Founders Gallery
Founders Gallery is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is FREE.
The Gallery will be closed for a private event on Thurs. July 24 and Fri. July 25, 2025.
Spring 2025 Art Gallery Exhibitions
February 13 - August 28, 2025
Cynthia Ona Innis: Fixing on a Horizon
Cynthia Ona Innis is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Berkeley, California. Born in San Diego in 1969, she earned a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.F.A. from Rutgers University. She has taught at the San Francisco Art Institute, Boise State University, and UC Berkeley.
Her experiences in nature and landscape influence her work, which has been included in numerous museum collections in the U.S. and has been exhibited at home and abroad. The work in this exhibition is rooted in personal history, carrying memories of California road trips and sailing the Pacific.
The “Fixing on a Horizon” exhibit will be located on the 1st floor of Founders Gallery.
Don Ryan: Lipstick/Waterline
Don Ryan is a ceramist whose work explores the intersection of historical ceramic traditions and the imagery of the Southern California coastline. Born in Newport Beach, California, he earned a B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute and an M.F.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He teaches ceramics and directs the Creative Arts Program at Soka University of America.
The interconnected bodies of work in this exhibition use traditional and contemporary ceramic techniques to translate the ephemeral into tangible forms, often imbued with a powerful connection to the ocean.
The “Lipstick/Waterline” exhibit will be located on the 2nd floor of Founders Gallery.
Guidelines for Submitting Exhibition Proposals
The Soka University Art Gallery Committee reviews all exhibition proposals on the basis of theme, quality, size (number of works vs. space available and suitability to large wall spaces), media, uniqueness to SUA (have we done a similar exhibition in the recent past?) and proposed budget. Artists should be aware that the gallery is also used for receptions and special events throughout the year that may include food in the gallery.
Does the proposed exhibition relate to SUA’s mission to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life? Does the art relate to SUA’s core values of peace, human rights, and the sanctity of life? Does it relate to topics SUA students are studying or will be studying? Does it offer a unique insight into another country or culture?
Exhibitions are usually booked two to three years in advance.
Proposals should include:
- web links or digital or print images of works for committee review
- background of artist
- description including size and number of works
- theme and title
- proposed dates of exhibition
- detailed budget
These are some budget details you should consider:
- Will the artist hang works? Do hangers need to be hired?
- What is the shipping or transportation cost to the gallery?
- The gallery does not usually pay for the cost of making prints, canvas/paint/materials for creating art, or mounting/framing.
If shipping is involved, the gallery will pay the cost of shipping and shipping insurance to the gallery for an approved exhibition, but it will be your responsibility to provide shipping and insurance from the gallery to the next destination.
Art should arrive in a ready-to-hang condition. The gallery only accepts art that can be hung on walls. Art submitted for consideration MUST be available at the time of exhibition.
Founders Gallery exhibitions usually run three to four months. Artists should be available to oversee their exhibit installation and attend the opening reception, which will be hosted by SUA on a Thursday evening. If transportation is needed, it should be included in the budget. The gallery will also pay for one night’s hotel stay and will provide meal tickets for artists coming from out of town for an opening reception.
Proposals should be emailed or mailed to:
Anne Pearce
Curator, Founders Gallery
1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
apearce@soka.edu
Past Exhibitions
Fall 2024
Chris Justice: The First Decade | September 26, 2024–January 24, 2025
View Exhibit Photo Gallery
Spring 2024
River Deep - Mountain High by Anne Austin Pearce | February 15, 2024–September 12, 2024
Fall 2023
Emptiness is Form: Paintings by Ed Moses | September 21, 2023–January 12, 2024
Summer 2023
The Flames of Heaven: Dylan Mortimer | May 18–September 8, 2023
Nellie Gail Moulton: Through the Eyes of a Pioneer Woman | May 18–September 8, 2023
Spring 2023
Sugar Coated: SUPERSIZED Paintings by Lauren Mendelsohn-Bass | February 11–May 8, 2023
Fall 2022
TRANSFORMATIONS a Retrospective by Arie A. Galles | October 20, 2022–January 20, 2023
Spring 2020
Evolution by Farr Ligvani
Summer 2019
ClassWorks 2019: Soka Student Art Exhibition | May 31–August 31, 2019
Spring 2019
Chaos Theory by Sheryl Daane-Chesnut & Carol Pquetj | January 17–May 5, 2019
Earth, Air, Fire & Water | May 17–August 31, 2019
Fall 2018
California Fibers: A Matter of Time | September 17, 2018–January 7, 2019
Summer 2018
ClassWorks 2018: Soka Student Art Exhibition | May 21–August 31, 2018
Breaking Rules of the Past, A Retrospective by Mutlu Ertac | May 21–August 31, 2018
Spring 2018
Votive: Art of Frank Galuszka | January 25–May 7, 2018
100 Women and More by Red (Tracey Sagalow) | January 25–May 7, 2018
Fall 2017
Sleeping in the Forest: dreamscapes of nature and society by Sebastián Chillemi & Pablo Salvadó | September 14, 2017–January 7, 2018
Summer 2017
ClassWorks 2017: Student Art Exhibition | May 21–August 31, 2017
Spring 2017
Distant Visions: Digital images by Jay Gale | February 15–May 12, 2017
Self-Motivated: Selected Paintings and Drawings by Soka Art Students | February 15–May 12, 2017
