West Chapter ConferenceSpeakers

Douglas McCulloh

Friday, November 07, 2025 @ 9:00am, 3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501

In Memoriam: Douglas McCulloh (1959–2025)

Douglas McCulloh (1959-2025)

Honored Educator | Photographer | Curator

Douglas McCulloh was an engaging and unconventional California photographer, curator, and educator whose work illuminated the intersections of chance, geography, and human connection. As Interim Executive Director and Senior Curator of Exhibitions at UCR ARTS, Doug championed artists and ideas that expanded the photographic conversation, curating landmark exhibitions such as Digital Capture: Southern California and the Pixel-Based Image World, The Impact of Images: Mamie Till's Courage from Tragedy, and In the Sunshine of Neglect.

A graduate of UC Santa Barbara and Claremont Graduate University, Doug's own artistic practice--rooted in system-driven projects and "chance operations"--produced acclaimed works including Chance Encounters: The L.A. Project, Dream Street, On the Beach, and the monumental The Great Picture, the world's largest photograph. His projects have been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Smithsonian, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

Doug's deep collaboration with author Susan Straight yielded projects like More Dreamers of the Golden Dream and Wild Blue Yonder, heartfelt explorations of Southern California life and community. Known for his empathy, humor, and mentorship, Doug fostered a culture of curiosity and inclusion in the photographic arts.

He often signed off messages with the words "make trouble," a reflection of his belief that art should challenge, question, and connect. His legacy lives on through his images, his students, and the countless artists he inspired.