SECA Art Award

Overview

2008 SECA Art Award winners (left to right) Jordan Kantor, Tauba Auerbach, Desirée Holman and Trevor Paglen; photo: Drew Altizer Photography
2008 SECA Art Award winners (left to right) Jordan Kantor, Tauba Auerbach, Desirée Holman and Trevor Paglen; photo: Drew Altizer Photography

The purpose of the SECA Art Award is to provide recognition to artists of exceptional promise who are working independently and at a high level of artistic maturity, but whose work has not been accorded substantial recognition.

Since 1967 SECA has honored more than 60 Bay Area artists with the biennial award, which includes an exhibition at SFMOMA, an accompanying catalogue, and a modest cash prize. Recipients are chosen during a 10-month process involving the local arts community, artists, SECA members, and museum staff. The final selection is made by SFMOMA curators.

Funding for the exhibition and catalogue is provided by SECA and SFMOMA; the cash prize accompanying the award was initiated in 1984 through the Robert Huston Fund, which is named in memory of a former SECA member and dedicated supporter of young Bay Area artists. The 2010 SECA Art Award winners are Mauricio Ancalmo, Colter Jacobsen, Ruth Laskey, and Kamau Amu Patton. Recent SECA Art Award recipients include Tauba Auerbach, Desirée Holman, Jordan Kantor, and Trevor Paglen (2008); Sarah Cain, Kota Ezawa, Amy Franceschini, Mitzi Pederson, and Leslie Shows (2006); Rosana Castrillo Díaz, Simon Evans, Shaun O'Dell, and Josephine Taylor (2004); and John Bankston, Andrea Higgins, Chris Johanson, and Will Rogan (2002).

Selection Process

SECA Art Award Opening, 2006; photo: Drew Altizer Photography

The SECA Art Award program is based on nominations made by members of the local arts community and SECA members; a review of applications from more than 200 artists; studio visits with approximately 30 finalists led by SFMOMA’s SECA Art Award curators and open to all SECA members; and final selection of one to four artists by the curators. While the ultimate purpose of the program is the selection of SECA Art Award winners, the process offers opportunities for artists to show their work to a variety of individuals who are active in the local arts community.

Recommendations

Artists enter the SECA Art Award selection process as a result of a recommendation from a Bay Area arts professional or SECA member. SECA solicits nominations from numerous arts professionals, including museum curators, directors and curators at Bay Area galleries and nonprofit spaces, deans and instructors at local art schools, noted Bay Area artists, and past SECA Art Award winners.

Artist Eligibility

To be considered for the SECA Art Award, artists must be nonstudents and working independently. Artworks in all media for the gallery context is considered.

As studio visits are essential to the search process, artists must reside in the Bay Area and be available to meet in person with the SECA Art Award curators and SECA members.

SECA members and employees of SFMOMA are not eligible for consideration.

For more information contact the SECA coordinator at 415.357.4031 or seca@sfmoma.org.