The Escalette Collection exists to inspire critical thinking, foster interdisciplinary discovery, and strengthen bonds with the community. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student and engagement and research, and involvement with the wider community. Its core mission is to enrich Chapman’s campus with relevant works of art that inspire a powerful cross-pollination of ideas. The fostering of diverse ways of knowing the world that is at the root of Humanities learning, is manifested in the Escalette’s curated exhibits, classroom outreach, and public programs.
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The collection is supported by an endowment established by the late Phyllis and Ross Escalette, and is comprised mostly of contemporary and modern paintings, prints, and sculpture. Rather than being housed in a museum or gallery, The Escalette Collection functions as a "museum without walls" where artwork is displayed throughout the Chapman campus in hallways, public spaces, and study areas. The collection is free and open to the public to view.
Current Exhibitions
Ink on Paper: A Letterpress Showcase
Begin/Again: Marking Black Memories
Image: Ivan Forde, Morning Raid, Cyanotype and thread, 2017.
The Escalette Collection of Art staff manages artwork from the Escalette Collection on campus, including its installation, research, storage, and care, as well as organizing exhibitions and community outreach, and overseeing the Student Art Ambassador program. We also handle donations and loans of artwork within the scope of the Escalette Collections.
Jessica Bocinski is the Registrar for the Escalette Permanent Collection of Art at Chapman University. She received her BA in Art History and Anthropology from Chapman University in 2018 before beginning her career as a young museum professional. As Registrar, Jessica has focused on expanding the collection’s accessibility by creating virtual exhibitions on Scalar and building an online collection on eMuseum. Through improved inventory processes and object research, she has also supported the Escalette Collection’s goals of acquiring works by diverse artists, and integrating those works into classes and student research on campus. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in English Literature at Chapman University. 