{{short description|Art school in Los Angeles, California}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2019}}{{Infobox university | name = Otis College of Art and Design | image = Otis College of Art and Design (logo).png | former_name = Otis Art Institute (1918–1977),<br /> Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design (1978–1991) | motto = | established = 1918 | type = [[Private university|Private]] [[Art school|art and design school]] | president = [[Charles Hirschhorn]] | city = [[Westchester, Los Angeles]] | state = [[California]] | country = United States | campus = [[Urban area|Urban]] | undergrad = 1,093 | postgrad = 60 {{small|(MFA)}} | postgrad_label = | administrative_staff = | nickname = Owls | mascot = Owlbert<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Owlbert, Otis College's New Official, Student-Designed Mascot|url=https://www.otis.edu/about/otis-now/news/meet-otis-college-new-mascot-owlbert.html}}</ref> | free_label = | free = | website = {{url|www.otis.edu}} | accreditation = [[WASC Senior College and University Commission|WSCUC]] }}
'''Otis College of Art and Design''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Art school|art and design school]] in [[Los Angeles, California]], United States.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Tyler |last=Shultz |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Otis College of Art and Design Announces O-Launch |url=http://www.apparelnews.net/news/2022/mar/10/otis-college-art-and-design-announces-o-launch/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=www.apparelnews.net |language=en}}</ref> Established in 1918, it was the city's first independent professional school of art.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aicad.org/schools/otis-college-of-art-and-design/|work=Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design|title=Otis College of Art and Design|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181108204755/http://aicad.org/schools/otis-college-of-art-and-design/|archive-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> The main campus is located in the former [[IBM|IBM Aerospace]] headquarters at 9045 [[Lincoln Boulevard (Southern California)|Lincoln Boulevard]] in [[Westchester, Los Angeles]]. The school's programs, accredited by the [[WASC Senior College and University Commission|WSCUC]] and [[National Association of Schools of Art and Design]], include BFA and MFA degrees.
== History == [[File:Otiscollege.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|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 (publisher)|Harrison Gray Otis]] bequeathed his [[Westlake, Los Angeles]], property to start the first public, independent professional school of art in Southern California.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lord |first=Rosemary |title=Los Angeles Then and Now |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |isbn=1571457941 |location=San Diego |publication-date=2002 |pages=50–51}}</ref> However, Otis would not live to see the college's grand opening as he died the previous year in 1917.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1917-07-31 |title=Sudden Death Strikes Harrison Gray Otis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-sudden-death-st/102269494/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |pages=2}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=The IBM Punched Card |date=7 March 2012 |url=http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/punchcard/impacts/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141006223243/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/punchcard/impacts/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Otis College of Art and Design Timeline/History |url=http://www.otis.edu/history-timeline|access-date=6 November 2014}}</ref> The Galef Center, made for the Fine Arts department, was designed by Fredrick Fisher and built in 2001.
A [[ceramic art|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]],<ref>{{cite web |title=PETER VOULKOS |work=ArtScene |access-date=2012-08-05 |url=http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles1996/Articles0296/Voulkos.html}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/17/archives/parsons-and-otis-art-school-merger.html|title=Parsons and Otis: Art School Merger|date=May 17, 1979|page=5}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />
As of 2005, it is one of the most culturally diverse private schools of art and design in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lalouver.com/resource/otis/otis.pdf|title=Otis: Nine Decades of Los Angeles Art Exhibition Highlight Lasting Impact of LA Artists & Movements|location=Los Angeles, CA|date=October 12, 2005|access-date=December 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326220126/http://www.lalouver.com/resource/otis/otis.pdf|archive-date=March 26, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-02-26 |title=Charles Hirschhorn Appointed President Of Otis College Of Art And Design |url=https://www.artforum.com/news/charles-hirschhorn-appointed-president-of-otis-college-of-art-and-design-246689/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=[[Artforum]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Vankin |first=Deborah |date=2020-02-26 |title=Otis College of Art and Design picks entertainment executive as its new president |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-02-26/otis-college-art-design-president-charles-hirschhorn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226180354/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-02-26/otis-college-art-design-president-charles-hirschhorn |archive-date=2020-02-26 |access-date= |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2020-02-24 |title=Carnegie Museum of Art Names Next Director |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/breaking-art-industry-news-february-24-2020-1202678845/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225063315/https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/breaking-art-industry-news-february-24-2020-1202678845/ |archive-date=2020-02-25 |access-date= |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==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,<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-animation-schools-and-colleges-us-2024-college-rankings|title=Top 50 Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S. – 2024 College Rankings |publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> and in 2023, #8 in California.<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-20-animation-school-programs-california-2023-college-rankings|title=Top 20 Animation School Programs in California - 2023 College Rankings |publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> In 2023, it also ranked Otis as #13 for visual effects programs in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-25-visual-effects-vfx-schools-and-colleges-us-2023-rankings|title=What are the top visual effects schools in the U.S. for 2023? |publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> and #10 in California for Game Design.<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-10-game-design-schools-and-colleges-california-2023-college-rankings|title=Top 10 Game Design Schools and Colleges in California - 2023 College Rankings|publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref>
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,<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-graphic-design-schools-and-colleges-us-2023-rankings|title=Top 50 Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in the U.S. – 2023 Rankings|publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> and #4 in California.<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-20-graphic-design-school-programs-california-2023-college-rankings|title=Top 20 Graphic Design School Programs in California - 2023 College Rankings|publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> In 2024, ''Animation Career Review'' also ranked its Illustration program as #15 in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-illustration-schools-and-colleges-us-2024-college-rankings|title=Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2024 College Rankings|publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref> and #3 in California.<ref>{{cite web|author=Animation Career Review |url=https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-10-illustration-schools-and-colleges-california-2024-college-rankings|title=Top 10 Illustration Schools and Colleges in California - 2024 College Rankings|publisher=Animation Career Review |date=2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutureschannel.com/conversations_archive/wickser_conversation.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121020708/http://thefutureschannel.com/conversations_archive/wickser_conversation.php|archive-date=21 November 2011|title=Jackie Wickser|publisher=The Future Channel}}</ref> 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 (designer)|Francisco Costa]] for [[Calvin Klein]], [[Vera Wang]], [[Diane von Fürstenberg]], [[Isabel Toledo]], [[Isaac Mizrahi]], and [[Todd Oldham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otis.edu/about/press/fashion_mentors_07.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307085847/http://www.otis.edu/about/press/fashion_mentors_07.html|archive-date=7 March 2012|title=Fashion Design Mentors for 2007}}</ref> Major designers such as [[Eduardo Lucero]] and [[Rick Owens]] are alumni of the program.
== Artists-in-Residence == * 1940s: [[Norman Rockwell]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-norman-rockwell-an-american-master-1894-1978/|title=Harlem Legend Norman Rockwell, An American Master, 1894 – 1978|website=Harlem World Magazine|date=24 November 2020 }}</ref> * 2005: [[Shahzia Sikander]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shahziasikander.com/attachment/en/5a6f811a6aa72c6c268b4568/Publication/5a79e4c272a72c183a8b4567|title=Dissonance to Detour|website=Shahzia Sikander}}</ref> * 2006: [[Masami Teraoka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.masamiteraoka.com/resume|title=Resumé|website=Masami Teraoka}}</ref> * 2007: [[Nancy Chunn]] * 2008: [[Mark Dean Veca]]
== Notable alumni == {{See also|Category:Otis College of Art and Design alumni}}
== Notable faculty == {{See also|Category:Otis College of Art and Design 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nohoartsdistrict.com/centennial-ben-maltz-gallery/|title=Centennial {{!}} Ben Maltz Gallery|last=Gallina|first=Raleigh|date=1 October 2019|website=Noho Arts District}}</ref>
== In popular culture == The film ''[[Art School Confidential (film)|Art School Confidential]]'' (2006) was partially filmed at Otis. Otis Foundation Professor Gary Geraths worked as a consultant on the film.<ref>{{cite web|work=Otis.edu|publisher=Otis College of Art and Design|url=https://www.otis.edu/faculty/gary-geraths|title=Gary Geraths|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817101037/https://www.otis.edu/faculty/gary-geraths|archive-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|www.otis.edu}}
{{Colleges and universities in Los Angeles County}} {{Westchester, Los Angeles}} {{Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design}}
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[[Category:Otis College of Art and Design| ]] [[Category:Universities and colleges in Los Angeles]] [[Category:Art schools in California]] [[Category:Design schools in the United States]] [[Category:Fashion schools in the United States]] [[Category:Private universities and colleges in California]] [[Category:Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges]] [[Category:Arts organizations established in 1918]] [[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1918]] [[Category:1918 establishments in California]] [[Category:Eliot Noyes buildings]] [[Category:Westchester, Los Angeles]] [[Category:Westlake, Los Angeles]]<!--original location--> [[Category:Westside (Los Angeles County)]] [[Category:Art in Greater Los Angeles]] [[Category:Animation schools in the United States]]