The primary goal of the California State University, Stanislaus Art Gallery (UAG) is to artistically enhance, complement and supplement the academic programs of the Art Department, and to provide special opportunities to a broader audience. As the dominant force of artistic leadership in Stanislaus County and the six surrounding counties encompassing a one hundred mile radius, this goal is accomplished by producing exhibitions that become arenas for examination, discussion, and exploration of the forms, ideas, issues and rich tradition of the visual arts, while maintaining the foremost consideration of artistic expression and integrity.
On campus, the UAG functions to provide opportunities for a direct, hands-on contemporary art experience, for direct interaction with well-known and highly respected professional contemporary artists, a direct viewing experience within an educational context, and exposure to other cultures and world views through the visual arts. All of the Gallery’s programs support the University’s commitment to ethnic, gender and cultural diversity.
The University Art Gallery has been in operation since the establishment of CSU Stanislaus in 1965. Historically, the UAG has mounted a program of changing exhibitions during the academic year (September through May). Major accomplishments are linked with our commitment to increase, gradually and continually, the quality of exhibitions and programs of interest to the students and the public in the surrounding valley. Documentation of a selection of these exhibitions occurs through quality and scholarly exhibition catalogues as a valuable resource to students and a promotional and public document for the gallery and its archives. In addition, during the 1990s the University received donations of works of art, which constitute the University Fine Art Collection, a study collection for Art and Art History students as well as other interested members from the community.