Urgent Museum Notice

CHAMPION WOMEN THROUGH THE ARTS

View of the gallery shows an eye-catching marble sculpture in the foreground and a visitor looking at multiple brightly colored artworks in the background. The abstract scupture is of a voluptuous figure with pregnant belly covered in bright patterns and posed with outstretched arms. View of the gallery shows an eye-catching marble sculpture in the foreground and a visitor looking at multiple brightly colored artworks in the background. The abstract scupture is of a voluptuous figure with pregnant belly covered in bright patterns and posed with outstretched arms.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts.

  • Night view of city street shows a large sculpture made of eight half-tires arranged into stacked hourglass shapes. Engravings, gold leaf, and green light on the interior of the tires decorate the structure. Light trails from cars frame the sculpture on both sides.
  • Oblique view of gallery with a Baroque painting of the Madonna and Child in a gilded frame on magenta wall at right. In the distance, three more framed works hang on the same wall. Painting on the adjacent white wall is of a reclining figure with a bandage on chest.
  • Two young children with medium skin tone stand in front of a dog sculpture covered with green crochet panels. One child stands with hands on hips, eyes turned to look directly at the viewer, and gives a slight smirk. Adult visitors in the background look at the scene with amusement.

Visit Us Virtually

Although NMWA is temporarily closed, we invite you to explore the work of great women artists through our robust slate of virtual programming and online resources, including online exhibitions, artist and artwork profiles, art podcasts, and video recommendations. Get inspired by great women artists and advocate for gender equity in the arts―from home!

View our Online Resources

Notes for Today

The museum is currently closed. To learn more visit our Coronavirus Updates page.

Laure Tixier, Plaid Houses (Maquettes) (detail), 2005–11; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Les Amis du NMWA, Paris, France; © Laure Tixier; Photo by Cameron Robinson

Related Fact about Women in the Arts

Just 11% of all acquisitions at prominent American museums over the past decade were of work by women artists.
— Artnet News

What We Do

Our rotating special exhibitions showcase work by established and emerging women artists. Museum programs build strong, engaged local communities and foster conversations and connections that inspire change. Our collections feature more than 5,500 works from the 16th century to today created by more than 1,000 artists.

See What’s On
Two women look closely at artwork on the gallery wall.
Photo credit: Kevin Allen

Related Quote

Great art should be viewed, valued, and supported especially work by women.”
NMWA Member

Support Women in the Arts

Become a NMWA member today and save with limited-time discounts. Your membership will help us lead the way for women in the arts. Additionally, your name will be added to the 2021 Members List and you’ll enjoy exciting benefits like a subscription to Women in the Arts magazine.

Become a Member , opens in new tab 
Young woman with long, thin braids, wearing glasses and an orange face mask, looks at a small hanging sculpture made of thinly cut strips of pale orange paper.
Photo credit: Kevin Allen

Photo credit: Kevin Allen

Related Quote

People in the art world want to think we are achieving parity more quickly than we are.”
Susan Fisher Sterling, The Alice West Director

Advocate for Women

Women artists have been marginalized for centuries. Gender bias is less overt today, but contemporary women artists still face many obstacles and disparities, as well as persistent underrepresentation in museum collections and exhibitions worldwide. Their historical precursors still deserve to have their stories told.

Take Action
Close-up photograph of a painted quilt shows a medium-dark skinned woman dancing exuberantly. There is a white flower in her hair, and she wears dangling gold earrings and gold loops around her neck.
Faith Ringgold, American Collection #4: Jo Baker’s Bananas (detail), 1997; Photo credit: Emily Haight, NMWA

Faith Ringgold, American Collection #4: Jo Baker’s Bananas (detail), 1997; Photo credit: Emily Haight, NMWA

Explore Things to Do @ NMWA

  • Art Chat @ Five: Rock Paper Scissors

    Date: Jan, 29
    Time: 5 to 5:45 pm

  • Art Chat @ Five: Recurring Themes

    Date: Feb, 05
    Time: 5 to 5:45 pm

  • The Tea: Courtney Dowe

    Date: Feb, 05
    Time: 12 to 1 pm

  • BMA x NMWA Monthly Talk Show: Youth

    Date: Feb, 09
    Time: 12 to 12:45 pm

  • Cultural Capital: Intersections

    Date: Feb, 09
    Time: 7 to 8 pm

  • Art Chat @ Five: In Celebration of Life

    Date: Feb, 12
    Time: 5 to 5:45 pm

  • Art Chat @ Five: In Absentia

    Date: Feb, 19
    Time: 5 to 5:45 pm

  • Art Chat @ Five: Between Friends

    Date: Feb, 26
    Time: 5 to 5:45 pm

  • Presentation: Collection Highlights

    Date: Feb, 27
    Time: 1 to 2 pm
    • View Calendar

    Featured Exhibition

    Featured Blog Post

    5 Fast Facts: Barbara Kruger

    Happy birthday to Barbara Kruger, who was born on this day in 1945! Impress your friends with five fast facts about the conceptual artist, whose work is part of NMWA’s collection.
    A black-and-white photo of a light-skinned woman sitting on a stool in an artist's studio, looking down at a large circular fabric/textile work. She holds a bottle of gesso and a paint brush.
    Barbara Kruger in her New York City studio, ca. mid-1970s; Photo by Susan Katz for “The Woman I Am” Collection, part of the Archives of Women Artists, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Betty Boyd Dettre Library & Research Center

    @WomenInTheArts