Heads up, pet owners of San Francisco — you could get a free handmade portrait of your pet this February! SFMOMA and SF SPCA have partnered for Pet Portraits Day on February 4th in celebration of the museum’s exhibition Joan Brown. Over fifty local artists will take over the museum to create pet portraits using a variety of mediums. Anyone can submit a digital portrait of their pet for consideration, and if your portrait is chosen you’ll receive it in the mail a few weeks after the event.
Whether or not you’re a pet owner, it’s worth visiting the museum on February 4th to watch the artists in action. Fifty or so artists, along with local schoolkids, will set up shop on Floors 2 and 4 so you can see the portraits come together before your eyes. Mediums include watercolor, pen and ink, gouache, acrylic, collage, and clay. As portraits are finished, they’ll go on display in the Gina and Stuart Peterson White Box on Floor 4 through February 6th.
If you want to submit a pet portrait for consideration, be sure to visit SFMOMA’s Third Street Entrance to check in and leave your information. Note that pets are not allowed in the museum (except for service animals), so leave your furry friends at home. But don’t worry, SF SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy Team will make a special appearance.
About Joan Brown
Beloved local hero Joan Brown was known for her affinity for animals, which feature prominently in her whimsical paintings and sculptures. SFMOMA is currently showcasing the biggest retrospective of her work in over 20 years. Her charming creations were once dismissed by the fine art world, but their lighthearted yet spiritual themes have remained compelling even decades after her death in 1990.
SFMOMA will showcase Joan Brown now through March 12, 2023 on Floor 7 of the museum.