alumni SPOTLIGHT
VERonica Jackson
Veronica Jackson (MA ‘16) makes connections across the disciplines of visual culture. As an artist, she records, interprets, and brings awareness to the complexities of how humans exist within and affect their social surroundings. As a recovering architect and interpretive designer, she engages with structural systems in both virtual and built environments. Her work lies at the intersection of visual art, architecture, and interpretive design, combining past professional disciplines, present experiences, and an accumulation of contemporary and historical research. Jackson’s multidisciplinary body of work is text-based, autobiographical, and responds to her gendered and racialized existence in America. She holds a BS in Architecture from University of Virginia and an MA in Visual and Critical Studies from California College of the Arts. She currently resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia.
““During my CCA journey, I learned the value of critically interrogating visual culture. As a result, I acknowledged the existence of stories within me that required further examination through visual expression.”
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1. What is your current practice/business?
Currently, I am focused on building a sustainable visual art practice that investigates the lives of Black women in contemporary and historical media. My work is often autobiographical and always grounded in research. These “archives” range from my personal family history, drawn from interviews with my mother and aunts, to research on the lives of 19th-century Black women, conducted at repositories such as the Library of Congress. I use text, familiar objects, and various materials in clever ways to broadcast Black women’s languages of invisibility, hypervisibility, devaluation (an exaggerated visibility subject to misidentification and mislabeling), and triumph. From felt-lined bulletin boards and hair to paper, glass, and extra-fine glitter, my artwork focuses on the portrayal, perception, and legacy of Black women in popular media. I proudly consider myself a public historian; my work educates people about unstudied Black women, as well as lesser-known aspects of Black womanhood in America. While I await being “discovered,” I occasionally engage in interpretive exhibition design projects to pay the bills.
2. Why did you choose CCA?
A good friend and colleague suggested that I look into CCA’s Visual & Critical Studies program. I was intrigued by the curriculum and the critical thinking opportunities VCS offered. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the program gave me the foundation to create a visual art practice, which was not my original intent. I had entered the program in order to earn the credentials to teach museum design. During my CCA journey, I learned the value of critically interrogating visual culture. As a result, I acknowledged the existence of stories within me that required further examination through visual expression.
3. If you could share one piece of advice with current or future students, what would it be?
Put the phone down and engage with your environment with your physical senses. Absorb as much as you can, especially if it pushes you outside your comfort zone. Build connections with your peers; some will prove to be invaluable resources for personal and professional development.
Veronica Jackson, THAT’S POPS’S MONEY. Courtesy of the artist.
4. What's your secret to staying inspired and creative?
It starts with curiosity and then (because of the training I obtained at CCA's VCS program) it evolves into interrogating both the apparent and hidden connections within the subject of my curiosity. For example, I asked myself: How can I visualize my grandmother’s devalued labor in a way that intrigues, excites, and educates? My answer: I designed and fabricated 813 debossed and letterpress-printed timecards using hand-cut black paper, displayed across 12 wall panels, each measuring 48 by 96 inches.
5. What do you have coming up?
My current exhibition in Charlottesville runs through August 9, 2025. I also have a few upcoming artist talks and lectures. In the meantime, I'm applying to artist residencies and calls for artists.
Katayoun Bahrami, MA ‘24
KATAYOUN BAHRAMI
Why did you choose CCA?
I initially chose CCA for its top ranking among art schools in the U.S., which offered a truly transformative experience. After completing my MFA, I decided to pursue the Visual & Critical Studies (VCS) program to enhance my writing skills and strengthen my foundation for a future PhD. The faculty’s expertise and supportive community helped me grow as an artist, curator, and writer. Being part of one of the best cohorts, with students from various disciplines, fostered a rich creative exchange. The VCS program, in particular, taught me to write about art in impactful ways, allowing me to express myself about crucial movements, such as the rise of Iranian women fighting for their stolen freedom. CCA’s interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach has been invaluable in shaping my skills.
Advice for current students?
My advice to current students is to embrace every opportunity CCA offers. Enjoy your classes to the fullest and make the most of the beautiful new space and the art facilities. You’re in an environment surrounded by talented peers and professors, so collaborate, share, and learn from them. Build connections with students from different majors—those relationships can lead to inspiring collaborations. Lastly, remember that this is a special time in your creative journey, so push boundaries and explore without fear.
What’s next for you?
I’m now back in Los Angeles, entering the next stage of my art career. I’ve set up a home studio where I’ve started making art again, while actively job hunting for museum positions, where I envision myself thriving. Working in a museum setting is something I’m passionate about, as it allows me to engage with the public and support artistic communities. I’m also considering applying for a PhD to deepen my academic engagement with art history and curatorial studies. It’s an exciting time, and I look forward to where the following steps will take me.
2025
Sam Hiura
Sloane Holzer
Yunfei Hua
Vanessa Perez Winder
Giorgie O’Keefe DePaolis
2024
Katayoun Bahrami
Hannah Fhaye Oliver
Patricia Félix Cunnille
Evelynnn Harra
Eloise Seda
Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle
Yiliu Teng
2023
2015
Natalie Catasús
Irina Contreras
Rachel (Rhea) Endoso
Takeema Hoffman
Danielle Jackson
Melissa Miller
Omar Mismar
Colin Partch
Diana Stapleton
2014
Maureen Burdock
Alex Fine
Erica Gomez
Emily Holmes
Vanessa Kauffman
Leora Lutz
Elizabeth Moran
Dani Neitzelt
Mike Rothfeld
Dorothy Santos
Amanda N. Simons
Anton Stuebner
Calder Yates
2013
Greer Gainer
Robert Gomez
Malia Rose Helfmeyer
Ekin Kalayci
Emily Kuhlmann
Raquel Nakoneczny
Marisa Pushee
Jordan Reznick
Henry Witecki
2012
Simone Bailey
Levi Barringer
Sita Bhaumik
Angela Braren
Amanda Cachia
Casey Carroll
Emily Doman
Susan Miller
Gigi Otálvaro-Hormillosa
Janessa Post
2011
Abby Chen
Jacqueline Clay
Adeleine Daysor
Liesa Lietze
Emily Macenko
Rob Marks
Marta Martinez
Leanna Oen
Danielle Sommer
Matthew Harrison Tedford
Kristin Timken
Lia Wilson
Carmen Winant
Madeleine Zinn
2010
Nensi Brailo
Crow Cianciola
Ace Lehner
Elyse Mallouk
Matthew Rana
2009
Jennifer Banta Yoshida
Liu Congyun
Duane Deterville
Camellia George
Molly Mitchell
Rory Padeken
Adrienne Skye Roberts
Paola Santoscoy
Zachary Royer Scholz
2008
Victoria Gannon
Analisa Goodin
Guinevere de la Mare
Maya Kimura
Lee Pembleton
Rae Quigley
Erik Scollon
2007
Dan Bollwinkel
Michele Carlson
Gretchen Coombs
Sarah Hromack
Katie Kurtz
Eleanor LeBeau
Mariana McConnell
Hanif O’Neil
L.J. Roberts
Karin Smith
Stephen Smyth
Weston Teruya
2006
Clea Badion
Andrea Dooley
LaShaune Fitch
Rolan Gregg
Jennifer Jordan
Boyd Richard
Emma Tramposch
2005
Shana Agid
Emily Clark
Bruce King-Shey
Annie Lawson
Kathleen Maloney
Ekta Ohri
2004
Julia Kim
Sarah Lidgus
Shane Aslan Selzer
Cicely Sweed
Hank Willis Thomas
Mary C. Wilson
2003
Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
Berin Golonu
Aimee LeDuc
Dacia Mitchell
Timothy Moore
Elizabeth Mulholland
Amber Whiteside
2002
David A.M. Goldberg
Tessa Rumsey
David Spalding
Candacy Taylor