Feminine Futurism Takes Center Stage In SAM’s New Exhibit

The Seattle Art Museum’s newest exhibition, Tariqa Waters: Venus is Missing, invites visitors into a vividly imagined sci-fi landscape where art, storytelling, and cultural symbolism converge. In display through January 5, 2026, the exhibit is a solo presentation from Waters, winner of the 2023 Betty Bowen Award, which honors an exceptional artist from the Pacific Northwest.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, and based in Seattle for the past 14 years, Waters is known for creating immersive, multimedia works that use pop aesthetics, humor, and spectacle to explore themes of femininity, vulnerability, and resilience. Her work in this exhibition blends elements of retro science fiction with deeply personal references to girlhood and identity, creating a multi-sensory experience grounded in both cultural critique and imaginative play.

The exhibition begins with an installation known as the “transporter,” a semi-circular structure beneath a column of pulsating light that activates with color and sound. Accompanied by a “mission brief” authored by the artist, visitors are encouraged to step into the role of “Agent Tariqa Waters” on a journey through an alternate universe of visual storytelling.

At the heart of the gallery is Future to the Back ’85 (2024), an eight-foot-tall pink rocket ship that appears to be flying through a constellation of glass orbs. Nearby, a monumental pink ball-barrette—familiar to many as a childhood hair accessory—anchors the space as a symbol of protection and patience. These sculptures are paired with a photographic portal of a young woman in sci-fi attire, inviting viewers to consider themes of confinement and transformation.

Catharina Manchanda, SAM’s Jon and Mary Shirley Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, says that the installation as both dazzling and poignant.

“Drawing on the aesthetics and shiny materials of the American space age in the 1970s, which dovetailed with an era of mass-produced goods suggesting comfort and security, Waters reveals the bubblegum-colored, sci-fi aesthetic as all but a veneer,” she said.

In discussing the exhibition, Waters reflected on the role of imagination in overcoming personal and societal constraints.

“We often find ourselves constrained by external limitations, trapped in various influences without looking up. We overlook the extraordinary nature of our journey,” she said. “Even when physically confined, we possess the capacity to imagine boundlessly, and harness that joy to soar to new heights. That’s what I hope this immersive space invites people to remember. For me, the art of storytelling must always prevail.”

Waters’s past exhibitions include solo shows at the Northwest African American Museum, the Hedreen Gallery, Museum of Museums in Seattle, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She has received multiple grants and awards, including the Neddy Artist Award, the Artist Trust Fellowship Award, and the Conductive Garboil Grant. She was named one of Seattle Magazine’s Most Influential People in 2023 and has twice been a finalist for the Betty Bowen Award before receiving the top prize last year.

The Betty Bowen Award, established in 1977 in honor of the late Washington arts advocate, supports emerging and mid-career visual artists working in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Administered by the Seattle Art Museum, the award provides an unrestricted cash prize and a solo exhibition at SAM, offering vital visibility and support for innovative Northwest artists.

Venus is Missing continues SAM’s ongoing effort to elevate local and regional voices through thoughtful programming and exhibition space. In bringing together retro aesthetics, personal symbolism, and community-centered storytelling, the exhibition reflects Waters’s signature approach—disarming in its playfulness, but grounded in deeper social and emotional insight.

Visitors to the show can expect more than a gallery viewing; they are invited into a narrative space that merges science fiction with cultural memory, creating a powerful commentary on identity, freedom, and imagination. The exhibition is accompanied by public programs, including talks, readings, and workshops that further explore the themes of the work and connect Waters’s vision with broader artistic and social dialogues.

Tariqa Waters: Venus is Missing runs at the Seattle Art Museum through January 5, 2026. Admission is included with museum entry, and more information can be found at seattleartmuseum.org.