»The Phyllis & Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art

In 2009 a generous gift from trustee Ross Escalette and his wife Phyllis to name the permanent art collection set in motion a new era for Chapman as a center for art in Orange County.  Because Ross and Phyllis established an endowment, the collection continues to grow, infusing Chapman’s campus with new expressions of color, form and vibrancy. 

Currently, the collection comprises more than 700 pieces.  Though the collection does not necessarily have a specific theme or focus, there is a special emphasis on contemporary works of Southern California artists as well as African art, Russian iconography and prints by modern American and European masters such as Rauschenberg, Lichtenstein and Nauman. 

The Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art will enhance and enrich the intellectual life of the campus and the Orange County community. The purpose of the collection is to advance the community’s understanding and appreciation of human creativity and imagination. Through studying and celebrating the art of our time the Permanent Art Collection seeks to educate students, alumni, faculty, and friends about the crucial role art and artists play in society. The Permanent Art Collection will promote art and its appreciation by acquiring, managing, and preserving a collection consisting of both traditional and contemporary artworks in various media.

In 1986, Phyllis and Ross Escalette, along with their three children, started Brasstech/Newport Brass, a plumbing products manufacturer based in Santa Ana.  By the time they sold it in 2001, the company had grown into a successful Orange County business with more than 500 employees. 

Ross joined Chapman University’s Board of Governors in the 1990s and served as chairman for two terms. During that time, the Escalettes became interested in the Chapman Art Collection.  They were intrigued by its accessibility to both the campus and local communities and its potential as an educational and cultural resource. In 2009, the Escalettes established an endowment for the Chapman Art Collection, which was renamed the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art in honor of their generosity.  Funds generated by the Escalette Permanent Art Collection Endowment continue to support the operation and expansion of the collection. 

In an excerpt from their introduction to The Chapman University Collections, a book published during the university’s 150^th anniversary year, Ross shared his and Phyllis’s reasons for their generous gift:  “We like to give to organizations where we can see the funds being put to immediate and visible use. Chapman University and the Art Collection fill that requirement in every way.” 

Currently, Ross serves on the Board of Trustees of Chapman University and is also a trustee at the Palm Springs Art Museum. Ross and Phyllis remain active in building new companies; they are presently involved in developing a new plumbing products manufacturing business headed by their son, Geoffrey.

Maggi Owens

Curator Maggi Owens’ career at Chapman University began in 1991, working with Richard Turner in the Guggenheim Gallery, where they curated bold and challenging exhibitions that generated positive press and gallery recognition. After several years, Maggi became co-director of the gallery, and was asked to present exhibitions in other venues on campus. This led to the idea of building a permanent collection of art for the university, which was presented to President Doti. With his approval Maggi became curator of the permanent art collection in 2001, implementing a comprehensive program for the display of fine art across the campus and its grounds. 

Friends of the Escalette Collection is a group dedicated to supporting the Escalette Permanent Art Collection.  Members have the opportunity to engage with artists, art historians, gallery owners and museum curators to gain a better understanding for and appreciation of the modern and contemporary art scene in Orange County.   

Become a member of Friends of the Escalette Collection today!

Membership benefits include:

• Invitations to exclusive art lectures
• Invitations to participate in private tours of local art museums
• Invitations to participate in exclusive tours of private collections in Southern California
• Discounts on selected Chapman University Press books
• Access to subsidiary groups, such as the “Young Collector Program” 

Membership Levels

To learn more, contact David Lee, assistant to the curator, at (714) 744-7028 or via e-mail.