History of #5WomenArtists

Two rows of portraits of women artists with a colorful border between them.

Learn about the impact of #5WomenArtists

First launched in 2016, #5WomenArtists has been a viral success. The campaign has elevated NMWA’s profile as a world leader in advancing gender equity in the arts, resulting in valuable partnerships and an expanded audience. The museum’s social media following has cumulatively increased over 200%, and #5WomenArtists has resulted in tangible, real-world impacts for artists and arts organizations.

Photo credit: NMWA Shop

Quick Facts

  • 87,000+
    Tweets tagged
  • 40,000+
    Instagram posts
  • 220+
    Featured media articles

Related Quote

#5WomenArtists helped us…[place] representation and diversity at the heart of what we present on our channels—not just for Women’s History month, but throughout the year.
Nell Burnham, Digital Marketing Production Officer at Tate
A figure with short dark hair stands in front of a stark white background with voluminous, vibrant blue fabric draped over their face and body.
Mwangi Hutter, Reign, 2012; Photograph, 72 x 48 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of the Tony Podesta Collection, Washington, DC; © Mwangi Hutter

Related Blog Post

Five Emerging Artists for #5WomenArtists: Micaela Cianci

U.K.-based artist Micaela Cianci created an original illustration inspired by Leonora Carrington’s painting Crookhey Hall (1986), part of the museum’s collection.
View of the museum from outside showing the Neoclassical building from one corner. The building is a tan-colored stone with an arched doorway, long vertical windows, and detailed molding around the roof.
Micaela Cianci, Procession to the Lake, 2021; Digital illustration; Available in NMWA’s Museum Shop

Selected Press Coverage

#5WomenArtists Campaign Tackles Gender Inequity for the Fifth Year in a Row, Smithsonian Magazine
272 Museums Join Social Media Campaign to Promote Women Artists, Hyperallergic
Where Are All The Women Artists? NMWA’s Latest Campaign Aims To Find The Answer, Forbes Women
Tate Will Give Five Women Major Solo Exhibitions in the Next Two Years, Tate
Can you name #5WomenArtists? Here’s a list to get you started. The Lily 
These women are some of America’s greatest artists. Why don’t they get the respect they deserve? Washington Post

Not Everyone Can Name 5 Women Artists, And One Museum Wants To Change That, Huffington Post
Why #5WomenArtists is all over your timeline, USA Today
Few people can name five female artists—can you? PBS Newshour
Fighting the Under-Representation of Women in the Arts, The Atlantic
Can you name 5 women artists? New York Magazine
Sadly, Naming Five Women Artists Isn’t As Easy As It Sounds, Huffington Post

#5WomenArtists Around the World

See museums, galleries, libraries, arts organizations, schools, and other institutions that have participated in #5WomenArtists!

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.