“This is Not a Couch” is a collection of paintings and sculptures by nine graduating Studio Art majors at Cal Poly. The title parodies Rene Magritte's 1929 painting "Ceci n'est pas une pipe", or "This is not a pipe". The piece is in fact, a painting of a pipe, which acts as a nod to the importance of visual language, the significance of symbols in art and representation vs. reality.

For this show, the students developed their own symbol: an old, blue couch that sits in the group's shared studio space. The students use this couch daily, and it has become an anchor point in their time at Cal Poly and in the Art Department specifically. Their shared college experience has been shaped by the environments they collectively frequent, the art history and theory they have been exposed to, and the work they have made and witnessed each other make along the way. The title of their show exemplifies their shared environment and knowledge they have acquired as classmates and friends in this program.

This show is presented by Big Artist Corporation, an art collective initiated and run by Cal Poly Studio Art students. In an effort to grow San Luis Obispo’s community of emerging artists, foster relationships with one another post-grad, and provide opportunities to show work outside of Cal Poly’s campus, this group of artists is pleased and proud to present their first independent group show in Downtown San Luis Obispo.