California College of the Arts
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco CA 94107
James Gobel is the new co-chair of the MFA in Fine Arts Program at California College of the Arts (CCA). On the Painting faculty since 2005, Gobel joins longtime chair Ted Purves in leading this influential graduate program.
About James Gobel
Gobel has had solo exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, most notably at the UCLA Hammer Museum. His work has been included in group exhibitions at Leslie+Lohman Museum of Art, Des Moines Art Center, Asian Art Museum San Francisco, Akron Art Museum, Parrish Art Museum, and the New Museum in New York.
His paintings of zaftig male figures, abstractions, and text works composed of cut felt and yarn have been featured in Artforum, Art in America, Flash Art, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other internationally recognized publications.
Gobel’s background and influences
Gobel earned a BFA in photography from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and an MFA in painting from UC Santa Barbara. He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and has since lived in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and now San Francisco.
“I am happy to consider the West Coast not only home, but also a great influence in my work. Specifically, the history, locations, politics, and social activism within the LGBT community in California have inspired my studio practice.”
“Although my work is primarily understood to be within the realm of painting and drawing, I am equally passionate about other approaches of artmaking. My interest in teaching and mentoring emerging artists is rooted in the same desires I have for my own artistic endeavors—the desire for my work to be appreciated, reflected upon, and critiqued.”
What the Co-Chairs say about the MFA in Fine Arts Program at CCA
One of the most notable differences between our MFA program and other programs is our interdisciplinary approach. Our programming and curriculum aim for artists of any discipline to create, share, and engage in open dialogue with their peers and instructors alike. We are interested in expanding the conversations and notions of what a studio practice means.
Graduate studies here conclude with a solo presentation of the students’ work; however, we encourage our students to think beyond the singular limits of the commercial gallery walls. Our curriculum creates opportunities for deep investigations into a wide range of pursuits and ideas, the core experience of which is always grounded in the studio practice of the individual student.
Our most important objective is to ensure that each candidate in our program gains the ability to critically examine their practice, continually take risks, and maintain a lifelong profession as an artist that is both ambitious and meaningful.
For more information about the program, visit the website.
Generous scholarships available
Over 75% of students in the MFA in Fine Arts receive CCA scholarships, and each year the program selects outstanding students for the prestigious graduate merit and diversity scholarships, which range up to 42,000 USD per year and are renewable. To be considered for merit and diversity scholarships, prospective graduate students must apply by January 10.
About California College of the Arts
Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) offers 22 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs in the areas of fine arts, architecture, design, and writing. The college offers BFA, BA, MFA, MA, MBA, BArch, MArch, MAAD, and MDes degrees.
Noted alumni include the artists Nathan Oliveira, Jules de Balincourt, Robert Arneson, Robert Bechtle, Viola Frey, and Peter Voulkos; the Oscar-winning filmmaker Audrey Marrs; the illustrator Tomie de Paola; the conceptual artists Harrell Fletcher, David Ireland, and Dennis Oppenheim; and the designers Lucille Tenazas, Michael Vanderbyl, and Gary Hutton.
For more information about CCA, visit cca.edu.
