COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is pleased to announce its first-ever Guest Artist in Residence. This year’s guest artist, Tristan Perrotti, is a Portland-based visual artist, arts advocate, and educator.
“This is the first time in the college’s history that we have hosted an Artist in Residence, and we’re excited to share this opportunity with the community we serve! It will be a truly unique experience for our students and for anyone who has the chance to work with Tristan or engage with his work,” said Ali Mageehon, Vice President of Instruction and Student Services.
The Guest Artist in Residence project is a partnership between the College, SWOCC Foundation, private donors, and the Coos Art Museum. It’s designed to provide a nearly year-long opportunity for an artist to focus on their work, inspire artistic exploration, and drive collaboration between the college and community.
“It is vitally important in a community to have the arts flourish. Coos Bay and North Bend have always had a major art community. To support that community with The Arts and an Artist in Residence is important. SWOCC Foundation is committed and excited in being able to help,” said Arnie Roblan, SWOCC Foundation Chair.
The program will run from September 2025 – June 2026 at Southwestern’s Coos Campus. Through the year, Perrotti will continue to build his personal practice, mentor students through workshops, and have access to the College’s gallery space in Eden Hall to exhibit his own work.
Artist Talk & Reception – October 8, 5:00-6:00 pm
Perrotti will be giving an Artist Talk to present his work and artistic philosophy on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5:00 pm. The presentation takes place in the Eden Hall lecture room, on the Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay). The college will provide a reception with refreshments in the Eden Hall lobby. This event is free and open to the public.
This is event is scheduled on the eve of the annual Bay Area Artists Association exhibit opening the next day on Thursday, October 9, 11:00 am -1:00 pm. This makes for a lively “Art-stranvaganza” on campus with back-to-back visual arts events in Eden Hall.
Upcoming Workshops:
Workshops are free and all materials will be provided. Must be 16 years or older to participate. Workshops held in Eden Hall on the Coos Campus.
ART 0801 65 – Faces in Flux: Expressive Portraiture – October 15 – 6:00-9:00 pm
Students will explore portraits as emotional landscapes rather than strict likeness. Through quick warm-ups, color exploration, and exaggerated form, participants will create a finished expressive portrait in one sitting.
ART 0802 65 – Fast and Fearless: The Art of Immediate Painting – October 22 – 6:00-9:00 pm
This speed-driven session will push students to commit to their first instincts. Students will work through timed exercises, then create one final piece without overworking it.
ART 0803 65 – Corporate Myths and Modern Icons – October 29 – 6:00-9:00 pm
Participants will deconstruct familiar brands and logos to create their own “subversive brand” artwork, mixing painting, collage, and text.
ART 0804 65 – From Sketch to Statement: Building a Mini-Series – November 17 and November 19 – 6:00-9:00 pm
Session one guides students through concept brainstorming and quick sketching for a small, themed set of works. Session two focuses on completing and refining the pieces and writing a concise artist statement.
To register:
- You must have an active SWOCC Student ID number. If you have taken classes at SWOCC within the last year, you will have an active SWOCC Student ID number.
- If you have not taken a class at SWOCC within the last year, you’ll need to complete the Community Education & Personal Enrichment application. Go to www.socc.edu/community for instructions and a link to the form.
- This will get you an active SWOCC Student ID number. Skip this step only if you have taken classes at Southwestern within the past year.
- When you have an active SWOCC Student ID number, call 541-888-7352 or email onestop@socc.edu.
About the Artist:
Raised in rural southern Oregon, Perrotti holds an MFA in Visual Studies from the Pacific Northwest College of Art and has exhibited nationally and internationally, including solo and group shows in Portland, Los Angeles, and Bucharest, Romania, as well as art fairs in Seattle, New York, and San Francisco. Beyond his studio practice, he has curated exhibitions that elevate emerging and underrepresented voices in contemporary art.
Perrotti’s work bridges the emotional immediacy of expressionist portraiture with a sustained engagement in community and public life, exploring masculinity, labor, and the performance of self through painting.
Perrotti brings a record of arts advocacy, having worked in the Oregon State Legislature to champion historic preservation, creative economy jobs, and access to arts education. His residency at Southwestern will focus on creating new, site-responsive work and fostering connections across the Bay Area arts community.
You can contact Perrotti at tristan.perrotti@socc.edu or by calling 541-841-1585.
