Curated By Kevin B. Chen

September 11, 2021 thru

 October 3, 2021

SOMArts is proud to partner with the San Francisco Foundation to present The Annual Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards Exhibition, a focused look at the future of the Bay Area visual arts, on view September 11–October 3, 2021. Made possible by the San Francisco Foundation and its donors, we’re excited to feature 16 promising visual artists working across disciplines and identifying young artists from Master of Fine Arts programs throughout the Bay Area whose work intersects with emerging trends.

The Jack K. and Gertrude Murphy Award is given to an MFA student of unusual caliber with great artistic promise. Edwin Anthony and Adalaine Boudreaux Cadogan both experienced financial challenges as art students and understood the great difference scholarships can make in the early phase of an artist’s career. The winners of the Cadogan Scholarships each receive support for their MFA studies. All the students benefit from participation in a professionally curated exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center and mentorship from curator Kevin B. Chen.

Participating Artists

Murphy Award
Ahn Lee, University of California Berkeley

Cadogan Scholarships
Katayoun Bahrami, California College of the Arts
Andrew Catanese, Stanford University
Erica Deeman, University of California Berkeley
Adrienne Defendi, San Jose State University
Edgar Fabián Frías, University of California Berkeley
Katharine T. Jacobs, San Jose State University
Ester Karnoski, California College of the Arts
Bryce LeFort, California College of the Arts
Natasha Loewy, San Francisco State University
Rivka Valérie Louissaint, University of California Berkeley
Miguel Novelo, Stanford University
Krystal Ramirez, Stanford University
Haley Marie Summerfield, San Francisco State University
Kelsey Rae Thomas, Mills College
Eve J. Werner, San Francisco Art Institute