The San Francisco Foundation and SOMArts Cultural Center present The Annual Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards Exhibition, a focused look at the future of the Bay Area visual and media arts landscape. 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. With this in mind, in lieu of an opening reception, this year’s awardees will be featured in an artist catalogue.

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.

The awards are designed to further the development of Bay Area MFA students and foster the exploration of their artistic potential in hybrid practice, installation, mixed media, painting, photography, and sculpture. We’re excited to honor 13 emerging artists whose work intersects with emerging trends through digital programming and awardee features.

The Annual Murphy & Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards 2020

Artist presentations with curator Kevin B. Chen