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National Museum of Women in the Arts

Upcoming Exhibitions

Close-up detail of an abstract painting with very thick and gestural brushstrokes of mostly orange paint.

Featured Upcoming Exhibition

Sep 18, 2026, to Jan 17, 2027
Between 1940 and 1970, millions of African Americans left the Southern United States in what became known as the Second Great Migration, as they sought greater freedom, economic opportunity, and escape from Jim Crow segregation and racial terror. Hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived in California, where many carried quilts as well as their quilt-making traditions. Featuring more than 80 artworks by more than 70 individuals with ties to the San Francisco Bay Area, Routed West threads the needle between Black people’s historical movements and their quilts to tell stories of collective care, resilience, and creativity.
View Exhibition: Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California
A vibrant, hand-quilted cotton textile features a combination of blue, orange, yellow, and red patchwork.
Sherry Ann Byrd (pieced 1990, Richmond, California) and Irene Bankhead (quilted 1900, Oakland, California), Cultural Merger at Crossroads, USA, 1990; Cotton, cotton/polyester blend, and rayon; hand-pieced and quilted; 95 x 75 ½ in.; Bequest of the Eli Leon Living Trust, BAMPFA‬; Courtesy of Sherry Ann Byrd; Photo by Kevin Candland

All Upcoming Exhibitions

  • Beverly Pepper: Land Art and Monumental Sculptures

    Oct 23, 2026, to Apr 25, 2027
    Renowned for her groundbreaking use of weathered steel, sculptor Beverly Pepper (1922–2020) most often worked at a massive scale, evoking sensations of both energy and strength. Featuring maquettes for large-scale works and a new film about the artist, this exhibition complements an installation of ten monumental sculptures by Pepper, on view just outside NMWA’s entrance.
    A circular, rust-colored sculpture and three rust-colored columns in the median of a city street.

    Beverly Pepper, Broken Circle, 2011–25, and Todi Columns, 1979–2021; Installation view in Ten Monumental Sculptures, New York Avenue Sculpture Corridor, Washington, D.C., June 2026–June 2027; Photo courtesy of DowntownDC BID

  • Women to Watch 2027: A Book Arts Revolution

    Apr 9 to Aug 15, 2027
    Women to Watch 2027: A Book Arts Revolution is a dynamic exploration of contemporary artists’ books, works of art in book form. The exhibition encourages audiences to rethink the nature of book arts, featuring works that incorporate a wide variety of materials and formats. This is the latest edition of the museum’s hallmark exhibition series highlighting national and international artists at key stages in their careers. The series is developed through a unique collaboration between the museum and its global network of outreach committees.
    A close-up of a small, light blue crystal formation displayed on a rock, surrounded by colorful, paper-like flower shapes and decorations on a purple textured surface.

    Acadia Kandora, Thicket (detail), 2025; Installation of risograph prints, 3D-prints, Plexiglas, vinyl, rocks, and wasp nest, dimensions variable; Courtesy of the artist

  • Gwen John: Strange Beauties

    Jul 30 to Nov 28, 2027
    Gwen John: Strange Beauties is the artist’s first major retrospective in more than 40 years, revealing new perspectives into her work. In bringing together John’s celebrated oil paintings with rarely seen drawings and watercolors, this exhibition illuminates her working practices, artistic breadth, and enduring legacy.
    Against a loosely painted purple-pink background, a girl with light skin tone and long light-brown hair stands with her hands clasped, looking directly out at the viewer.

    Gwen John, La Petite Modèle, ca. 1915-20; Oil on canvas, 29 1/4 x 26 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay; Photo by Lee Stalsworth