Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection | BAMPFA | Berkeley | Oct 27–April 20, 2025

Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection

Group Exhibition
Curated by Cecilia Alemani, Donald R. Mullen Jr., Margot Norton.
Image: Installation View Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection. BAMPFA, Berkeley.
Françoise Grossen. Contact III, 1977.
Tau Lewis. Saint Mozelle in the Aphid Orgy, 2023.
Tschabalala Self. Sisters, 2021.
Firelei Báez. For Améthyste and Athénaïre (Exiled Muses Beyond Jean Luc Nancy’s Canon), Anacaonas, 2018.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

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Berkeley, CA  94704
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Overview

Oh, how the BAMPFA (the former location on Bancroft, in that INCREDIBLE Brutalist structure) reminds me of my teenage years in the 1990s—hanging out around Telegraph Ave., hearing the sounds of skateboarders doing tricks along the museum’s sloped entryway. The last show I saw there was the Cal 2014 MFA exhibition, as our dear friend Joey Enos was in the graduating class. We were extremely late to the opening—luckily, the janitor let us in. Good times.

So today’s LOVE LETTER TO ART focuses on BAMPFA’s Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection, which is a beautiful show featuring 78 works by 68 women artists.

Preview of Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection. BAMPFA, Berkeley.

“Assembled by the Bay Area philanthropist Komal Shah and her husband Gaurav Garg, the Shah Garg Collection celebrates intergenerational dialogue and mutual support between women artists of the past eighty years. The exhibition’s Berkeley presentation coincides with the launch of the Shah Garg Women Artists Research Fund, which will support new scholarship in the form of public programs, publications, and exhibitions featuring women artists at BAMPFA.”

The exhibition is curated by Cecilia Alemani, Donald R. Mullen Jr. Director and Chief Curator of High Line Art and Margot Norton, Chief Curator at BAMPFA.

The accompanying catalogue ($60 at the BAMPFA store/$39.50 Amazon)—edited by Mark Godfrey and Katy Siegel (who recently co-curated SFMOMA’s Get in the Game and Creative Growth: The House That Art Built)—is a GREAT read. It showcases 136 women artists included in the Shah Garg collection and includes essays, Q&As, and artist bios. It’s a treasure trove of insight and a wonderful homage to contemporary women artists—celebrating their contributions and affirming the recognition they deeply deserve.

Making Their Mark is an exquisite show full of refined, yet powerful pieces. My favorite in the show is Joan Semmel’s Horizons. There’s a fantastic essay in the catalogue written by artist Christina Quarles, who describes Semmel’s work:

Intimacy is found in love, in friendship, in family, but it is just as present in sickness, in violence, and in death. True intimacy can be liberating, but it is a surrender that is not fully sustainable. This is why humanity has continued to gravitate toward art. Art is a medium with which to explore the depths of intimacy. Art provides an image that is simultaneously singular and fractal.

 

I have turned to art, as both maker and viewer, to help satiate my need for representation, which is expansive rather than confining; to see my multitudes reflected before me, to be reminded that the incongruous can have beauty and substance.

 

I return to Joan Semmel’s paintings to process how l inhabit my body. Semmel reminds me that this perspective of self is uniquely my own and one that is held by every other being on Earth. In Semmel’s paintings I find camaraderie, and the loneliness within my body subsides as confinement gives way to exploration.

 

Semmel, by depicting the downward, upward, and sideways perspectives of the body in paint, tilts the portrait into landscape, giving each of us permission to wander and wonder from the vantage point of self.

I saw the exhibition about a week before the 2024 election. I was hopeful that day, though I somehow knew Kamala Harris would not be our 47th president. Seeing how American politics has shifted to support a misogynist leader once again, whose recent acts of damage include dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it is so important that people like Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg support women artists and institutions in this era of unrest.

I love that the exhibition opens and closes with ribbons printed with inspirational phrases related to the show, which visitors are welcome to take with them. I’m glad I did—it’s that glint of hope we all need sometimes.

🗓 Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection is on view at BAMPFA in Downtown Berkeley. It runs alongside some great shows (see below), including Making Their Mark: The Next Generation. Both close on April 20, 2025.
💌 Did you see the show(s) or try any of our recommendations? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).

QUICK GUIDE: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

⭐ LOCATION: BAMPFA is located at 2155 Center Street (cross Oxford Street) in Downtown Berkeley, which is 4 min walk from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station.
⭐ HOURS: Open Wednesday–Sunday 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. 
⭐ MUSEUM ADMISSION: General Admission Tickets Adults $18. Seniors 65+, College Students (non-UC Berkeley), UC Berkeley alumni and retirees, Visitors w/ Disabilities, Military Personnel $12. Group Visits/Tours $9 (reserve in advance). Ages 14–18 $5. BAMPFA Members, Ages 0–13 FREE. Membership starts at $40.

• FREE FIRST THURSDAYS.
• UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff
• Museums for All (show your SNAP card/ID)
• Hofmann Circle, Leadership Board, Director’s Cabinet, and Curator’s Circle members
• MATRIX artists and BAMPFA Collection artists

⭐ THEATER ADMISSION: General Admission Tickets Adults $18–$20. Seniors 65+, College Students (non-UC Berkeley), UC Berkeley alumni and retirees, Visitors w/ Disabilities, Military Personnel, Group Visits/Tours (reserve in advance) $12. BAMPFA Members, Curator’s Circle, Hofmann Circle $9. Ages 0–14;  UC Berkeley Students; Museums for All SNAP participants $5. Membership starts at $40.

⭐ EVENTS: 

• Exhibition Tour: Making Their Mark on April 16, 12:15 p.m. and April 20 at 2:00 p.m. (FREE with admission)
• Artists’ Conversation: Disobedient Bodies with Suzanne Jackson, Firelei Báez, and Hilton Als on April 17, 2025, 6:30 p.m. (FREE with admission)
• Open: Art Lab [Great activity for visitors with kids!] Fridays, 2:00–7:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00–7:00 p.m.; Second Saturdays, 1:00–7:00 p.m., Free First Thursdays, 11:00–7:00 PM. (FREE with admission)
• Workshop: Floral Impressions with Tara Baghdassarian [Learn the ancient Japanese technique of tataki-zomé, or flower pounding, combined with the softness of watercolor and other mixed media on April 26, 2025, 1:00 p.m.]
• So many terrific films! A few of my picks: Ghost Trail on April 18, 5:30 p.m.; Cutting Through Rocks on April 19, 2:30 p.m.; The Botanist on April 19, 5:15 p.m.  

A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S CASUAL DINING PICKS:

• Pizzeria da Laura – New York, Sicilian, Detroit, and Grandma styles pizzas, handmade pastas + extensive vegan menu. (4 min walk /1 min drive)
• Lucia’s Berkeley – Classic Italian restaurant and pizzeria. You might recognize their pizza from the wood-fired oven truck at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire or the Grand Lake Farmers Market. (4 min walk/2 min drive)
• East Bay Spice Company – Artisanal cocktails + Indian small plates in a speakeasy-style setting. Perfect for a casual hangout (daylight) or date (evening). (5 min walk/2 min drive)
• Great China – LOVE all the textures in their double skin salad + their FABULOUS Mon–Fri $18 lunch specials. (5 min walk/1 min drive)
• Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen – Their Buttermilk Fried Chicken is my go to there, and it’s great for kids since it’s boneless! (5 min walk/2 min drive)
• Rose Pizzeria – Pizzeria with an adorable patio and New York Times–bested pies. (9 min walk/4 min drive)
• Masa Ramen Bistro – My FAVE place for Loco Moco off the islands. (10 min walk/3 min drive)

💖 A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S ROMANTIC DINING PICKS

• Julia’s Restaurant @ Berkeley City Club – Enjoy Classic Cal cuisine while soaking in all the glorious Julia Morgan details like that AMAZING ART NOVEAU POOL! (10 min walk/4 min drive)
• Chez Panisse and Chez Panisse Café – MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DINING ESTABLISHMENT IN BERKELEY. It’s romantic and upscale, yet undeniably cozy. Alice Waters started farm-to-table dining here back in 1971—and the rest of the world has been playing catch-up ever since. (16 min walk/4 min drive)

 More nearby suggestions are always welcome. Feel free to add in the comments! 

A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S CASUAL DINING PICKS

Pizzeria da Laura | 2049 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

Born and raised in Hayward, California, Laura Meyer’s first job was working at Pyzano’s Pizza, her local pizzeria. At just 17 years old, the pizzeria was where Laura met her mentor, Tony Gemignani, and her career as a pizzaiola began. After high school, Laura went to earn her Bachelor’s Degree, when she discovered her passion for culture and food while studying abroad in Italy. Upon graduating, Laura moved to San Francisco to take the helm at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana as kitchen manager alongside Tony himself. With Tony, Laura honed her skills in fermentation and perfecting more than 10 regional styles of pizza.

LUCIA’S BERKELEY | 2016 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

Italian Restaurant in Downtown Berkeley. Live, Love, Eat Pizza!! #LuciasBerkeley #pizza #neapolitanpizza #berkeleyrestaurants #downtownBerkeley #glutenfree #vegan #italianfood

East Bay Spice Co | 2134 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA 94704

We have been in Berkeley for 10 years serving the community craft cocktails that help them taste spirits in a new way. Our focus is on quality and service. When you come into Spice Co, you will be entering a bar made up of bartenders and cooks, focused on creating drinks and food that you and your friends will remember.

GREAT CHINA RESTAURANT | 2190 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Great China serves Northern Chinese fare using the best of Northern California’s bountiful land, and offers an award winning wine list, local beers, as well as premium spirits.

Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen | 2261 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Angeline’s began as the dream of founder Robert Volberg and investor Scott Fearon as a way to bring southern hospitality and the delicious flavors of Louisiana to the bay area. ​While scouting the east bay for a restaurant location, Robert struck up a conversation with a man in chef’s pants who happened to be Chef Brandon Dubea from Baton Rouge, LA.
After working to develop an outstanding menu and create a delightful atmosphere,
​Angeline’s opened quietly on July 20th, 2006.

ROSE PIZZERIA |1960 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Rose Pizzeria Quality Pizza & Natural Wine in Downtown Berkeley. Visit us for delicious thin-crust pizza, fresh salads, and a selection of natural wines. Conveniently located in the heart of Berkeley.

Masa Ramen Bistro | 1923 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Masa Ramen Bistro is a small business in Berkeley area since October 2022. We're here to share our favorite Hawaii comfort foods to the Bay Area. We're ready to bring that aloha spirit to your next gathering. Let us serve up an unforgettable ramen experience that will have everyone talking. Contact us now to reserve your spot and treat your guests to an unforgettable ramen affair!

A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S ROMANTIC DINING PICKS

Julia’s Restaurant @ Berkeley City Club | 2315 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Indulge in unparalleled fine dining at Julia's Restaurant, the crown jewel of the Berkeley City Club. This contemporary French haven weaves the rich tapestry of California cuisine with classic techniques, all centered around the freshest, local, and organic ingredients the Bay Area offers. Immerse yourself in a beautiful atmosphere and gracious service, ensuring an unforgettable experience for any occasion, be it a romantic rendezvous, a sophisticated luncheon, or a momentous celebration.

Chez Panisse | 1517 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709

Chez Panisse began with our doing the very best we could do with French recipes and California ingredients, and has evolved into what I like to think of as a celebration of the very finest of our regional food products. My one unbreakable rule has always been to use only the freshest and finest ingredients available. Our quest for the freshest and best of the region has led us to Amador County for suckling pigs and wonderful, peppery watercress; to the Napa Valley for Zinfandel made especially for the restaurant; to Gilroy for garlic; to Sonoma County for locally made goat cheeses; to the ocean daily for oysters; to the backyards of our customers where we have our own gardens; and finally, if we must, to the local produce markets for that which we cannot grow or procure ourselves.

Author: ALoveLettertoArt