50 Artists: Emily Hamilton on Doris Salcedo

The thousands of artworks at SFMOMA offer countless opportunities to look closely and think deeply about some of the most amazing artists of our time. To celebrate both the artists on view in the newly expanded museum and the creative communities of the Bay Area, 50 Artists invites local artists and creative professionals to share how icons of modern and contemporary art matter to them. This week, Emily Hamilton reflects on Doris Salcedo’s breathtaking work, Plegaria Muda (2008–2010), meaning “Silent Prayer.”

Hamilton is SFMOMA’s associate objects conservator and has lectured and published internationally about issues in contemporary art conservation. Hamilton holds an MA and Certificate of Advanced Study in conservation from Buffalo State College and a BA in art history from Reed College. Before joining SFMOMA, she worked at the Saint Louis Art Museum, MoMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and archaeological excavations in Italy and Turkey.