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Welcome to the Sonoma State University Department of Art and Art History, an inclusive and supportive community of students, staff, and faculty. Together, we work to create opportunities for experimentation, collaboration, cooperation, expression, and personal growth.

Our department offers an interdisciplinary arts education with strong foundations in Art Theory, Art History, technical skills, and professional development. Our facilities include two galleries, a foundry, metal shop, wood shop, dark room, lithography studio, individual studio spaces and a community garden, and we invite students of all backgrounds, religious identification, sexual identity, race, and ethnicity, to join us.

We are working actively to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for learning and creation to which each individual can bring their whole self. We recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only morally necessary, but benefit everyone.

Intellectual and creative work fully flourishes in healthy environments with a range of perspectives and experiences. The faculty and staff also recognize that this happens not through the absence of overt racism and discrimination, but through proactive efforts to create, maintain, and expand diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

The fields of art and art history have not lived up to these ideals historically and presently. Art has served many purposes, some of them less than just. Access to galleries, museums, and art commissions have not been equally distributed. Art history as a discipline has its origins in nineteenth-century nationalism in Europe. Museums grew in and through colonialism. But we are not beholden to the past. We study it because we must do better. 

 

What are we doing specifically? 

  • We're changing the curriculum. Because representation of diverse artists and cultures isn't enough, art department courses explicitly address issues of gender, race and racism, LGTBQ issues, nationalism, disability, and eco art history in visual culture, art production, and art history. 
  • We commit to hiring an ever more diverse faculty 
  • We promise to address racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination in our community directly and promptly. Violations of the Seawolf Commitment and Code of Conduct including microaggressions will be handled seriously. 

We know that ending discrimination and getting rid of old power structures will take time and require continuous reassessment and action. It will take time to embrace the full capaciousness of art and visual culture. We are committed to the project. 

Announcements

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Visiting Art Professor Alex Hanson's solo exhibition at Santa Fe College

Alex's work often focuses on the use of objects, constructed and found, to ask pointed questions. 


 

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Sena Clara Creston's artwork to be shown at the Museum of Sonoma County

Assistant Professor of Art, Sena Clara Creston, will have her piece Semilla Beseda on display at the Museum of Sonoma County a part of the exhibition A Question of Balance which runs from January 27 through May 26. 

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Sena Clara Creston receives honorable mention.

Assistant Art Professor, Sena Clara Creston, recently received an honorable mention in the Bay Area's Sheridan Prize for Art in Experimental Art. 

 

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Prof. Parent in group show at The de Young

Eileen's work is on view through Jan. 7, 2024.

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Art History Alumna, former Art History Club President:

Tyler Gibson placement at the Smtihsonian Institution

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SSU BFA Alumna will be this week's Visiting Artist Lecture Series Guest Speaker
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Spring 2024 Visiting Artists Lecture Series Announced

VALS lectures are free, open to all, and take place Wednesdays, 12:00-12:50 PM on Zoom

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Welcome Back Fall 2023 Brush Sale

the semi annual sale returns Wednesday, August 23rd, 12pm-1pm, in the Art Department Courtyard
 

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Joseph Ferriso Featured in Current Exhibition

Through the Trees, on view 04/05 - 04/30/23, with an opening reception 04/06 from 4-6 PM. 

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Congratulations to BFA Alumna, Zoe Brester-Pennings, on her MFA Thesis Exhibition!

March 20-27, 2023, Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture, University of Tennessee, at Knoxville.