April 24, 2024
Famed Los Angeles Artist Robert Vargas to Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree from ArtCenter College of Design
Internationally renowned artist Robert Vargas (@therobertvargas) will receive an honorary doctorate degree from ArtCenter College of Design and deliver the commencement address at the College’s spring graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 10 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Pasadena Convention Center. Following the private ceremony, which will be livestreamed at artcenter.edu, the approximately 300 graduating students will exhibit their work at Grad Show, a free public showcase open to the public from noon–5 p.m. in Exhibit Halls A and B at the Pasadena Convention Center.
“This is a huge honor for me,” said Vargas, speaking of the honorary doctorate. “As an artist growing up in Los Angeles and going to the LA County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), I see ArtCenter as the standard for higher education learning here in Los Angeles.”
“When I went to LACHSA, I had instructors who also taught at ArtCenter, and I was very privileged to be under their guidance,” continued Vargas. “My greatest teacher there was the incomparable Joe Gatto, who also taught at ArtCenter. He was a great ambassador for art in general. He made you think outside of the box. He provoked you. He was a great thinker that made you imagine what is possible.”
A contemporary artist known for his mixed-media portraits, murals and live events, Vargas has painted murals around the globe, from his native Boyle Heights neighborhood to Paris. His work-in-progress “Angelus,” in downtown Pershing Square, is being painted on the side of a 14-story apartment building and is set to break the Guinness World Record for the largest mural completed by a single artist.
In 2021, the City of Los Angeles honored Vargas by naming September 8 Robert Vargas Day, in recognition of his contributions to the cultural life of the city, to the arts and as a leading creative force. Then last year, he was honored again by the City of Los Angeles, which designated the intersection of First Street and State Street as Robert Vargas Square. He recently completed a 150-foot-tall mural of Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani on the outer wall of The Miyako Hotel’s flagship Little Tokyo hotel in Downtown L.A.
“If you’ve ever watched Robert paint, you know that it’s a breathtaking performance,” said ArtCenter President Karen Hofmann, speaking of Vargas, who recently included her likeness in a mural he painted live at the LA Art Show. “But what makes him important is not just his technique, or the fact that his paintings grace walls all over the world. What makes him important is the way his work bridges different cultures. It’s the way he’s so focused on giving back to the community. It’s the way he works to inspire the next generation.”
In addition to Vargas’ commencement address, graduation ceremony attendees will also hear from Nini Chen, recipient of the Spring 2024 Student Leadership Award, and Satoko Okuno, the graduating class’ valedictorian, who will both deliver speeches.
ArtCenter Graduation Events
Spring 2024 Graduation Ceremony
April 27, 2024 | 10 a.m. through 12 p.m.
Speakers Robert Vargas (@therobertvargas)—Commencement
Address Student Leadership Award Winner—Nini Chen, Entertainment Design
Valedictorian—Satoko Okuno, Illustration
Grand Ballroom, Pasadena Convention Center
Ticketed event for friends, family, faculty and staff to celebrate the commencement of our graduating class.
ArtCenter Grad Show
April 27, 2024 | Noon through 5 p.m.
Pasadena Convention Center | Exhibit Halls A + B
FREE and open to the public, friends and families.
No RSVP required.
To view all Spring 2024 Graduation Activities, view this event page.
To view the College’s virtual Grad Show representing the achievements of the Class of 2023, please visit gradshow.artcenter.edu
About ArtCenter College of Design: Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees in a wide variety of industrial design disciplines as well as visual and applied arts. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live, and important issues in our society.
