Contact
June 20 — August 31, 2025
Similar to the mission of many art organizations, San Francisco's waste management service, Recology, is guided by the belief that art plays a unique role in educating and inspiring the public. Each year, Recology awards residencies to artists, which include a stipend, coveted studio space, and scavenging privileges at their Transfer Station and Recycling Center. While many would view the facility as the dump, Recology artists consider the site the Big Store, providing unique opportunities to recycle and reclaim discarded waste as reimagined art objects. This exhibition, Reclaimed: The Art of Recology, presents a fascinating survey of thirty-three artists from diverse backgrounds who were awarded space, financial support, and four months to create wondrous, meaningful, and thought-provoking artworks that speak to the past, present, and future.
Spanning art forms that include innovative furniture design, papermaking, performance art, quilting, animation, sculpture, and more, this exhibition highlights the limitless ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit. Rather than doomsday warnings, Reclaimed emphasizes that art is an incredible force in changing hearts and minds. Through their introspective, playful, and highly original explorations, the exhibition artists reveal the hidden stories our rubbish tells us about ourselves and our relationship with the earth. Many questions are also presented: can we become innovative eco-friendly designers? Can we be creative about our consumption habits? Can we transform the world into a beautiful, sustainable, and safe home for all?
Reclaimed: The Art of Recology is a collaborative effort between us, the artists, and you - the viewer. It is a call to action, and we hope you leave this exhibition inspired to take further steps to protect our planet through creativity and thoughtful ingenuity.
—Emilee Enders, Curator of Exhibitions and Programs, Bedford Gallery
—Deborah Munk, Manager, Artist in Residence Program, Recology