About
About the Residence
The Virginia A. Orndorff Artist-in-Residence Program brings nationally recognized, innovative artists to CSUN to enrich the academic and creative lives of Art & Design students. By fostering direct engagement with leading contemporary artists, the program cultivates inspiration, professional insight, and hands-on experience for both undergraduate and graduate students. Residencies offer students unique opportunities for one-on-one mentorship, workshops, critiques, and collaborative projects, providing a real-world look into the tools, techniques, and career paths of working artists. Each residency culminates in a public exhibition or performance, connecting the university with the broader Los Angeles arts community and highlighting CSUN as a cultural hub for the San Fernando Valley.
Through this program, the Department of Art & Design elevates its role as a destination for artistic excellence, student empowerment, and community engagement.
About Orndorff Family
The Virginia A. Orndorff Artist-in-Residence Program is made possible through the generous support of Christopher N. Orndorff and Virginia A. Lescano (Virginia A. Orndorff). Chris Orndorff is a seasoned investment executive with nearly three decades of global experience managing assets for major institutions. He currently serves as CEO of Cercano Management, LLC, and has held leadership roles at prominent firms including Vulcan Capital.
Virginia A. Lescano, a CSUN alumna and passionate visual artist, pursued a successful business and marketing career before dedicating herself full-time to fine art photography. Her deep appreciation for the arts and commitment to student success inspired the creation of this transformative program.
Eligibility & Selection Process
The Virginia A. Orndorff Artist-in-Residence Program selects exceptional artists through a nomination-based process designed to foster diversity and deep engagement with CSUN’s Department of Art & Design.
Artists are nominated by a select group of invited, anonymous arts professionals. Nominees are chosen for their outstanding work in disciplines represented within the department, such as animation, design, drawing, painting, sculpture, and more. Ideal candidates are those who are eager to engage with students through critiques, career talks, workshops, and collaborative projects, and who are open to maintaining a visible on-campus presence throughout the semester. At the conclusion of the residency, artists will share their work through a public exhibition or presentation, developed in collaboration with faculty, students, and the CSUN Art Galleries staff. Nominated artists will be invited to submit a résumé or CV, a portfolio of five recent works, and a statement of intent. This statement should outline how the artist plans to contribute to the CSUN community, describe ideas for two student-focused professional development workshops, and explain how they would use their on-campus studio space to inspire and connect with students. The final selection is made by the Artist-in-Residence Program Committee in consultation with faculty members from the Department of Art & Design.
This nomination-only approach ensures a high level of artistic excellence and supports a broad, inclusive range of perspectives, while maximizing the program’s impact on both the artists and the students they mentor.