Matt Bailey Doubles His Investment in the UCI Arts Department of Art

Inspired by the impact of his first gift, Matt Bailey gives again

Matt Bailey, MBA ’12, is building on his support of the Department of Art at UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts with a new $250,000 gift that invests in the students and faculty at the heart of its work. His renewed commitment advances the department's highest priorities, including gallery and exhibition programming, faculty research and student scholarships.

“As someone who went to art school early on, I appreciate the impact a strong creative community has on artmaking,” said Matt Bailey. “I grew up in Orange County, and as a young adult, felt I needed to move somewhere else to find a thriving arts ecosystem. I didn't see one around me and had no idea UCI offered such an innovative art program. After many years, I returned to O.C. and attended UCI for my MBA. I became more involved with activities on campus and joined the Dean's Arts Board at UCI Arts. Since becoming involved, I've come to appreciate the work being done there, especially within the Department of Art. My hope in supporting programs here is to help young artists experience the vibrant creative community I wished I had found when I was at their stage in life.”

Bailey brings both an artist's eye and an entrepreneur's perspective to his giving. He has launched several creative businesses, including a software company that helped artists market their work online. He earned his MBA from the UCI Paul Merage School of Business, where he serves as adjunct faculty, and he credits his art education with shaping how he thinks about culture and the world around him.

“One of the inspiring things about Matt Bailey is how he always reflects on his own experience as a student artist and what would have made a game-changing difference for him if he had more resources,” said Tiffany López, Claire Trevor Dean of the Arts. 

His first gift established The Bailey Family Scholarship in Art, helping undergraduate art students cover the cost of supplies and course fees, and supported faculty research for associate professor of art Jesse Colin Jackson's Speculative Prototyping Lab. 

“Resources for students while in school can be scarce,” shared Bailey. “Being able to find your voice as an artist and expressing yourself in innovative ways requires access to supplies, materials, and equipment that can be difficult or impossible for students to afford. My contributions don't eliminate this challenge, but I believe they have helped in a small way.”

Seeing that investment take shape in students’ lives and in the lab's growing body of work inspired him to widen his vision to strengthen the department as a whole. 

“Matt Bailey’s continued support of the Department of Art has a meaningful impact across our community, giving us the flexibility to support our students while also investing in the ambitious work of our faculty and programs,” said Kevin Appel, chair of the Department of Art.”

His generosity will help offset material costs for undergraduate students, strengthen the excellence of our gallery programming and advance research in the Speculative Prototyping Lab, where emerging technologies are explored through art, design and public engagement. We are deeply grateful for his sustained commitment to the department and to the work our students and faculty are doing.”

That flexibility allows the department to respond to what matters most from year to year. It can bring leading artists to campus one season and help students take on ambitious new work the next.

“I’d really like to see the galleries at UCI continue to attract top-notch artists while also serving the students’ innovative work,” said Bailey. “It’s vital that young artists get exposure to what's possible, what's current and what past work has influenced what's happening now. As a young college student, I had a teacher whose personal work opened my eyes to what artmaking could be. He took the time to introduce me to his main influences, and this exposure led me to make work that I'm proud of to this day. I'd like to ensure more young artists get the opportunity to find that type of inspiration from the work of others.”

The Department of Art cultivates artists who shape and challenge contemporary art. Working closely with distinguished faculty and visiting artists, students explore a wide range of media and develop distinctive practices built on artistic and intellectual rigor.

“Our students come to a school of the arts at a world-class research university,” shared López. “By funding research within the school, this gift affirms why they came here in the first place: to be artists shaped by a research university and by a world-class school of the arts.”

To learn more about the Department of Art and for ways to support, visit here.