April 15, 2025
One of the West Coast's Largest Exhibitions of Emerging Artists & Designers Returns April 26 With ArtCenter's Spring 2025 Grad Show
Poignant Art Installation “Resilience in the Ashes” to Be Presented Alongside Work by 327 Graduating Students
One-Day Public Exhibition is Part of ArtCenter’s Spring 2025 Graduation Featuring Commencement Speaker Steven Lewis— Award-Winning Altadena Architect and Social Justice Advocate
ArtCenter College of Design will celebrate the achievements of 327 graduating students at its spring 2025 Grad Show on Saturday, April 26. One of the largest exhibitions of its kind on the West Coast, the free one-day public showcase, which follows two private event viewing days, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center, immediately following the College’s private commencement ceremony in the morning.
This spring’s ArtCenter Grad Show carries special significance as the first since the devastating Los Angeles and Altadena fires in January. A moving, immersive and participatory installation, Resilience in the Ashes, will serve as a space for reflection, inviting visitors into a space of healing and remembrance.
The spring Grad Show offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to view exceptional work by graduating students working in a wide range of disciplines, such as animation, art, film, furniture design, game design, graphic design, illustration, product design, photography, spatial experience design, transportation design, UX/UI design and more. A one-of-a-kind showcase, the exhibition provides a rare opportunity for visitors to engage with the next generation of creative professionals, in addition to viewing very high-caliber work.
A centerpiece of this year’s Grad Show is the installation Resilience in the Ashes, comprising three powerful elements—The Photograph, The Chair and The Tree. Created in collaboration with James Meraz, associate chair of Spatial Experience Design; Everard Williams, chair of Photography and Imaging; and artist Jeffrey Sugishita, an ArtCenter alumnus and former valedictorian, the installation is rooted in personal experience. Both Williams and Sugishita lost their Altadena homes in the January Eaton fire.
The installation includes a chair salvaged from the destroyed residence of beloved faculty member the late Norm Schureman, a powerful photograph taken by Williams of a charred remnant of wood from his property and a large tree sculpture assembled from burnt branches recovered from Sugishita’s home. Visitors are invited to hang cards with their thoughts and wishes, transforming the installation into a collective expression of hope and community healing.
“The quality of work shown at Grad Show is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Karen Hofmann, president of ArtCenter College of Design. “Visitors will see firsthand the creativity and innovative thinking that define an ArtCenter education. Our graduating students are ready to make an impact on the world—from the products we use and the cars we drive, to the games we play and the art we see.”
Earlier in the day, ArtCenter will host its Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony as a private, ticketed event at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. In a meaningful connection to the local community’s ongoing recovery from the fires, Altadena resident, award-winning architect, mentor and social justice advocate Steven Lewis will deliver the keynote address. He will also be awarded an honorary ArtCenter doctorate degree in recognition of his distinguished career and significant contributions to design and his community.
The ceremony will also include remarks from two graduating students: Valedictorian Zachary Gibson (Graphic Design) and Student Leadership Award recipient Alan Smith-Daigle (Illustration).
In addition to showcasing student work to the public, Grad Show is also an important part of ArtCenter’s graduation activities that support students as they transition from studying at the College to professional practice. In the days leading up to the exhibition and graduation ceremony, students participate in portfolio reviews, as well as industry networking opportunities.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, April 26 | Noon through 5 p.m.
ArtCenter Spring 2025 GRAD SHOW
Pasadena Convention Center | Exhibit Halls A and B
300 E. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
FREE and open to the public, friends and families.
No RSVP required.
Saturday, April 26 | 10 a.m. through 12 p.m.
ArtCenter Spring 2025 Graduation Ceremony (By invitation only)
Pasadena Civic Auditorium
300 E. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
By invitation only, a ticketed event for friends, family, faculty and staff to celebrate the commencement.
For more information on all Spring 2025 Graduation Activities, view this event page.
To view the College’s virtual Grad Show representing the achievements of the 2025 Spring Graduating Class, please visit gradshow.artcenter.edu (Spring 2025 will be accessible starting Wednesday, April 23.)
About ArtCenter: Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers undergraduate and 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.
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Press Contact:
ArtCenter College of Design
Domenic Morea
domenic.morea@artcenter.edu
Both Williams and Sugishita lost their Altadena homes in the January Eaton fire.
Students participate in portfolio reviews, as well as industry networking opportunities, including an exclusive recruiting event that allows employers to hire fresh talent directly.
