Celebrating the makers of 2023

The deans of CCA’s four academic divisions selected students whose submissions to the 2023 Showcase demonstrate excellence in theory and practice.

A special note of welcome from the deans

Commencement is a significant milestone of personal and academic achievement. For the Class of 2023, it is also a marker of their enormous tenacity and strength. A new generation of CCA-educated artists, architects, curators, designers, strategists, filmmakers, and writers has emerged. We’re honored to share the work of these exceptional graduates through the Class of 2023 Showcase.

This year marks our first year of unification in San Francisco teaching and learning together on campus in our labs, studios, and galleries. These students have created work that is deeply compelling and ambitious. Their accomplishments attest to their perseverance and passion as well as their commitment to making art and design that matters.

Now more than ever, we value these students’ critical insights and will rely upon their creative energy to envision new ways of being and making during these rapidly changing times. We’re eager to see where their practices take them. They will undoubtedly continue to transform the world, and our experience of it, through their craft, care, and vision.

To our new graduates: we applaud you. Congratulations, Class of 2023!

— Dean of Architecture Keith Krumwiede, Dean of Design Helen Maria Nugent, Dean of Fine Arts Sunny A. Smith, and Dean of Humanities & Sciences TT Takemoto

Architecture

We envision architecture that can change the world for the better, by combining innovation in our fields with social and environmental impact. Our work addresses critical global issues—including climate change, resource scarcity, and housing inequity—through deep research, theoretical speculation, and design action.

Fine Arts

We are truth-seekers, culture workers, storytellers, and activists. With curiosity, honesty, and self-reflection, we boldly confront reality, using our creativity to craft a repository of collective memory and to ignite others to envision the future differently.