CSUF Nicholas + Lee Begovich Gallery • Fall 2023

PAST FORWARD: Early Images of the Visual Arts Complex at CSU Fullerton

Exhibition Dates: October 25, 2023 – March 22, 2024
The gallery is closed on weekends and for all major holidays and during periods of University closure (such as Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks).
Public Reception: Wednesday, October 25, 4:00-7:00 PM (no reservation required)
Location: College of the Arts/Office of the Dean, 2600 Nutwood Ave., College Park, 3rd Floor, Rm. 320
Visiting hours:* Between the hours of 10 am–4 pm by appointment only. See instructions below.

*NOTE: An appointment is required to view the exhibition after the October 25 public reception. For an appointment, contact jfrias@fullerton.edu.  

– Maximum 15 individuals per group visit
– Please provide at least 48-hours notice to coordinate staffing for your visit
– Your visit request is not complete until you receive email confirmation from the gallery staff

PAST FORWARD celebrates the sublime blend of form, function, and creativity characterized by the midcentury architecture and aesthetics of Cal State Fullerton’s Visual Arts Complex. The exhibition looks back at the iconic and boundary-pushing design led by architect Thornton M. Abell (1906-1984) that defined the era of architectural excellence on campus. It consists of historical photographs from the J. Paul Getty Trust, Getty Research Institute taken by renowned architectural photographer Julius Shulman, and building renderings from the University’s Archives & Special Collections. With the advent of the Modernization Project scheduled to unveil new and updated grounds and facilities in 2024, PAST FORWARD reflects on the enduring legacy of the University’s architectural and design blueprint and its possibilities for the future.

PAST FORWARD: Early Images of the Visual Arts Complex at CSU Fullerton is organized by CSUF Begovich Gallery and is curated by Marie-Andrée Chinchilla, BA candidate in Art History, ’23, and Enrique Del Rivero, BFA candidate in Illustration, ’25. Support for the project is provided by The Art Alliance, CSUF’s Instructional Related Activities Grant, the College of the Arts, and the Department of Visual Arts.