SFMOMA’s 2024 SECA Art Award Exhibition Showcases Three Bay Area Artists
Jason Yim / Published March 3, 2025 09:58 PM
Jason Yim
Rose D’Amato, Chevrolet Six I, II, 2024, Sunshine Drive-In, 2024, and Roadtest and Multicheck (From the Chevrolet Six Construction Site), 2024 (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross, Courtesy of SECA Art Award
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is set to open the 2024 SECA Art Award Exhibition on December 14, 2024, celebrating three Bay Area artists—Rose D’Amato, Angela Hennessy, and Rupy C. Tut. The exhibition, held on Floor 2, will be free and open to the public until May 26, 2025.
Established in 1967, the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Art Award has been instrumental in recognizing and supporting local talent in the Bay Area. Over nearly six decades, the award has honored close to 100 artists, providing them with an exhibition at SFMOMA and a broader platform to engage new audiences. This year’s recipients bring distinct artistic visions, diverse materials, and deeply personal narratives into the museum’s galleries.
Rose D’Amato (b. 1991, Whittier, CA), currently based in San Francisco, explores the intersection of decorative folk arts, sign painting, and lowrider culture. As a second-generation sign maker, she draws inspiration from the intricate hand-lettering techniques and pinstriping designs deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her work reflects the craftsmanship and cultural history of street art and automotive aesthetics, bridging personal heritage with broader artistic traditions.
Angela Hennessy, Wake Work, 2024 (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross, Courtesy of SECA Art Award
Angela Hennessy (b. 1971, Monterey, CA), an Oakland-based artist, creates sculptures and installations using processes traditionally associated with domestic labor—washing, wrapping, stitching, knotting, brushing, and braiding. Through these repetitive, tactile gestures, her work examines the physical and emotional weight of labor, care, and memory, offering a profound commentary on materiality and transformation.
Rupy C. Tut (b. 1985, Chandigarh, India) preserves and reinvents the tradition of eighteenth-century Indian miniature painting. Her practice is rooted in the meticulous craftsmanship of traditional painting techniques, from grinding and mixing mineral pigments to executing fine-detail brushwork. Through her depictions of women, landscapes, and ancestral figures, she reinterprets historical narratives, creating a bridge between classical South Asian art and contemporary storytelling.
Each artist has individually curated their gallery space, presenting new works that challenge conventional forms and expand their respective mediums. The exhibition aims to highlight the breadth of artistic innovation within the Bay Area, reinforcing SFMOMA’s commitment to supporting local voices in contemporary art.
Rupy C. Tut, One Dream With Multiple Faces, 2024, A River of Dreams ਸੁਫ਼ਨਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਦਰਿਆ (Sufneyaan da dareya), 2024, and Where Dreams Flow ਸੁਫ਼ਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਮਾਧ (Sufneyaan di samaadh), 2024, (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross, Courtesy of SECA Art Award
As the SECA Art Award continues its long-standing tradition, this year’s exhibition underscores the rich cultural diversity and evolving artistic landscape of the Bay Area. By honoring D’Amato, Hennessy, and Tut, SFMOMA recognizes the power of craft, tradition, and material exploration in shaping contemporary art.
The 2024 SECA Art Award Exhibition will remain on view until May 26, 2025, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with three distinct perspectives that merge historical influences with modern interpretations.
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
Rose D’Amato, Chevrolet Six I, II, 2024, Sunshine Drive-In, 2024, and Roadtest and Multicheck (From the Chevrolet Six Construction Site), 2024 (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross, Courtesy of SECA Art Award
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is set to open the 2024 SECA Art Award Exhibition on December 14, 2024, celebrating three Bay Area artists—Rose D’Amato, Angela Hennessy, and Rupy C. Tut. The exhibition, held on Floor 2, will be free and open to the public until May 26, 2025.
Established in 1967, the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Art Award has been instrumental in recognizing and supporting local talent in the Bay Area. Over nearly six decades, the award has honored close to 100 artists, providing them with an exhibition at SFMOMA and a broader platform to engage new audiences. This year’s recipients bring distinct artistic visions, diverse materials, and deeply personal narratives into the museum’s galleries.
Rose D’Amato (b. 1991, Whittier, CA), currently based in San Francisco, explores the intersection of decorative folk arts, sign painting, and lowrider culture. As a second-generation sign maker, she draws inspiration from the intricate hand-lettering techniques and pinstriping designs deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her work reflects the craftsmanship and cultural history of street art and automotive aesthetics, bridging personal heritage with broader artistic traditions.
Angela Hennessy, Wake Work, 2024 (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross, Courtesy of SECA Art Award
Angela Hennessy (b. 1971, Monterey, CA), an Oakland-based artist, creates sculptures and installations using processes traditionally associated with domestic labor—washing, wrapping, stitching, knotting, brushing, and braiding. Through these repetitive, tactile gestures, her work examines the physical and emotional weight of labor, care, and memory, offering a profound commentary on materiality and transformation.
Rupy C. Tut (b. 1985, Chandigarh, India) preserves and reinvents the tradition of eighteenth-century Indian miniature painting. Her practice is rooted in the meticulous craftsmanship of traditional painting techniques, from grinding and mixing mineral pigments to executing fine-detail brushwork. Through her depictions of women, landscapes, and ancestral figures, she reinterprets historical narratives, creating a bridge between classical South Asian art and contemporary storytelling.
Each artist has individually curated their gallery space, presenting new works that challenge conventional forms and expand their respective mediums. The exhibition aims to highlight the breadth of artistic innovation within the Bay Area, reinforcing SFMOMA’s commitment to supporting local voices in contemporary art.
Rupy C. Tut, One Dream With Multiple Faces, 2024, A River of Dreams ਸੁਫ਼ਨਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਦਰਿਆ (Sufneyaan da dareya), 2024, and Where Dreams Flow ਸੁਫ਼ਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਮਾਧ (Sufneyaan di samaadh), 2024, (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross, Courtesy of SECA Art Award
As the SECA Art Award continues its long-standing tradition, this year’s exhibition underscores the rich cultural diversity and evolving artistic landscape of the Bay Area. By honoring D’Amato, Hennessy, and Tut, SFMOMA recognizes the power of craft, tradition, and material exploration in shaping contemporary art.
The 2024 SECA Art Award Exhibition will remain on view until May 26, 2025, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with three distinct perspectives that merge historical influences with modern interpretations.
