House of Seiko, located in the heart of the Mission District of San Francisco, was founded in the Fall of 2022 by Cole Solinger and Nicolas Torres. Having come from their respected backgrounds in the arts, Solinger and Torres are deeply committed to contributing to and maintaining the cultural capital of the fine arts in the Bay Area and entering it into a broader conversation nationally and internationally. House of Seiko primarily focuses on staging thought-provoking exhibitions that speak to the historical and cultural significance of the Bay Area through a highly curated program of multi-generational artists, whether that be emerging voices, or works from estates of artists whose stories are long overdue in being told. The gallery also hosts a growing roster of artists whose careers we look to nurture into expanded opportunities with institutions and galleries abroad. We also look to expand the footprint of our current space to host more comprehensive exhibitions and events for public engagement. This would mean annexing an additional 300 square feet of available space behind the gallery, further establishing roots, and committing to our position in the community as a cultural keystone. In the gallery's first two years, we have put forth thirteen exhibitions that speak directly to our goal of bringing together multi-generational voices and histories through our invested and research-based program. We aim to refocus the conversation about San Francisco in a positive way, redefining the region as a hub of opportunity and growth. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we have seen a positive shift in outsiders' perceptions of the area and our art scene.

Our Mission:

We also look to continue growing our roster of represented artists to an attentive and well-rounded group of emerging artists and estates, providing them with opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally. This includes, including presentations at art fairs, institutions, and adjacent gallery spaces outside the Bay Area. In our first year of introducing our artist roster, the Headlands Center awarded Rose D'Amato the Tournesol Award for Painting for the Arts, had a large-scale mural commissioned and a work acquired by the Berkeley Art Museum, and will be presenting new work at this year's SECA Exhibition at SFMOMA which opens in December. These goals, which felt very abstract in our first year as a gallery, have come to fruition, and we aim to continue to provide similar opportunities for the rest of our roster as time passes.

FAQ:

How to donate:

Donations can be made by check, cash, ACH Deposit, or through Flipcause, which is linked above.
All donations are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

Check or money order donations should be made payable to: 

Independent Arts & Media, 
P.O. Box 420442,
San Francisco, CA 94142
Memo: House of Seiko

For ACH Transfers, please contact cole@houseofseiko.info
so we can provide you with the necessary information to ensure your donation is made correctly. 

For Corporate Matching Donations, the employee will use their company's system to select IAM (Independent Arts & Media) as the nonprofit recipient and House of Seiko as the intended "program."

Stock gifts should only be made through an Independent Arts and Media designated broker.

IAM will accept, process, and acknowledge contributions made to support House of Seiko and, in turn, issue you a receipt for tax deduction purposes.


What Makes House of Seiko Special?

House of Seiko prides itself on the care and consideration that goes into all aspects of running our gallery, from our unique relationships with artists and estates to the design of our stationary and previews sent out at the beginning of every new exhibition. We are fortunate to call San Francisco home and for the gallery to operate out of what was previously a 50-year-old Seiko watch dealer, where we inherited our name. The signage from that business, all hand-painted, remains our most valuable feature. The gallery is also unique because it was established by two Bay Area natives who have experienced the turbulent times of the last decade and are deeply committed to contributing and shaping this region into an area of opportunity, exploration, and enrichment. Though we abide by traditional aspects of the gallery model, by opening our program to the possibility of donation and grant-based funding, we can expand our platform beyond garnering artwork sales to put forth museum-quality academic and research-based exhibitions for the public's engagement. This is an incredible opportunity for the gallery to operate as a host for exhibitions and performances that would otherwise not find their way to our city.

House of Seiko fills a necessary void in the established structure of a healthy arts ecosystem. It is the bridge between artists operating independently, artist-run project spaces, and blue-chip galleries and institutions. Due to operational costs, it has been difficult for mid-tier galleries to establish themselves in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because of our position in this ecosystem, we can be more nimble than most blue-chip galleries and institutions, providing opportunities for younger artists to showcase themselves for the first time next to work by established or historical figures. We also pride ourselves on our accessibility and friendly attitude toward all who visit our space, regardless of cultural literacy. We feel that House of Seiko is the perfect place to explore and find an unexpected opportunity for an education that will hopefully lead to further curiosities in the arts.


How will the funds be used?

Donations will be used to fund the operational costs of House of Seiko including facilities, exhibitions, production costs, logistical expenses, and supporting the staff who ensure House of Seiko can continue on its important mission. Goals for 2025 are to expand House of Seiko’s physical space, scaling operations to 4 days a week from 2 days a week, expanding House of Seiko’s presence to a minimum of 2 major art fairs per year, and ensuring proper compensation for the staff who are critical for continuity of programming.


About our fiscal sponsor:

Founded in 2000, Independent Arts & Media has built a vibrant array of accessible, affordable media and arts services for producers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the years, IAM has provided fiscal sponsorship to over 200 programs and producers that share our Mission. These programs have won distinguished awards and played crucial roles in empowering community participation in local culture and community. IAM currently supports over 100 affiliate projects dedicated to non-commercial work in media and the arts, including publishing, theater, dance, music, visual art, film and video, journalism, history, and public events production. 

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If you have any questions or would like additional information on how to support House of Seiko please write to us at cole@houseofseiko.info. 

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you soon. 

Cole Solinger & Nicolas Torres