Can you name five women artists?
Since 2016, NMWA has been asking this question on social media each March during Women’s History Month and throughout the year. Using the hashtag #5WomenArtists, the campaign calls attention to the fact that women and nonbinary artists have not been treated equally in the art world, and today they remain dramatically underrepresented and undervalued in museums, galleries, and auction houses.
Each year, thousands of cultural organizations and individuals take to social media to answer the challenge, sparking a global conversation about gender equity in the arts.
2026 #5WomenArtists: 10 Years of Advocacy
This year marks the tenth anniversary of #5WomenArtists! Since 2016, NMWA has posed a simple yet profound question: “Can you name five women artists?” The initiative has ignited a powerful shift in public awareness, challenging ongoing gender inequity in the art world. Throughout 2026, we will celebrate the campaign’s achievements over the last decade by featuring artists, museums, and cultural organizations in our programs, on our website, and on social media. #5WomenArtists will continue to fight the gender gap and advocate for an equitable future for women and nonbinary artists.
Upcoming #5WomenArtists Events
Related Events
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Free Community Day: Women’s History Month Kickoff
Event Date Sunday, March 1, 2026Event Time 10 to 5 pm ET
Quick Facts
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1,800+Cultural Organizations
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7Continents
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57Countries
Related Quote
“…I don’t think I’d know these five [women artists] if I wasn’t married to a woman artist. I love this campaign.”
In Your Region
Learn about exhibitions and events in your area or explore virtual options from home that feature women artists.
Related Quote
“I absolutely loved following #5WomenArtists and hope we see more engagement in the coming years. It’s a joy to see the power of sharing stories that we want to see more, that is the priority I want to see more of.”
Header Image Credits
Top Row (L to R): Hung Liu: Image courtesy of National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA). Amy Sherald: © Amy Sherald; Image courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth; Photo credit JJ Geiger. Ambreen Butt: © Image courtesy of Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco; Photo by John Carrithers. Camille Claudel: Image courtesy of Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand, Mairie de Paris, Paris, France; Photo by César, 1884. Sonya Clark: Image courtesy of the artist. Bottom Row (L to R): Mary Cassatt: Image courtesy of Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick A. Sweet research material on Mary Cassatt and James A. McNeill Whistler, 1872-1975. Faith Ringgold: Image courtesy of NMWA; Photo by Yassine El Mansouri. Graciela Iturbide: Image courtesy of NMWA; Photo by Kevin Allen. Judy Chicago; Photo © Donald Woodman / Artists Rights Society, NY. Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Photo by Grace Roselli, Pandora’s BoxX Project; Image courtesy of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York.