Eve Mathias’s exhibition at San José City College centered on intimate, full-body portraits anchored by a single red chair. Created after her retirement and during post-pandemic reconnection, the works explore vulnerability, trust, and human presence through color-driven, psychologically attentive portraiture.
Korean-born artist Jung Sun Lee transforms displacement into luminous geometry and embroidered landscapes in Nomad Reflection: Life Goes On at San José City College. Moderated by Professor Emanuela Harris-Sintamarian, the exhibition reveals Lee’s meditative fusion of paint and thread—mapping belonging, endurance, and the quiet resilience of life in motion.
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen returned to his hometown for a heartfelt talk at San José City College’s César E. Chávez Library, reflecting on his refugee journey, his parents’ struggles, and the power of storytelling. He urged students to seek truth, embrace empathy, and honor their communities through honesty.
Retired SJCC art professor Luis Gutierrez has established the Luis Gutierrez Fine Art Scholarship, awarding five $2,000 scholarships annually to art students transferring to four-year universities. Gutierrez, who taught painting and drawing for 28 years, says the fund honors the support he received and offers mentorship to future artists.
San José City College presents Recuerdos y Raíces (Memories and Roots), an exhibition by mixed-media artist Rayos Magos, opening Aug. 23 at the Carmen Castellano Fine Arts Center. The show runs through Sept. 26 with a closing reception and artist talk Sept. 11. Admission is free.
To celebrate our Centennial we looked back on 100 years in the arts at San José City College. Learn how arts programs transform and inspire.
