ICONIC@UCI with Nicole Updegraff: A One-Week Residency

UPDATE: The Tuesday, 10/27 6 PM Gallery Talk is sold out! We invite you to join us for gallery drop-in hours on 10/26 and 10/27 from 2-6 PM as well as the masterclass on 10/28 at 5 PM.

Click here to register for the Gallery Talk Zoom Livestream

Join Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts & Culture Initiative, the UCI Center for Storytelling, Global Languages and Cultures, the Department of English, and the Literary Journalism Program for a one-week residency with creative director, illustrator, and storyteller Nicole Updegraff. This event is made possible through the generous support of Illuminations.

Free and open to the public. All programming will take place in the UC Irvine School of Humanities. Visitors are welcome to attend one, two, three, or all four events. For further details and contact information for the organizers, visit https://www.humanities.uci.edu/storytellingcenter/events

COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

Gallery Exhibition Viewing Hours
ICONIC: An Illustrated Tribute to the Revolution of Fashion

2:00-6:00 PM
Humanities Gateway 1030

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27

Gallery Exhibition Viewing Hours
ICONIC: An Illustrated Tribute to the Revolution of Fashion

2:00-6:00 PM
Humanities Gateway 1030

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 -- EVENING PROGRAM

SOLD OUT: Click here to register for the Gallery Talk Zoom livestream

Gallery Talk with Artist Nicole Updegraff
Followed by Evening Gallery Viewing Hours

6:00-7:30 PM
Humanities Gateway 1030

Join artist Nicole Updegraff for a special gallery talk exploring the making of ICONIC: An Illustrated Tribute to the Revolution of Fashion

In her talk, Updegraff will highlight the development of ICONIC, from original concept and research to the writing, illustration, and exhibition design. Learn the stories behind some of the exhibition's most powerful portraits and histories, and why preserving cultural legacy--and expanding the histories our institutions recognize-- matters.

The presentation will be followed by an audience Q & A and evening gallery viewing hours.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

A Masterclass on Creativity, Design and Storytelling with Nicole Updegraff

5:00-6:30 PM
Humanities Instructional Building 135

In this masterclass, Updegraff will share her journey as a creative professional, offering insight and advice for students of all ages who share a love of art, creativity, and storytelling. She will also explore the power of experiential and immersive storytelling, and how engaging audiences in unexpected ways can create deeper emotional connections and transform the way stories are experienced, understood, and remembered.

All are welcome. No prerequisites or special skills are required to participate.

ABOUT ICONIC

ICONIC is a first-of-its-kind narrative and visual exhibition that sits at the intersection of fine art, fashion history, and Black cultural legacy.

Conceived as a hybrid between art gallery, interactive museum experience, and cultural anthology, ICONIC explores the dynamic evolution of fashion through the lens of Black creativity. Designed to educate, inspire, and engage multigenerational audiences, the exhibition honors 100 Black designers, stylists, and fashion and cultural icons, ensuring their legacies and contributions are experienced, studied, preserved, and given the institutional recognition their innovation, influence, and impact deserve.

ABOUT NICOLE UPDEGRAFF

Nicole Updegraff is an international fashion illustrator, writer, and creative director based in Los Angeles, whose distinctive, elevated illustration style sits at the intersection of art, beauty, fashion, and culture. Since the release of her children’s book, I LOVE My Cotton Candy Hair! in 2009, Nicole has worked across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and West Africa. Her work spans bespoke personalized commissions, book illustration, live event activations, creative campaigns, and elevated illustration projects for private collectors and global brands.

ABOUT THE UCI CENTER FOR STORYTELLING

Narrative is at the center of our lives, and human beings are hard-wired for stories. The telling of stories helps us to understand ourselves, connect with others, form memories, and make sense of our world. Building on the historical strengths of the UCI School of Humanities, the Center serves as a hub for the exploration of nonfiction storytelling. We offer researchers, students, journalists and members of the community methods for becoming better storytellers, while fostering academic research and experimentation in life writing and documentary.