Laguna College of Art & Design Welcomes New Gallery Director

Submitted by Laguna College of Art & Design:

Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD) welcomes Andrea Harris-McGee as Gallery Director.  In her new role, she will provide vision and leadership and is responsible for the development and implementation of an exhibition program that supports the educational mission of the college.  This includes collaboration with the academic departments in the development of exhibitions that represent LCAD’s majors. In addition, she will participate in community outreach and fundraising activities to support the gallery and the college.

After receiving her BFA in 1996 from Laguna College of Art + Design, Andrea became a part-time preparator at Laguna Art Museum, and with a background in exhibition design, museum studies, graphic design, and non-profit development she later moved on to a full-time position as Registrar of Collections and Administrator for the Laguna Art Museum. While working for LAM she was able to attend courses in non-profit development through UCI Extension and also studied graphic design, museum management, website design and membership database development.

In 1998 she become the Founding Director for CSUF Grand Central Art Center and held that position from for ten years. While curating and coordinating more than 300 exhibitions at GCAC, she also hosted 32 artists-in-residences, managed MFA student housing, published 35 publications in conjunction with exhibitions and printed etching editions through Watermark Printmaking Workshop and Grand Central Press. For five years Andrea also coordinated programming, fundraised and taught courses in an after school outreach programs she developed at GCAC for high school students in Santa Ana.

In 2008, she became the Gallery Director for Orange Coast College’s Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion in Costa Mesa, CA. During her time at OCC, she continued to curate exhibits that inspire the students and public. She developed and presented 11 major exhibitions and published exhibition publications through the Arts Pavilion Press. She served as a member of the OCC Instructional Planning Council and delighted in teaching students in the gallery on a regular basis.

Andrea was member of the Grand Central Arts Forum and co-owner of Watermark Printmaking Workshop and Gallery in Santa Ana from 2008-2011. She has been a guest lecturer and special guest instructor at several colleges, high schools and elementary schools throughout Orange County. She is also currently completing her MA in Illustration at Cal State University, Fullerton.

LCAD President Jonathan Burke remarked, “I am thrilled that Andrea Harris McGee is now part of the team at Laguna College of Art & Design. She is a perfect fit with her extensive curatorial expertise and gallery management expertise. I look forward to her expanding our exhibition program that focuses on artists and designers that make significant contributions in the visual arts.”