The Viola Frey Distinguished Visiting Professor Endowment and lecture series was created to honor the life and work of groundbreaking sculptor Viola Frey (1933–2004), who helped to revolutionize the field of ceramics with her monumental, boldly colored glazed clay sculptures. Art critic Ken Johnson in the New York Times wrote that she “expanded the traditional limitations of sculpture.”

A CCA alumna, Frey joined the faculty of the college in 1965, serving as professor and then as chair of the Ceramics Program through the 1990s.

A recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and with works held in over 70 public collections, Frey was a tactile, physically inventive artist who was drawn to the expressive potential of clay.

She was a leading figure in exploring the space between fine art and craft, bridging divides between ceramics, painting, and sculpture.

Frey taught at CCA for nearly 35 years, eventually becoming full professor and chair of the Ceramics Program. During her time at the college, she guided the design and building of the Noni Eccles Treadwell Ceramic Arts Center on CCA’s Historic Oakland campus.

In 1999, she was awarded the status of professor emerita and in 2000 received an honorary doctorate of fine art from CCA. The Viola Frey Distinguished Visiting Professor Award biannually brings prominent artists from around the world to engage the CCA community and the public in critical conversations through lectures, studio visits, and course offerings. The endowment is supported by generous contributions from Viola Frey patrons, colleagues, and friends. To learn more about Viola Frey: violafrey.org or artistslegacyfoundation.org.

The endowment brings leading artists to teach as CCA distinguished visiting professors. Participating artists have included John Bankston, Kota Ezawa, Rob Epstein, John Zurier, Mario Ybarra, Cheryl Dunne, Deana Lawson, Kristina Podesva, Anthea Black, Dario Robleto, Pratibha Parmar, and Edith Garcia.