Curated By Kevin B. Chen

October 1, 2020 thru

 October 1, 2020

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, launching October 1, 2020. Made possible by the San Francisco Foundation and its donors, we’re excited to feature 13 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.

As universities and students are deeply impacted by COVID–19, it is crucial that this year’s exhibition makes the pivot to online so awardees can celebrate safely from their homes. In lieu of an opening reception, this year’s awardees will be prominently featured on SOMArts’ website on Thursday, October 1, 2020 with a digital artist presentations and magazine launch from 7:00–8:00pm.

The Jack and Gertrude Murphy Award 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.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION
With more than $1.5 billion in assets, the San Francisco Foundation is one of the largest community foundations in the country. The foundation is committed to expanding opportunity and ensuring a more equitable future for all in the Bay Area. Together with its donors, the foundation distributed $154 million to nonprofit organizations last fiscal year. The San Francisco Foundation serves Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties.

Participating Artists

Murphy Award
Gregory Rick, Stanford University

Cadogan Scholarships
Alexandru Salceanu, Mills College
Amy Elkins, Stanford University
champoy, UC Berkeley
Claudia Huenchuleo Paquien, San Francisco State University
Consuelo Tupper Hernández, California College of the Arts
Dominique Birdsong, San Francisco Art Institute
Fred M. DeWitt, UC Berkeley
Gabriella Grill, Stanford University
John Joseph Contreras Romero, San Jose State University
Leonard Reidelbach, San Francisco State University
Monica Valdez, San Jose State University
Zhongyu Yuan, California College of the Arts