Founders Gallery

Founders Gallery will close for holiday break after December 20, reopening January 2 with our regular schedule: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As always, admission is free.

See you in the new year!

Fall 2024 Gallery Exhibition
September 26, 2024 - January 24, 2025

La Lomita, 2022, Mixed Media on Canvas, 60 x 48 inches
“La Lomita,” 2022, Mixed Media on Canvas, 60 x 48 inches

Chris Justice: The First Decade

Born Christopher Matthew Boster, the name Justice was derived from the punk rock band in which Chris was the lead singer and guitarist. He trained as an apprentice in Laguna Beach, California under painter and sculptor Elaine Cohen.

Justice’s work has been shown in several solo exhibitions worldwide. He is known for his bold, sweeping abstractions, floral paintings, and “Freedom of Speech” series. Chris Justice: The First Decade will be his first major institutional exhibition, featuring nearly 100 paintings from 2012-2023, many of which are on loan from private collections.

Chris Justice’s Website

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

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

Contact us

Email us at arts@soka.edu.