Otis College of Art and Design

Short description: Art school in Los Angeles, California

Otis College of Art and Design

Former name

| Otis Art Institute (1918–1977),
Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design (1978–1991)
Type| Private art and design school
Established| 1918
President| Charles Hirschhorn
Undergraduates| 1,093
Postgraduates| 60 (MFA)
Location|

Westchester, Los Angeles

California

United States

Campus| Urban
Nickname| Owls
Mascot| Owlbert[1]
Website| www.otis.edu

Otis College of Art and Design is a private art and design school in Los Angeles, California, United States.[2] Established in 1918, it was the city's first independent professional school of art.[3] The main campus is located in the former IBM Aerospace headquarters at 9045 Lincoln Boulevard in Westchester, Los Angeles. The school's programs, accredited by the WSCUC and National Association of Schools of Art and Design, include BFA and MFA degrees.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Rankings and programs
* 3 Artists-in-Residence
* 4 Notable alumni
* 5 Notable faculty
* 6 Ben Maltz Gallery
* 7 In popular culture
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

The Ahmanson building at Otis College of Art and Design

Otis, long considered one of the major art institutions in California, began in 1918, when Los Angeles Times founder Harrison Gray Otis bequeathed his Westlake, Los Angeles, property to start the first public, independent professional school of art in Southern California.[4] However, Otis would not live to see the college's grand opening as he died the previous year in 1917.[5] The current Otis College main campus (since spring 1997) is located in the Westchester area of Los Angeles, close to the Los Angeles International Airport. The main building (built in 1963) was designed by architect Eliot Noyes for IBM, and is famous for its computer "punched card" style windows.[6]

The building was extensively remodeled in 1997 by the college when it moved from its original location across the street from MacArthur Park near downtown Los Angeles.[7] The Galef Center, made for the Fine Arts department, was designed by Fredrick Fisher and built in 2001.

A ceramics school was begun by Peter Voulkos at Otis in the 1950s and was part of art movements like the Craft-to-Art movement, also known as the American Clay Revolution,[8] which influenced the Ferus Gallery scene of the 1960s. Many prominent artists associated with Southern California's Light and Space movement were involved with the school, as well as leaders of the conceptual art world of the 1970s. Moreover, Otis nurtured significant Latino artists, including Marisol Escobar, and the mural group Los Four also originated at Otis in the 1970s.

The school was originally named Otis Art Institute. From 1978 until 1991, it was affiliated with New York's Parsons School of Design and known as Otis–Parsons (full name: Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design, a division of the New School for Social Research).[9] This affiliation allowed students to spend a semester or more at the Parsons schools in New York and Paris. In summer 1991, it became independent again and known as Otis College of Art and Design.[4]

As of 2005, it is one of the most culturally diverse private schools of art and design in the country.[10] In 2022, the college received the largest donation in its history from the Spiegel Family Fund, which was founded by CEO of Snapchat (Snap Inc.), Evan Spiegel. The donation paid off the debt of the graduating class, 77% of whom identify as people of color.

The president of Otis College is Charles Hirschhorn, since June 2020.[11][12][13]

## Rankings and programs

Otis is known for its digital media programs. In 2024, Animation Career Review ranked its animation program #22 in the United States,[14] and in 2023, #8 in California.[15] In 2023, it also ranked Otis as #13 for visual effects programs in the United States,[16] and #10 in California for Game Design.[17]

Otis is also known for its fine arts programs. In 2023, Animation Career Review ranked its graphic design program as #21 in the United States,[18] and #4 in California.[19] In 2024, Animation Career Review also ranked its Illustration program as #15 in the United States,[20] and #3 in California.[21]

Finally, it is known for its fashion design program. Under the direction of Rosemary Brantley, this program is considered one of the top fashion design programs of its kind in the U.S.[22] Otis Fashion Design is housed at the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles. Students benefit from working closely with design mentors and are trained in all aspects of the design process while emulating a fashion design studio, and following the industry's seasonal schedule. Visiting critics have included designers such as Bob Mackie, Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Diane von Fürstenberg, Isabel Toledo, Isaac Mizrahi, and Todd Oldham.[23] Major designers such as Eduardo Lucero and Rick Owens are alumni of the program.

## Artists-in-Residence

* 1940s: Norman Rockwell[24]
* 2005: Shahzia Sikander[25]
* 2006: Masami Teraoka[26]
* 2007: Nancy Chunn
* 2008: Mark Dean Veca

## Notable alumni

## Notable faculty

## Ben Maltz Gallery

Originally located in MacArthur Park, the Ben Maltz Gallery is currently located in Westchester, tucked inside the Otis College of Art in Design. The Ben Maltz Gallery showcases regional and international artists within the LA art community.[27]

## In popular culture

The film Art School Confidential (2006) was partially filmed at Otis. Otis Foundation Professor Gary Geraths worked as a consultant on the film.[28]

## References

1. ↑ "Meet Owlbert, Otis College's New Official, Student-Designed Mascot". https://www.otis.edu/about/otis-now/news/meet-otis-college-new-mascot-owlbert.html.
2. ↑ Shultz, Tyler (March 10, 2022). "Otis College of Art and Design Announces O-Launch" (in en). http://www.apparelnews.net/news/2022/mar/10/otis-college-art-and-design-announces-o-launch/.
3. ↑ "Otis College of Art and Design". Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design. http://aicad.org/schools/otis-college-of-art-and-design/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lord, Rosemary (2002). Los Angeles Then and Now. San Diego: Thunder Bay Press. pp. 50–51. ISBN 1571457941.
5. ↑ "Sudden Death Strikes Harrison Gray Otis". The Atlanta Constitution: pp. 2. 1917-07-31. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-sudden-death-st/102269494/.
6. ↑ "The IBM Punched Card". 7 March 2012. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/punchcard/impacts/.
7. ↑ "Otis College of Art and Design Timeline/History". http://www.otis.edu/history-timeline.
8. ↑ "PETER VOULKOS". ArtScene. http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles1996/Articles0296/Voulkos.html.
9. ↑ "Parsons and Otis: Art School Merger". The New York Times. May 17, 1979. p. 5. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/17/archives/parsons-and-otis-art-school-merger.html.
10. ↑ "Otis: Nine Decades of Los Angeles Art Exhibition Highlight Lasting Impact of LA Artists & Movements". Los Angeles, CA. October 12, 2005. http://www.lalouver.com/resource/otis/otis.pdf.
11. ↑ "Charles Hirschhorn Appointed President Of Otis College Of Art And Design" (in en-US). 2020-02-26. https://www.artforum.com/news/charles-hirschhorn-appointed-president-of-otis-college-of-art-and-design-246689/.
12. ↑ Vankin, Deborah (2020-02-26). "Otis College of Art and Design picks entertainment executive as its new president". https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-02-26/otis-college-art-design-president-charles-hirschhorn.
13. ↑ "Carnegie Museum of Art Names Next Director" (in en-US). 2020-02-24. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/breaking-art-industry-news-february-24-2020-1202678845/.
14. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 50 Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S. – 2024 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-animation-schools-and-colleges-us-2024-college-rankings.
15. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 20 Animation School Programs in California - 2023 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-20-animation-school-programs-california-2023-college-rankings.
16. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "What are the top visual effects schools in the U.S. for 2023?". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-25-visual-effects-vfx-schools-and-colleges-us-2023-rankings.
17. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 10 Game Design Schools and Colleges in California - 2023 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-10-game-design-schools-and-colleges-california-2023-college-rankings.
18. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 50 Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in the U.S. – 2023 Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-graphic-design-schools-and-colleges-us-2023-rankings.
19. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 20 Graphic Design School Programs in California - 2023 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-20-graphic-design-school-programs-california-2023-college-rankings.
20. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2024 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-illustration-schools-and-colleges-us-2024-college-rankings.
21. ↑ Animation Career Review (2024). "Top 10 Illustration Schools and Colleges in California - 2024 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-10-illustration-schools-and-colleges-california-2024-college-rankings.
22. ↑ "Jackie Wickser". The Future Channel. http://www.thefutureschannel.com/conversations_archive/wickser_conversation.php.
23. ↑ "Fashion Design Mentors for 2007". http://www.otis.edu/about/press/fashion_mentors_07.html.
24. ↑ "Harlem Legend Norman Rockwell, An American Master, 1894 – 1978". 24 November 2020. https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-norman-rockwell-an-american-master-1894-1978/.
25. ↑ "Dissonance to Detour". https://www.shahziasikander.com/attachment/en/5a6f811a6aa72c6c268b4568/Publication/5a79e4c272a72c183a8b4567.
26. ↑ "Resumé". https://www.masamiteraoka.com/resume.
27. ↑ Gallina, Raleigh (1 October 2019). "Centennial | Ben Maltz Gallery". https://nohoartsdistrict.com/centennial-ben-maltz-gallery/.
28. ↑ "Gary Geraths". Otis.edu. Otis College of Art and Design. https://www.otis.edu/faculty/gary-geraths.

## External links

* Official website

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Colleges and universities in Los Angeles County

Public universities|

* California State University
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Private universities|

* Academy for Jewish Religion
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For-profit branches|

* Abraham Lincoln University
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* DeVry
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* Los Angeles College of Music
* LA Film
* New York Film Academy (Los Angeles)

Template:Westchester, Los Angeles

* v
* t
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Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design

United States|

* Art Academy of Cincinnati
* Art Center College of Design
* California College of the Arts
* California Institute of the Arts
* College for Creative Studies
* Columbus College of Art and Design
* Cornish College of the Arts
* Cranbrook Academy of Art
* Institute of Art and Design at New England College
* Kansas City Art Institute
* Laguna College of Art and Design
* Lesley Art and Design
* Maine College of Art
* Maryland Institute College of Art
* Massachusetts College of Art and Design
* Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
* Minneapolis College of Art and Design
* Montserrat College of Art
* Moore College of Art and Design
* Otis College of Art and Design
* Pacific Northwest College of Art
* Parsons School of Design
* Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
* Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
* Pratt Institute
* Rhode Island School of Design
* Ringling College of Art and Design
* San Francisco Art Institute
* School of the Art Institute of Chicago
* School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
* School of Visual Arts
* University of the Arts

Canada|

* Alberta University of the Arts
* Emily Carr University of Art and Design
* NSCAD University
* OCAD University

International affiliates|

* Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
* Burren College of Art
* China Academy of Art
* LASALLE College of the Arts
* Nanjing University of the Arts
* Osaka University of Arts
* Plymouth College of Art

[ ⚑ ]  33°57′24″N 118°25′02″W﻿ / ﻿33.956611°N 118.417135°W﻿ / 33.956611; -118.417135

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