Welcome to the Art Department

The Art Department at Claremont Graduate University treats art as an enterprise that begins with individuals but is only fully realized when it engages a larger public. We believe that no two artists are the same, so we strive to provide you with the space to experiment freely—with whatever media, approach, and goals you choose. We challenge all artists in our program to test what they have done against the views of those who make up our artistic community, which serves as a support structure as our graduates take their work out into the world, where it tells stories, broadens understanding, shapes perspectives, and makes a difference.

Our two-year MFA program allows you to create your own customized course of study that includes one-on-one meetings with internationally recognized faculty as well as seminars, tutorials, critiques, and workshops. What you do as an artist is at the core of our program. Your work in your studio—and in the world beyond the studio—is fortified by a framework of courses dedicated to providing you with the knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed in whatever you choose to do as an artist in the rapidly changing world.

Our building has been designed to foster a dynamic community of artists, with ample spaces, indoor and out, for the making and display of all forms of art. Students have access to their personal studio spaces seven days a week. Our two-track program in “Arts Management” and “Community Engagement & Curatorial/Museum Studies” provides the foundation for you to expand the impact of your work as an artist, forging connections to the social and institutional contexts in which art lives.

Chair: Rachel Lachowicz
251 E. 10th Street • Claremont, CA 91711 • 909-621-8071 • Fax 909-607-1276

Rachel Lachowicz profile image

Rachel Lachowicz

Professor of Studio Art

 

Programs

 

Art Department Faculty

Rachel Lachowicz profile image

Rachel Lachowicz

Professor of Studio Art

David Amico profile image

David Amico

Professor of Art
Chair, Art Department

David Pagel profile image

David Pagel

Professor of Art Theory and History
Roland Reiss Endowed Chair in Art
Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts

Jasmine Baetz profile image

Jasmine Baetz

Lincoln Visiting Professor in Ceramics

Carmine Iannaccone profile image

Carmine Iannaccone

Adjunct Professor of Art

Michael Reafsnyder profile image

Michael Reafsnyder

Adjunct Professor of Art

Iva Gueorguieva profile image

Iva Gueorguieva

Adjunct Professor of Art

Julian Hoeber profile image

Julian Hoeber

Adjunct Professor of Art

Amy Santoferraro profile image

Amy Santoferraro

Adjunct Professor of Art

Heidi Schwegler profile image

Heidi Schwegler

Adjunct Professor of Art

 

Extended Faculty – Claremont Colleges

Lisa Anne Auerbach

Pomona College

Research Interests

Art, Knitting


Myriam Chancy

Scripps College

Research Interests

African diaspora with specialization in its literature


Adam Davis

Scripps College

Research Interests

Art, Ceramics, Sculpture


Ken Fandell

Harvey Mudd College

Research Interests

Art, Photography, Sculpture


Ken Gonzales-Day

Scripps College

Research Interests

Art, art criticism, art theory, photography,race and racial formation


George Gorse

Pomona College

Research Interests

Italian Renaissance art and architecture; Italian Baroque art and architecture; Medieval art history; history of cities, palaces, villas, and gardens; history of Genoa

Art Department Events
MFA Exhibitions: Fall 2020–Present
FEB 28, 2022 – MAR 4, 2022
Naveen Hyder – Fragments of Home
Chang Liu – Hair in the Soup
Nov 29, 2021 – Dec 3, 2021
Yumeng Zhang – Family Tree
Yumeng (Yuki) He – TransFOR
Nov 15, 2021 – Nov 19, 2021
Lily Freidel – Holding Presence
Ramon Rik Singley – Luxury
Nov 8, 2021 – Nov 12, 2021
Janan Abdelmuti – itfadaloo
Shuai Xu – Chaos Coordinate System
May 26, 2021 – May 30, 2021
John Lee Thesis Show – White Art
May 12, 2021 – May 16, 2021
Julie Loffer Thesis Show – Dreamwalker
Ying Bo Zhao Thesis Show – From M.E. To Myself
May 10, 2021 – May 14, 2021
Luis Rodriguez Thesis Show – Camínos de La Vída
Mar 29, 2021 – Apr 2, 2021
Zafirah Ahmed Thesis Show – Arabesque
Mar 15, 2021 – Mar 19, 2021
A’Kailah Byrd-Greene Thesis Show – iridESSENCE
Oct 5, 2020 - Oct 17, 2020
Jonah Elijah: Black Inhale
Sep 22, 2020 - Oct 5, 2020
Jill Steggall – lemonade
Amanda Mears – Strata

 

Art Galleries

Videos
Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Our visiting Artist Lecture Series exposes you to professionals and practitioners with deep experience and insight. Visiting artists help mentor students, foster innovative projects, and promote intercollegiate collaboration. The lectures are free and open to the public.

 

Previous Lectures


Vito Acconci
Atlantic Lecture Series


Polly Apfelbaum
Atlantic Lecture Series


Edgar Arceneaux


Feng Feng
Pacific Lecture and Exhibition Series


Iva Gueorguieva


Ashley Hagan


Mary Heilmann
Atlantic Lecture Series


He Jiancheng
Pacific Lecture and Exhibition Series


Che Jian-Quan
Pacific Lecture and Exhibition Series


Liz Larner
Atlantic Lecture Series


Elana Mann


Rebecca Morris


Joe Scanlan
Atlantic Lecture Series


Barry Schwabsky
Atlantic Lecture Series


Jim Shaw

Art Alumni

The making of art has long been a major focus at CGU, and our alumni have taken the skills they honed here and forged new paths in the creative world. View a small sample of the many talented graduates of the CGU Art program.

History of the Art Department