such as science fiction movies, rock music, and sports.
Hiwa K and Anton Vidokle in conversation
Wednesday, March 19 | 6–8 pm
Nave Presentation Space | 145 Hooper Street
As part of the Hiwa K is on our mind research season, artist and editor of e-flux journal Anton Vidokle and artist Hiwa K discuss major themes in Hiwa K’s work, reflecting on contemporary global issues. Hiwa K's work serves as a thematic lens to explore the intersection of art, history, storytelling, migration, and politics on a broader scale.
Anna Von Mertens Artist Talk
Wednesday, March 19 | 7:30–9 pm
Timken Hall| 145 Hooper Street
Hosted by the CCA Graduate Fine Arts, textile artist, researcher, and writer Anna Von Mertens (MFA Textiles 2000) gives an artist talk on her new book Attention Is Discovery: The Life and Legacy of Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, published in 2024 by MIT Press.
Deena Chalabi and Rijin Sahakian in conversation
Thursday, March 20 | 6–8 pm
Blattner Hall | 75 Arkansas Street
As part of the Hiwa K is on our mind research season, writer Rijin Sahakian and curator and writer Deena Chalabi engage in a conversation about critical issues related to the arts in the Middle East.
Casper Mork-Ulnes: The Craft of Place
Thursday, March 20 | 6–7:30 pm
Center for Architecture + Design | 140 Sutter Street
Join CCA alum Casper Mork-Ulnes (BArch 1997), principal of Mork-Ulnes Architects, for a presentation of The Craft of Place (Park Books, 2025), the firm’s first monograph. Exploring themes of materials, traditions, sustainability, scale, and light, the book delves into the studio's approach to integrating architecture within diverse environments.
A screening of films by Hiwa K
Friday, March 21 | 6–8 pm
Nave Presentation Space | 145 Hooper Street
Alongside the Kadist Art Foundation, the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts hosts a screening of films by Hiwa K, including Moon Calendar, This Lemon Tastes of Apple, Pre-Image (Blind as a Mother Tongue), and View from Above.
Yasmeen Abedifard and Taymiya Zaman in conversation
Friday, March 21 | 7–10 pm
Blattner Hall | 75 Arkansas Street
Organized by CCA's Comics and Writing program, this conversation and reading will focus on Yasmeen Abedifard’s newest book, When to Pick a Pomegranate (published by Silver Sprocket), followed by an interview with Taymiya Zaman and a book signing.
Exhibitions
Disability is Diversity Exhibition
Monday, March 3 through Thursday, March 6
PLAySPACE Gallery (N21) | 145 Hooper Street
Gallery hours: Monday–Friday: 9 am–5 pm
Discover work from the CCA community who identify as disabled and/or are presenting work that reflects the importance of accessibility, the impact of ableism, the need for disabled perspectives in art, and disability identity as a whole.
Making Community: A Commemorative CCA Experience
Wednesday, March 12 – Wednesday, March 19
PLAySPACE Gallery | 145 Hooper Street
Gallery hours: Monday–Friday: 9 am–5 pm
Through storytelling, mark-making, and communal experiences, Making Community invites all members of the college to reflect on what makes this institution truly special—not just as a place of learning, but as a web of personal connections and shared values. On view through March 19, the exhibition consists of 117 stories that highlight the heart of CCA’s creative community.
Hello Trouble: CCA Illustration Biennial Alumni & Faculty Exhibition
Through Thursday, March 20
CCA Campus Gallery | 1480 17th Street
Gallery hours: Wednesday 11 am–7 pm, Thursday & Friday 11 am–4 pm
The Illustration program presents a collection of artwork that showcases the diverse contemporary practices of alumni and faculty, expressing personal obsessions and a range of social and cultural perspectives.
38th Annual Barclay Simpson Master of Fine Arts Award Exhibition
Through Wednesday, March 19
Novack Gallery | 145 Hooper Street
Gallery hours: Wednesday, 11 am–7 pm; Thursday & Friday, 11 am–4 pm
The Barclay Simpson Master of Fine Arts Award Exhibition featuring the work of this year’s award recipients Molly Rapp, Jonah Reenders, Yelyzaveta Rudenok, and Ashley Spencer. The award has been granted to over 108 students in CCA’s MFA program, helping them finish their degree work and launch their careers.
2025 Scholastic Art Awards Bay Area Regional Exhibition
Wednesday, March 26 through Sunday, March 30
The Nave | 145 Hooper Street
Gallery hours: Monday–Friday: 9 am–5 pm
The national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are a prestigious opportunity for high school students to share their vision, earn important recognition, and jumpstart a pathway toward art and design careers. View a selection of Silver and Gold Key award-winning artwork and support local young artists.
STEADY: Michelle Lopez and Ester Partegàs
Through Saturday, April 12
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts | 145 Hooper Street
Gallery hours: Wednesday–Saturday, noon–6 pm
STEADY, featuring artists Michelle Lopez and Ester Partegàs, challenges conventional notions of balance, materiality, and shared space through precarious and playful yet powerful sculptures.
Special events
2025 Spring Fair
Saturday, March 15 | 12–4 pm
Campus Main Building | 145 Hooper Street
Celebrate springtime at the 2025 Spring Fair and shop from a wide variety of original artwork by hundreds of local artists. Find one-of-a-kind gifts like jewelry, prints, ceramics, and handmade clothing for yourself or loved ones and support our local community of artisans, craftspeople, and designers.
Grab This! GIRL CULTURE Tea Party
Thursday, March 6 | 3–4:30 pm
Nave Presentation Space | 145 Hooper Street
Students from CCA’s GIRL CULTURE course host a lively discussion on girl power and global challenges facing girls. This reimagined tea party features student art, research, tea, snacks, and engaging conversations on girls' studies and resistance.
CCA@CCA Symposium: Where do we go from here?
Thursday, March 6 | 5–8 pm
Nave Presentation Space | 145 Hooper Street
Join us for an evening of conversations, interactive workshops, and creative activations led by CCA faculty Aaron Gach, Janette Kim, Melinda Luisa de Jesús, and Sata Dean as we explore this year’s CCA@CCA theme: Where do we go from here?