This month at CCA: May 2025 public events
Explore a lineup of free public events at California College of the Arts
The community gathers to celebrate the culmination of work from CCA’s graduating students.
San Francisco, CA—May 1, 2025—California College of the Arts (CCA) invites the public to experience its newly expanded campus with an exciting lineup of free exhibitions, artist talks, lectures, and special events this May. Showoffs, CCA’s annual end-of-year show, returns on Friday, May 16, celebrating the work of graduating students across all divisions. Don’t miss the MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions, on view through May 17, at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts and Novack Gallery.
Exhibitions
Show Offs: Graduating Students Showcase
Friday, May 16, 5–8 pm
CCA Campus | 145 Hooper Street, San Francisco
This year’s end-of-year show will activate the entire campus and feature work from the graduating students of CCA's Architecture, Design, Fine Arts, and Humanities & Sciences divisions. Starting at 5 pm with a DJ, refreshments, and appetizers, attendees can view work from each student’s journey at the college. The evening will end with a live outdoor fashion show at 7:15 pm, featuring work from the graduating fashion students.
MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions
Through Saturday, May 17
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts and Deborah and Kenneth Novack Gallery
145 Hooper Street, San Francisco
Gallery hours: Wednesday–Saturday, noon–6 pm
Graduating MFA Fine Arts students will showcase a diverse range of works in painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, installation, and textiles. This year’s exhibition spans across the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, Deborah and Kenneth Novack Gallery, and the adjoining outdoor courtyard.
Reunited
Through Saturday, May 17
CCA Campus Gallery | 1480 17th Street, San Francisco
Gallery hours: Wednesday, 11 am–7 pm; Thursday & Friday, 11 am–4 pm
Reunited celebrates twelve Bay Area artists from the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) Women to Watch program whose creative careers have been driven by resilience, artistic excellence, and collective support.
Lectures, talks, and readings
Machines Between Us
Monday, May 5, 8–10 pm
Osher Lobby | 145 Hooper Street, San Francisco
Students explore the porous boundary between technology and the self in Machines Between Us, an interactive media exhibition featuring AI companions, kinetic interfaces, emotional sensors, and responsive organisms.
Aimee Phan: The Lost Queen
Tuesday, May 6, 3–4 pm
N402 | 145 Hooper Street, San Francisco
Writing and Literature faculty member Aimee Phan discusses her new book, The Lost Queen, an enchanting fantasy duology inspired by Vietnamese lore, weaving magic, sisterhood, and self-discovery.
Special events
2025 Commencement Honorary Doctorate recipients
Saturday, May 17, 11 am–3 pm
Sydney Goldstein Theater | 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco
CCA is proud to award an honorary doctorate degree to inspirational artists, designers, and thinkers each year at its Commencement Ceremony. For its 118th Commencement Ceremony,, CCA will confer honorary doctorates to three distinguished recipients: Rob Epstein (Professor Emeritus), Chris Johnson (Professor Emeritus), and Lava Thomas (BFA Ceramics 1999).
Film Thesis Showcase
Tuesday, May 6, 5–9 pm
Roxie Theater | 3117 16th Street, San Francisco
Experience the creative voices of CCA’s graduating film students at a special screening at the Roxie. The program features a diverse collection of films that showcase the creativity, passion, and storytelling of CCA’s emerging filmmakers.
Animation Senior Showcase
Wednesday, May 7, 5–9 pm
Roxie Theater | 3117 16th Street, San Francisco
The Roxie hosts an evening spotlighting the work of graduating seniors in Animation. This screening features a dynamic collection of films that showcase the creativity, passion, and storytelling of CCA’s emerging animators.
Writing and Literature Showcase
Thursday, May 8, 1–3 pm
Blattner Hall | 75 Arkansas Street, San Francisco
The Writing and Literature program is celebrating the launch of Humble Pie Literary Journal Vol. 22 and Humble Pie Radio Season 4, followed by readings from graduating students Furdeuce Mused and Samantha Meyer, and recognition of students who have completed their first-year and third-year reviews.
Game Arts Showcase
Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9, 1–9 pm
Game Arts Homeroom (Room 250) | 145 Hooper Street, San Francisco
Visit the Game Arts Homeroom on Thursday, May 8, and Friday, May 9, to play, connect, and celebrate the students’ final projects.
DMBA Venture Studio Showcase
Friday, May 9, 10:30 am–2 pm
Blattner Hall | 75 Arkansas Street, San Francisco
Celebrate the capstone projects of graduating MBA in Design Strategy (DMBA) students, where the next generation of design-driven entrepreneurs present innovative ventures that address today’s challenges and tomorrow's opportunities.