Wendy Adest

Emeritus Faculty

My path to the arts began with words. I earned my B.A. in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing from U.C. Berkeley, followed by an M.A. from Mills College. But visual art called to me as a second passion, leading me to ArtCenter College of Design, where I graduated with a Fine Art degree in 1987.

That transition proved crucial. My department chair hired me as his assistant immediately after graduation, marking the beginning of a fulfilling career in art and design education. I began teaching in the humanities and fine arts, and eventually in design practice, while maintaining a studio practice and exhibiting throughout Los Angeles' gallery scene.

As my commitment to education deepened, I found my true calling. I advanced through the ranks from Assistant to Fine Art Chair, then Associate Chair of Foundation Studies, and ultimately Chair of the Integrated Studies Department. One of my proudest achievements was initiating and developing ArtCenter's First Term Immersion program, which continues to thrive under Joshua Holzmann's leadership.

Since retiring, I've come full circle, returning to my original love of writing while continuing my studio practice. I'm currently at work on a novel that reimagines the Orpheus and Eurydice myth through a feminist lens—a project that weaves together my lifelong passions for literature, art, and storytelling.