Extraordinary Art by More than 60 Women

Welcome to the Manhattan Arts International 26th “HerStory” Exhibition!

Since the year 2000 Manhattan Arts International has been promoting outstanding artists from around the world in our online exhibitions and our members online gallery.  Our annual “HerStory” exhibition is devoted to promoting extraordinary women artists.

For centuries, women artists have inspired, enlightened and informed us with their enormous talent, vision and commitment. Many have served as creative trailblazers. Unfortunately, many of their contributions have gone under-recognized. The purpose of “HerStory” is to contribute to achieving greater equality in the art world.

“HerStory” 2026 is dedicated to the memory of my sister whose unconditional love, courage and talent were among her many admirable qualities. ~ Renee Phillips, Curator, Founder and Director of Manhattan Arts International

Banner: Details of Art by Kathy Linden, Janice Phelps Williams and Karen Johnston

Enjoy viewing “HerStory” 2026
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Denisa Prochazka

Divine Play, Aqua-resin and Hydrostone wall relief, 54” x 40” x 10”

“Divine Play’ was inspired by my vision of a female protector when the Ukraine-Russian war first broke out. This artwork symbolizes the divine feminine healer and guardian of the world, an expression of love, strength and empowerment; healing, nurturing and protection of our sacred lives.
denisa-sculpture.com

Kathy Linden

Floral Fantasy, acrylic, 36″ x 36″

I was feeling so much chaos and simply wanted to be immersed in the beauty and scent of florals.
kathyLstudio.net

Barbara Brown

Black Stone of the Void, pastel on paper, 15″ x 19.5″

“Back Stone of the Void” is a rather intriguing mystery to me. During a guided meditation I was gifted this black stone. Feeling like it had come from a far galaxy to reach me, looking into it I could see the whole of the universe. I was looking into ‘the void’—into the nothingness and the all-that-is.
barbarabrownart.com

Karen Bognar Khan

Nebula Dreams Two, oil, 43″ × 35″

A reference photo that I took inspired this piece. I also fell in love with another reference photo of the Cliffs of Carina Nebula now in the back ground. This figure is a shaman archetype who sleep walks past a descending arc of green fabric. The snake like shape and shimmer of this fabric is a magical veil of consciousness. Two vibrational humming birds commune with her as galactic stars lead the way.
karenbognarkhanpaintings.com

Nancy Reyner

Sea, Mist & Birds, acrylic on panel, 44″ x 36″

Nature has always been my muse, and the sea speaks to me of freedom and transcendence. I painted this imaginary seascape as one of my “exotic versions of heaven”  — a place both turbulent and luminous. The two gold birds rising above the waves embody that longing we carry to lift above the chaos and find beauty in the light.
nancyreyner.com

Leslie DuPratt

Sweet Confessions, oil on canvas, 72” x 60”

I wanted to show a narrative about a woman wishing she was living a different life. One where you entertained and owned your own home and didn’t have to do your laundry at a laundromat. She wears a fifties cocktail dress and is lost in applying lipstick, oblivious to the red piece of clothing mixed with the whites being washed. The chalk drawing on blackboard of Munch depicting “The Scream”, is having an anxiety attack over this confession.
lesliedupratt-art.com

Sandra Belitza-Vazquez

Resplendent, photography, available in several sizes

I recently visited the Art in Bloom exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh to see over fifty floral arrangements by designers and florists. The exhibit combined color and design into resplendent displays like these Asiatic lilies and a lone rose, which caught my attention, for being truly “resplendent.”
sbvaz.com

Lori Horowitz

Sitting in the Shadows, aluminum black wire mesh and shadow, 36″ x 24″ x 24″

“Sitting in the Shadows” was inspired by the social impact of recent global events, including quarantine and economic and political displacement. The work focuses on how isolation affects people’s sense of home, identity, and community, with particular attention to how women often experience these pressures through caregiving roles, safety concerns, and reduced visibility. The transparent figure allows viewers to see these effects clearly, while the shadow mirrors the black wire sculpture, reinforcing the connection between physical form and lived experience.
lorihorowitz.com

Yvonne Welman

Hans, acrylic on canvas, 24” x 24”

I had to cope with my husband’s death. I did it by painting him and all that he loved in his life. Looking at this moment I see that I forgot to add myself.
yvonne-welman.com

Alison Thomas

Natural Bridge Grouping, digitally manipulated photography, each image 14.5″ x 40.5″

I find Natural Bridge very inspiring not only for its majestic beauty but also for its history. Nature has always been an important part of my life. Growing up, I could go to the woods, as close as across the street, and I could find peace and solitude, my center and my God.
serenityscenes.com

Karen Johnston

Out of the Blue, acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 36″ x 36″

This was a study in blue, one that played with the notion of choice and chance. In that search for truth and from the depths of blind creation, when I stepped back for a first look, as would a viewer, I simply marveled at all that emerged from that ocean of possibility.
studiokarenjohnston.com

Bren Sibilsky

Ebb And Flow, clay for bronze, 15” x 26” x 7”

She’s unfolding to rhythmic forces of natural cycles. Consciousness aligning with nature’s sacred feminine. She rises and falls to the tides of her being. She creates life. Her depth is without borders, she travels through spaces, shadow to light, moving outward, inward, renewing, resilient, cleansing, authentically in beautiful power. She is the Ebb and Flow of her true inner knowing.
brensculpture.com

Sandra Gittleman

The Queen’s Cup, acrylic, 24″ x 30″

I went to The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase in NC, a highbrow extravaganza for charity donors and creatives. These two classy ladies caught my attention with their style, cocktails and juicy conversation. I was enticed to lean in and listen. I used unique complimentary colors and quick brushwork to accent their individual uniqueness and the refreshing frivolity in the air.
sandragittleman.com

Rajul Shah

ReEmergence, acrylic on canvas, 30″ x 36″

Leaving the Lunar New Year of the Snake, I shed my “old” skin to enter the Year of the Horse, re-emerging with momentum to fulfill my potential as a woman with multiple roles. My work fuses the art of Kintsugi with chakric symbolism. Orange and Red reflect chakras of my entire self; layered over kintsugi lines that denote challenges overcome.
rajulshahart.com

Lis Zadravec

St. Agnes of the Lowlands, colored pencil, 13.5 x 19″

Inspired by Millais’ Bridesmaid and the brutal story of St. Agnes, patron saint to unmarried women. Art is my deep, instinctive, emotional response, bypassing words without disregarding intellect or natural consequences. I show the delicate balance of relationships, stories and struggles we all experience. This layered technique emulates the storytelling quality of 19th-century portraiture and masterful illustration of bygone days.
liszadravec.com

Leah Poller

Steam Punk Girl, two views, bronze 36″ x 28″ x 11″

If I could capture my first born grandchild… so petite… but so powerful… an original… so emblematic of our times. Sexy but straight laced, cocky but vulnerable. In disguise.
leahpoller.com

Karen H. Salup

My Monet, mixed media, 36″ x 36″

By observing the lines and shapes of any subject, I try to create from an intuitive use of expressive color, drawing that transforms images into representations on canvas or paper supports. I enjoy creating forms dancing around the canvas. The application of building of layers with additional media reconstructs the work into abstraction.
karenhs.com

Dana Donaty

We Are Stardust, We Are Golden, Acrylic, hope, existential dread, fresh battle wounds, no artificial preservatives, 65% kidney, and still standing on canvas, 69” x 60”

This work emerges as a chronicle of healing —a journey traced in riotous color and bold form. Inspired by Hélène Cixous’ urgent call — “Woman must write herself…” — this series reclaims both my story and my body. I paint myself larger than life, unapologetically front and center, confronting the realities of invisible disabilities and cancer on my own terms.
danadonatyart.com

Sandra Duran Wilson

A Stitch in Time, Mixed Media, 8 x 8

I am teaching in Ireland, and this view in the painting comes from my window looking out over the land. I have added the stitched curtains to convey what women’s work used to be and the stone textures to symbolize the land. A painting is more than the imagery; it is the feeling I have while creating it.
sandraduranwilson.com

Sally Jane Brown

Tribute to Lee Krasner, pencil and watercolor ink on paper, 11″ x 8.5″

My tribute to Lee Krasner explores the “unruly” nature of the creative body, honoring her transition from rigid control to the explosive energy of her expressive works. Through self-portraiture, I examine my own evolution and the visceral labor of making space for a louder, more expansive voice, positioning my physical experience within her legacy of relentless artistic transformation.
sallyjanebrown.com

Janice Phelps Williams

Tides and Currents, ink, colored pencil, acrylic, metallics, 12” x 14”

I envisioned an imaginary underwater world of colorful creatures that I would like to see. I like to think every piece I create is infused with gratitude for those who supported or taught me, who commissioned or collected my work, and believed in my dreams. Every line, shape, color, and shade originates in nature.
janicephelpswilliams.com

Fulya Acikgoz

Kilim, oil on canvas, 24″ x 30″

I have always seen the labor and patience woven into this kilim as a meaningful reflection of my own life. Inspired by this quiet dedication, I aimed to express how effort transforms into lasting value. In this oil painting, I capture the harmony between craftsmanship and perseverance, celebrating the beauty of time, discipline, and the rewards that emerge through consistent devotion.
fulyaart.com

Elise Beattie

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, poured watercolor, fluid acrylics and sumi ink, 22″ x 17″

A popular song, from long ago, by the Andrew Sisters found in an old Juke box inspired this painting. My artwork begins with an adventurous pouring process that allows me the freedom to mingle colorful washes with passion resulting in what I call “Fearless” painting.
beattieartworks.com

Paula Prentice

Interrupted, graphite pencil, 7.6” x 7.8”

For me, drawing is an all-consuming process where focus is paramount and the sense of time is lost. During a period of persistent demands, I was inspired to portray the look of an artist interrupted in their work. I wanted to capture that moment when focus is broken and the reality of here and now comes rushing back.
paradoxisart.webador.com

Amy Pleasant

Waiting Her Turn, acrylic on canvas, 30″x 40″

My paintings serve as metaphors for women’s stories, inspired by the clues left behind from discarded and candid black and white photographs left behind from my mother’s and grandmother’s generation. I lovingly animate these women of the past, who navigated a non benevolent world run by men. It turns out, nothing has changed, but their example and wisdom remains.
amypleasantseattle.com

Deprise Brescia

Beautifully Broken Golden Butterfly Girl, mixed media sculpture broken glass, 38″ x 24″ x 12″

I was inspired by the concept of being broken. What if we are all beautifully broken? What if these breaks allow our light to shine through and as we collect the pieces of ourselves we change like the butterfly.
deprisebrescia.com

Nancy Staub Laughlin

The Blooming of Froth, pastel on paper, photograph, 28″ x 38″

The Blooming of Froth is a continuation of my fascination with the uniqueness of nature. I combine their similarities and individual natures and have the viewer open their eyes to see the phenomena that I have captured. I unite these moments of sheer beauty and radiance. My inspirations are the simple pleasures of what surrounds us.
nancystaublaughlin.com

Barbara Rachko

Magisterial, soft pastel on sandpaper, 58” x 38”

“Magisterial” is number thirty-two in the ongoing “Bolivianos” series, which I began in 2017. For several years, I have been experimenting with size – with how the same image can look and feel quite different depending on its format. “Magisterial” is the much larger version of “Entity.”
barbararachko.art

Anne Morrison Rabe

Spring Amaryllis, Limited edition photography, sized to order

The gestation of this amazing bloom took almost four months. I watched it with hope but had almost given up when the soft, luminous white Amaryllis blooms edged in delicate crimson finally emerged. Their petals unfurled with quiet elegance, layered in gentle translucence. The flowers evoke a feminine grace suggesting tenderness, refinement, and the subtle strength of radiant beauty.
annemorrisonrabe.photography

Sujata Tibrewala

Plastic Surgery, watercolor on paper , 11” x 14”

Perturbed by my daughters wish to fix her nose as soon as she became an adult , I dove into the dark market of plastic surgery only to realise women of color are disproportionately affected by it and hence this painting.
sujatapratibimba.com

Tanis Bula

Dahlia in Bloom, watercolor, 19″ x 19″

Nature has amazing flowers. The variety in shapes and colors and then they change thru the season. I like dahlia’s because of their many petals. I like being able to create this depth in a painting.
tanisbula.com

Heather Stivison

Time. pencil and ink wash on paper. 18″ x 23.5″

I was inspired to draw this image after reading Sylvia Plath’s sonnet “To Time.” I found myself reflecting on the quiet, unstoppable movement of time and the power it wields over all life. No mater how we try, we are trapped in the struggle to bring meaning to our lives, while time holds us in its all-powerful grasp.
heatherstivisonart.com

Kirsty Wain

Azul Olive II, acrylic on canvas, 38″ x 51″

Since moving from the UK to Spain in 2014, I’ve spent twelve years observing ancient olive trees, evolving my style into a neo-fauvist, semi-abstract language. Azul Olive II conveys a dreamlike, spiritual existence through surreal color and pattern. By rendering these gnarled forms in electric indigos, I seek to communicate a vibrant interior world that transcends the subject itself.
kirstywaingallery.com

Cecilia Henle

Between Falling and Flying: The Weight of Dreams, watercolor, 11″ x 15″

The flying dreams I had every night as a child had come back to haunt and inspire.
henlestudio.com

Susan Harmon

Strange Fruit, mixed media on unstretched canvas, 180″ x 60″

I was inspired by the song sung by Nina Simone, “Strange Fruit” as I live and teach art in the South.
susanharmon.org

Eva Breitfuss

Inner Bloom, photo print on aluminum Dibond ultraHD, 15.7“ x 21“ with an aluminum rail for hanging

A luminous core unfolds within blurred petals, drawing the gaze inward. The photograph transforms a fleeting natural detail into an almost cosmic event. Color becomes sensation—intense, radiant, immersive — suggesting that within every surface lies a hidden center, quietly pulsing with life and perception.
evabreitfuss.space

Sharon Trickett

Blue Rocks, oil impasto on gallery canvas, 24″ x 24″

This beautiful and peaceful tiny island is one of many I find during my hikes and explorations of the stunning landscapes in Nova Scotia.
sharontrickettfinearts.ca

Hiske Tas Bain

Where Have All the Christmas Beetles Gone, acrylic on canvas, 16″ x 20″

Usually at Christmas we in Australia get an influx of golden big beetles, they are really gorgeous, lately they have disappeared and this painting is a ritual or prayer for them to appear again.
hisketas-fineart.com

Sharon Matusiak

Beauty and the Beast, acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 48″ x 2″

As a Figurative Abstract Expressionist, I often use the horse as a symbol of endurance, power and escape. The Year of the Horse brings this into focus, as the world finds itself in the midst of upheaval. The expression of a monkey on your back inspired me to combine the two into an image of the need to throw off those burdens that don’t serve us.
sharonmatusiak.com

Elsa Voelcker

Her Final Hour, silver gelatin fiber print, 51/2″ x 81/2″

I knew I was going to say good-bye to my mother. She had had a stroke and had opted not to get a feeding tube. I brought my camera to take this image of her hand with her grandmother’s cocktail ring.
elsaphoto.com

Leslie L Erdman

Notes from Serbia, etching with watercolor, 12″ x 9″

The print is an etching with watercolor. I was inspired to draw and compile its images during a spring trip to Serbia, a country in conflict with a unique dark beauty.
llerdman.com

Ewa Kalinska

A Quiet Moment, mixed media (acrylic and pencil on bristol), 40.2″ x 29.1″

I was inspired by a quiet moment in everyday life. I wanted to focus on stillness and simple objects that create a sense of calm. I am drawn to these moments when everything slows down and small details become more visible and meaningful.
ewakalinska.com

Nancy Ridenour

Masters’ Still Life, digital image on canvas, 24″ x 20″

I have been fascinated by the paintings of the European Masters. This still life that resembles a Master’s painting, is a collection of my memories and experiences. It includes artifacts from five years that I lived and worked in Asia in the 60’s, lotus pods from my pond, and copper tubing that I use for garden sculptures.
nancyridenourartist.zenfolio.com

Leora Gesser

Manitoba, acrylic, ink, watercolor, pastel, gouache on raw canvas. 36″x 36″

Through my art, I develop a new visual language that captures the complexity and beauty of landscape. Painting is not just a work of the hand, but also a work of the mind (Leonardo da Vinci). By encouraging a dialogue around art, I hope to challenge public perceptions of the landscape and inspire conversations about compassion, protection, and care for the natural world.
leoragesser.com

Judy Hatlen

Moment of Serenity: A Hummingbird’s Dance Among Columbines, acrylic on canvas, 16″ x 20″

I’m drawn to the small exchanges in nature — a beak meeting nectar, a wing frozen mid-reach — and I aim to present those moments so their movement and presence register quietly but insistently. Across the body of my work I want people to notice, linger, and leave with a renewed sense of life.
judysartco.com

Debora Levy

Balance, acrylic on wood panel, 12″ x 12″

It is quiet strength that surfaces in moments of vulnerability, courage, and emotional transformation. Captures not just an expression, but a story — of people confronting life’s challenges with bravery, grace, and hope.
deboralevy.com

Mara Zaslove

Reaching for the Light, archival pigment print/photography, 18″x12″

I was seeking to create an image that inspired hope. I often photograph dancers and chose to blend her with the second image. I was delighted with the outcome of the coupled image which seems to convey a sense of wonder.
marazaslove.com

Juli Iannelli

Cherri Sundae, acrylic and mixed media, 10″x 10″

Much of my work is inspired by childhood memories and the sense of playful freedom. “Cherri Sundae” reminds me of the excitement of getting ice cream with my family on those hot summer days while growing up on the MS Gulf Coast. Even the little moments in life can have a huge and lasting impact.
juliiannelliart.com

Heidi Irmgard Hughes

What I Saw, oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 36″ x 48″

I desire to paint clouds and express transcendence and hope. I love colour. I love beauty. And I love the illusive simplicity of land, sea, clouds and the sky. I like to paint with a freedom to let the subject form as I paint.
heidihughes.ca

Sherry Karver

Convergence of Earth and Sky, 28″ x 28″ x 2″, actual jigsaw puzzle made from my own photos, oil, text, resin surface on wood panel

This work is from my “Missing Pieces of the Puzzle” series. We are often searching for things we have missed in life or in our own histories. The left out spaces represent our search for these missing pieces, and the realization that not everything can be found and replaced. My work conveys our need to find acceptance in what is not there, and the hopefulness that the missing parts can be open spaces for something new to enter the picture.
sherrykarver.com

Charlotte Shroyer

Remembrance, oil on monotype, 9″ x 6″

I have been intrigued by archaeology and history from a very early age. This painting appeared on the canvas to remind me of that love. May I never forget.
charlotteshroyer.com

Frances Gunther

Rainy Day, acrylics, 17″ x 21″

Many years ago, I took a walk with family in Massachusetts in wetlands. I remember taking the photograph. I loved the foggy background, the wet pathway reaching back towards the hills in the distance and the wooden aging railing.
frances-gunther.pixels.com

Therese Boisclair

Seaside Village, mixed media, 24″ x 30″ x 1.5″

Inspired by the movement of ocean waves hitting a rocky cliff. The layered textures and flowing lines suggest crashing water, while the greens and blues reflect sea and land blending together capturing the energy and atmosphere of a seaside village. It also shows the tension between chaos and structure in organic growth.
tboisclair.com

Tommy B. McDonell

Worldly Hooting Men Need Extra Eye Balls, digital art, sized to order

One or two explained to me that their eyes work like Cyclops. They believe, along with Cosmic Women and I, that we pay too much attention to TV news and not enough attention to our world. They have asked me to intervene on their behalf for the next few years. I have agreed.
leap4artnyc.com

Susan Wadsworth

Mt. Washington, Spring (Transcend, Profound, Peace, Stone, Life, Tree, Mindfulness), pastel, pencil and ink on Arches paper, 42” x 72”

I am inspired by landscapes I have visited and experienced in person. This combines different views of Mt. Washington, Mt. Adams and the dam at the foot of Wildcat with Japanese kanji (whose meaning is in the title).
susanwadsworthworksonpaper.com

C Bangs

Horsemesun, oil and acrylic with mica and metallic pigments, 12” x 16”

I was photographed on a friend’s horse and then painted from the photograph. This is from my “Stellar Consciousness” series, merging art and science.
cbangs.com

Corina Ioana

Retro Glamour, digital painting, limited edition prints available in various sizes and mediums

I was inspired to reclaim and reimagine my own identity through a playful, contemporary lens. This digital self-portrait merges vintage glamour with bold color, florals, and a whimsical bird to celebrate freedom, visibility, and self-expression, affirming my presence as both subject and creator.
corinafoto.com

Carole Claude T.

What Was… mixed media, 8.27” × 11.69”

I believe that at any age, it’s not only our pantries that need regular decluttering—our minds do as well. Our thoughts shape who we are. If we don’t consciously take charge, regrets, sadness, grief, envy, resentment, and feelings of unworthiness will continue to mould our personality: our thoughts, our actions, and our reactions. And when that happens, the true wisdom of aging can slip past us.
caroleclaude.art

Estelle Chojnicki

Blue Sea, alcohol ink on clay board, 36″ x 48″

I created this piece out of the inspiration of the deep blue sea. It brings the calmness of swimming under water like a mermaid in the sea.
estellefineart.com

Pam Krimsky

The Stranger, acrylic on canvas, 18″ x 24”

I painted this from a drawing I made during the time I lived in Iran. I was always welcomed, but still felt apart.
pamkrimskyfineart.com

Cindy Lutz Kornet

By the Sea, mixed media, 24” x 24”

This is part of my signature collage style. My objective is to create art that is hopeful, uplifting, inspires courage and even joy.
artandsoulofcindylutzkornet.com

Asami Green

Tree of Life, mixed media with crystals, 24″ x 36″

I am inspired by the rhythm of nature and evolution just like a tree in all seasons of life. This art is my reflection of inner growth and renewal. I feel rooted and connected with earth as my body strengthens and grows just like the trunk of a tree. The branches, leaves, flowers and fruits reflect my inspirations and aspirations.
asamigreen.com

Mara Franci

The Sea of Feeling, acrylic on wood, 35.4” x 23.6”

All 22 works in the series represent the three levels of descent into the depth of Being, until the deepest depth becomes the highest height. At the second level, consciousness begins to perceive its deep identity; there is greater clarity and calm, and the final veil dissolves. This work is the first of the second level.
marafranci.it

Cindy Zaglin

Life Has A Way Of Catching Up With You, mixed media on canvas, 36″ x 48″

I’ve been working on my big girl series for a few years. It is an exploration of my feelings about being plus sized in America.
cindyzaglin.com

Elizabeth S. Palmer

Resting Duo, watercolor, 16.5” x 21”

I was inspired by the peacefulness evoked by the two simple boats resting quietly in the sun, uncharacteristically up on the dock, out of the water, like a comfortable old couple on a mini-vacation, away from the din of constant activity and noise, just enjoying the peace.
elizabethspalmerart.com

Andi Kay

Autumn, paper, wire, wood, 12″ X 12″

I was inspired by a core value my mother instilled in me—to help others. “Autumn” collects leaves to help other birds build their nests and have safe and secure homes to lay eggs and raise their chicks. Every spring, birds flock to her non-profit leaf collection called “Autumn Leaves.”
andikayart.com

Karen V Kanas

Dancer in Motion, acrylic on canvas, 30″ x 30″

This piece is all about my love for dance. I was inspired by a ballet dancer from Barak Ballet in Los Angeles. Her movement and the energy she emoted was simply amazing. I wanted to capture that moment on canvas.
karenvkanas.com

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Thank You for Viewing “HerStory” 2026
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