The Norco College Art Gallery and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee welcome contemporary artist Hugo Crosthwaite for a week-long artist-in-residence in the Gallery. Crosthwaite is working side-by-side with Norco College Visual Arts students to create an ephemeral mural that will serve as the centerpiece of his upcoming solo exhibition, CARPAS. The live mural creation coincides with Undocumented Student Action Week and provides students with a rare opportunity to collaborate directly with a professional artist of international acclaim.
Throughout the week, Crosthwaite and students are transforming the Gallery’s expansive back wall into a powerful work of temporary art. The mural will be unveiled during the Storytelling Equity Summit on Friday, October 24, where Crosthwaite will deliver a lecture followed by a walkthrough of the completed mural and exhibition in the Gallery.
The exhibition CARPAS will officially open to the public on Monday, October 27, and remain on view through December 10, 2025. An opening reception and artist talk will take place on Thursday, November 13, from 12:30–2 pm, where Crosthwaite will engage with guests and answer questions about his work.
CARPAS (Spanish for “tents”) references the traveling performers of the 1920s–1930s who moved across Mexico and the southwestern United States using portable stages to share news, stories, and social commentary. In this exhibition, Crosthwaite reimagines the carpas as a vehicle to reflect the experiences and narratives of today’s Mexican-American communities. The exhibition is presented as part of the SUR:biennial, an expansive series of exhibitions across more than 20 Southern California institutions—including the Torrance Art Museum, Cerritos College, Fullerton College, San Diego State University, and Rio Hondo College—each exploring themes of globalization, border issues, and cultural exchange within the “Global South.”
Hugo Crosthwaite is best known for his intricate graphite and charcoal drawings and stop-motion animations that explore identity, migration, and the complexities of border life. His work has been featured in major national and international exhibitions, and he was the winner of the 2019 Outwin Boochever National Portrait Competition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
For more information about Norco College Art Gallery programs and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.norcocollege.edu/art.
Event Details
Live Mural Creation: October 22–23, 2025
Storytelling Equity Summit Lecture & Walkthrough: October 24, 2025 | 11 am–Noon
Exhibition Dates: October 27–December 10, 2025
Opening Reception & Artist Talk: November 13, 2025 | 12:30–2 pm
Location: Norco College Art Gallery, 2001 Third St., ST-111, Norco, CA 92860
About the Artist-in-Residence Program: The Artist-in-Residence Program, the first of its kind at Norco College, enhances student learning by bringing professional artists to campus for extended, hands-on collaborations. The program, which we hope to continue in future years, allows students to participate in exhibition development, attend workshops, and work alongside artists, deepening their understanding of professional art practices while fostering creative ownership and inspiration.