Yuba College has appointed multimedia and ceramic artist Zen Du as its new full-time professor of studio art, filling a position that had been vacant for almost seven years. Du assumed the full-time role in August, bringing plans to revitalize the college’s ceramics and sculpture offerings and introduce more students to the extensive facilities available on the Linda campus.
Du, who previously taught part-time at Yuba College, holds a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art and painting from Appalachian State University. Her art has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions across California and beyond, including a solo exhibition at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art.
The art department at Yuba College boasts four dedicated studios for ceramics, sculpture, painting, and drawing. These spaces offer students hands-on experience with diverse materials and artistic techniques. Ceramics students have access to pottery wheels, multiple kilns, and an outdoor kiln yard, while sculpture students can utilize equipment for working with wood and metal. Du noted the quality of the existing resources, stating, “Yuba College has an amazing, fully equipped ceramics studio, and we’re continuing to expand it.”
One of the program’s most significant advantages, according to Du, is that students are not charged for the use of facilities and materials. “Students don’t pay for anything. Everything is provided for them,” Du explained. She added, “It’s really significant because, as we all know, art can be pretty expensive. There are lots of materials involved, so Yuba College covers those fees.”
Yuba College offers a range of art programs, including an Associate in Arts in Art, an Associate in Science in Commercial Art, an Associate in Arts for Transfer in Studio Arts, and an Associate in Science in Photographic Imaging. An 18-unit certificate in Photographic Imaging is also available. Coursework covers art history, drawing, design, color theory, painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, and commercial design, aiming to develop technical, conceptual, creative, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
The Associate in Arts for Transfer in Studio Arts provides a pathway for students to continue their education within the California State University system. Du noted that Yuba College’s art courses also prepare students for transfer to CSU or University of California campuses, with Chico State often being a destination due to its proximity. Beyond academics, students can explore career paths in fields such as graphic design, photography, illustration, advertising, art education, museum and gallery work, and art therapy.
Students also gain experience through exhibitions, workshops, and the student art club. Current student Henry Jacobson, who serves as the Art Club President, was selected in 2026 by Yuba College’s art faculty as a Kingsley Merit Award recipient for his artwork, “Hello!” This annual scholarship recognizes promising art students from Sacramento-area community colleges and includes an opportunity to exhibit work at the Crocker Art Museum.
Several public opportunities are planned for the fall. The Fine Arts Department will host a Fall Art Show in the Library Gallery from October 19 through October 30, followed by a second exhibition from November 30 through December 11. On College Information Day, September 30, Du plans to lead an Egyptian paste workshop, where students and community members can create small pendants, beads, and jewelry pieces that will be fired and available for pickup. Du also intends to create more opportunities for students to sell their work, expressing, “I want students to have more opportunities to show and sell their work. We support them in every way we can.”
As Du settles into her new role, she aims to strengthen relationships with local arts organizations and further connect students with the broader Yuba-Sutter arts community. The Fall Art Show in the Library Gallery will provide one of the semester's first chances for the public to view the creations of Yuba College art students.
