Tariqa Waters' immersive installation 'Venus is Missing' has opened at the Seattle Art Museum, running through January 5, 2026. The exhibition, which won Waters the museum's Betty Bowen Award in 2023, invites visitors to 'beam' into a futuristic cosmic world via a transporter beam of light. The gallery features a pink retro-futuristic spaceship, an 8-foot-tall ball-barrette sculpture, and a vinyl image of Waters' daughter, all set to staticky music blending Herbie Hancock and Luther Vandross. The installation draws from science fiction, music, and Waters' childhood memories, exploring themes of vulnerability and connection through her signature humor and pop art sensibility.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant milestone for Waters, a Seattle-based artist who has gained prominence through her gallery Martyr Sauce and accolades like the Neddy Award. By transforming the museum into an interactive, narrative-driven space, Waters challenges traditional exhibition formats and engages audiences in a playful yet profound exploration of identity, family, and humanity's future. The show also highlights the Seattle Art Museum's commitment to supporting regional artists through the Betty Bowen Award, reinforcing the importance of local art ecosystems in the broader art world.