During my career I have had the honor of serving on the Board of Directors and have presented keynote speeches and lectures for many women artists organizations. I have observed firsthand the high level of dedication, effort and tenacity that is required to sustain them. The motivation that propels the founders, directors and active members is a desire and commitment to foster gender equality and provide opportunities for women who create art. In this article we pay a special tribute to some of these organizations that serve women in the world of visual art, as they continuously strive to bring about positive change.
Visit the organizations’ websites that are provided. Consider making a donation to help them continue their important goals. If you are a woman artist, you’ll find many membership benefits.
Our Role: Manhattan Arts International also plays a significant role in fostering gender equality. Since 2000 we have presented “HerStory”, online exhibitions of art by women.
Prior to establishing this website I curated exhibitions of women artists in major NYC venues including the First Women’s Bank. As a writer I compiled an ebook “A Resource Guide for Women Artists” that provides a wealth of opportunities for women artists.
Elizabeth Nyamayaro is a political scientist and senior advisor to Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director for UN Women. She is also the head of HeForShe, a movement founded by UN Women to empower all humans, especially men and boys, to have a voice and take action to achieve gender equality in their own lifetime.
Why Organizations That Serve Women Artists Are Necessary
There is an abundant and overwhelming statistical evidence related to discrimination in the arts. We know that fewer women artists get solo shows in museums and galleries, and receive lesser pay than their male counterparts, especially in professional career positions. This statement on the esteemed National Museum of Women in the Arts website makes it clear: “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.”
National Association of Women Artists (N.A.W.A)
Established in 1889, N.A.W.A. is the oldest women’s fine art organization in the United States. Located in NYC, NY, the organization is comprised of a vibrant community of women artists that strives to give women a stronger presence in the art world. It supports its members and women artists at large through exhibitions, programs and education.
One of its major contributions to the advancement of women visuals artists was made in 1991. Under the direction of Liana Moonie the N.A.W.A. Permanent Collection was established at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University. This collection contains the work of N.A.W.A. artists dating from the organization’s inception to the present.
N.A.W.A. offers membership to professional women artists, emerging artists, and student artists. All areas of the visual arts are included such as painting, sculpture, photography, print-making, encaustic, video art, installations and mixed media. The N.A.W.A. website contains an online gallery that features art by its members.
Visit www.thenawa.org
“The men liked to put me down as the best woman painter. I think I’m one of the best painters.” ~ Georgia O’Keeffe
Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club
Catharine Lorillard Wolfe (1828-1887) was a prominent New York philanthropist and art collector, and the only woman among the 106 founders of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition to bequeathing her painting collection to the museum, she left an endowment to Grace Church in Manhattan to promote women’s work. The Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club was established in 1896 and resides in NYC, NY. Today’s members are represented in museums and prestigious art collections and work in many different mediums including oil, watercolor, pastel, graphics and sculpture.
The Club’s major event is the Annual Open Juried Exhibition. This event provides opportunities for members and non-members alike to show their work in the heart of the world’s art capital, New York City. A Museum curator also serves on the Jury of Awards for the Annual Exhibit and gives a talk at both the Preview Reception and the Awards Dinner.
In addition to the Open Juried Exhibition, the Club sponsors the Members Annual exhibition each spring and a Benefit Reception to subsidize the Travel and Research Fund for the Department of American Arts of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Visit clwac.org
ArtTable
Founded by a group of professional women in the visual arts in 1980, ArtTable is the leading U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women’s professional leadership in the visual arts. It is comprised of a professional network with many chapters including those in Chicago and New York City. The prestigious organization offers opportunities for women at all stages of their careers with a diverse program of activities and initiatives.
Every spring ArtTable presents its Anniversary Benefit and Award Ceremony. At this event it honors selected collectors, philanthropists, curators, and other art leaders with distinguished awards. Its many other programs include: Special access to VIP exhibitions, previews, art fairs and collections; exclusive networking opportunities with colleagues and leaders in the field; panel discussions and topic dinners on pressing issues in the artworld; and professional development workshops.
To qualify for membership women must have a minimum of five years’ experience in the field, and exemplify leadership in the management, business, administration, promotion, interpretation, scholarship, and stewardship of the visual arts.
Visit arttable.org
Women’s Caucus For Art
The Women’s Caucus for Art was founded in 1972 in connection with the College Art Association (CAA). WCA is a national member organization unique in its multidisciplinary, multicultural membership of artists, art historians, students, educators, and museum professionals.
The mission of the Women’s Caucus for Art is to create community through art, education, and social activism. WCA is committed to “recognizing the contribution of women in the arts; providing women with leadership opportunities and professional development; expanding networking and exhibition opportunities for women; supporting local, national and global art activism; and advocating for equity in the arts for all.”
As a founding member of the Feminist Art Project (see below) WCA is part of a collaborative national initiative celebrating the Feminist Art Movement and the aesthetic, intellectual and political impact of women on the visual arts, art history, and art practice, past and present.
Visit nationalwca.org
“I do not think any man would ever treat a woman as his equal, and it is all I ask because I know my worth.” ~ Berte Marisot, 1841 – 1895. She created the painting above titled “The Cradle”.
Women Environmental Artists Dialogue (WEAD) ~ For Environmental Artists
In 1996 Jo Hanson, Susan Leibovitz Steinman and Estelle Akamine created Women Environmental Artists Directory (WEAD) in response to increasing requests for artist referrals and for designing ecoart exhibits and programs.
Rather than create one static program, they developed a programming tool that others could use to develop their own programs. “Focusing on women’s unique perspectives we collaborate internationally to further the field and understanding of ecological and social justice art.”
The purpose of WEAD is “To provide information regarding the ecoart and social justice art fields to artists, curators, writers, art and public art administrators, educators in art and ecology, cross-disciplinary professionals and others. To facilitate international networking among artists working with ecological and social justice issues. To further the fields of, and the understanding of environmental and social justice art.”
Visit weadartists.org
Woman Made Gallery
Woman Made Gallery (WMG) is located in Chicago, Illinois and was founded in 1992. Since its inception the vision of WMG has been “to ensure the equal placement of women’s art in the world.”
Through the years WMG has provided many opportunities and advocacy. The esteemed organization supports, encourages and promotes the diverse contributions of women visual artists, performing artists, and writers through many outstanding programs that include exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach. It has exhibited the art of more than 7,500 women artists in its ongoing exhibitions on a variety of themes, ranging from those related to domestic violence and religious freedom and different stylistic themes such as the still life and surrealism.
Visit womanmade.org
Guerrilla Girls
The Guerrilla Girls are feminist activist artists. Its anonymity keeps the focus on the issues. Members wear gorilla masks in public and “use facts, humor and outrageous visuals to expose gender and ethnic bias as well as corruption in politics, art, film, and pop culture.”
Their statement: “We undermine the idea of a mainstream narrative by revealing the understory, the subtext, the overlooked, and the downright unfair. We believe in an intersectional feminism that fights discrimination and supports human rights for all people and all genders.”
Its retrospectives in Bilbao and Madrid, and its traveling exhibition in the U.S. “Guerrilla Girls: Not Ready To Make Nice”, have attracted thousands. It has produced new street and museum projects at Tate Modern and Whitechapel Gallery, London; São Paulo Museum of Art; Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam; Museum of Military History, Dresden; Art Basel Hong Kong; and many other locations.
Its target is museums, “attacking them for their bad behavior and discriminatory practices right on their own walls.”
Visit guerrillagirls.com
Ceres Gallery
Ceres Gallery is a feminist, not-for-profit, alternative gallery in NYC, NY, dedicated to the promotion of contemporary women in the arts. Its exhibition space enhances public awareness and helps to reduce women’s limited access to commercial galleries. It also serves as a supportive base for a diversity of artistic and political views. The members of Ceres Gallery believe the arts provide an important social service – that art has the power to educate, enhance and enrich the quality and depth of people’s lives.
Ceres also encourages writers, musicians, dancers, poets and storytellers to perform in the gallery. Ceres provides a showcase for women artists regardless of age, artistic style or commercial viability to exhibit their work in New York City. It is not restricted in style, medium or theme. Many artistic and political events are presented throughout the year with participation by gallery artists and artists from the larger arts community. The gallery operates as a democracy which means members vote on all decisions including the review of possible new members and they participate in monthly meetings to plan the overall direction of the gallery.
Visit ceresgallery.org
A.I.R. Gallery
Founded in 1972, A.I.R. Gallery is the first non-profit, artist-run gallery for women in the U.S. Its mission is based on the feminist principles of economic cooperation and decision by consensus. Since its inception A.I.R. has continued “to offer an alternative venue for women that protects the creative process and the individual voice of the artist.”
Located at 155 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N.Y., A.I.R. offers women artists a space to show work “as innovative, transitory and free of market trends as the artists’ conceptions demands.”
In 1993, the A.I.R. Gallery established the Fellowship Program for underrepresented or emerging artists. The A.I.R. program includes mentoring and professional development for six artists over a 12-month period in preparation for a solo show at A.I.R. Gallery. All women artists not having a solo show in the last 10 years and residing in the greater New York metro area are eligible. The A.I.R. Fellowship includes a scheduled gallery exhibition, member artist liaison and an additional stipend.
Visit airgallery.org
ARC Gallery
ARC Gallery is an internationally recognized exhibition space located at 2156 North Damen, Chicago, Illinois. It has been an integral part of the Chicago art scene since 1973. Founded during the women’s movement as an alternative to the mainstream gallery system, ARC is one of the oldest co-ops of its kind in the country.
As a non-profit, woman artist-run cooperative, ARC continues its feminist tradition by providing exhibition opportunities for professional and emerging artists working in all media based on excellence of artwork, without discrimination toward gender, race, age, class, physical/mental ability, sexual, spiritual or political orientation.
ARC works to empower women by providing professional and mentoring opportunities in the visual arts. ARC serves to raise public awareness on various community-based issues by presenting exhibits, workshops, discussion groups and programs by, and for, underserved populations.
Visit arcgallery.org
Connecticut Women Artists (CWA)
Connecticut Women Artists, Inc. (CWA) is a statewide organization of highly accomplished artists working in a variety of media including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, assemblage, photography, clay, metal, fiber, textiles, and glass. CWA has promoted and supported professional women artists for over 90 years. Its mission is “to foster and promote interest in the visual arts by women artists in Connecticut, to maintain the highest possible standards of achievement among them, to provide exhibitions, and to encourage any other activities beneficial to artistic endeavors.”
The opportunities for artist members include exhibiting their art at respected galleries and museums and networking with other accomplished artists, among other benefits.
Visit ctwomenartists.org
SoHo20 Gallery
SOHO20 was established in 1973 and has continued its mission of increasing public awareness of the excellence and diversity of women’s art. Through the years, SOHO20 has: “increased emerging artist memberships; continued quality member exhibits, implemented fellowship memberships, featured numerous shows that address crucial social and political issues, organized group shows featuring women from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as hosting panel discussions about significant art topics.”
SOHO20 Gallery is located at 56 Bogart Street, Brooklyn, NY. Its mission continues to support highly committed women artists through extensive exhibition programs and an exciting mix of events. A rigorous jurying process ensures the high quality of gallery membership and exhibitions. The gallery’s commitment to diversity brings a broad and impressive range of works to the public’s attention each season.
Visit soho20gallery.com
New York Society of Women Artists (NYSWA)
The New York Society of Women Artists (NYSWA) was founded in 1925 and at that time devoted itself to avant-garde women artists. Currently, NYSWA is an intergenerational organization whose aim is “to maintain a clear focus on art itself, and more specifically on making public the fine works of talented women, in galleries, cultural spaces, museums, embassies and other quality venues.” The NYSWA jurying system welcomes both diversity and quality.
You’ll find this statment on the NYSWA website: “Today the conversation has shifted to gender fluidity as we continue to question female gender stereotypes, as this relates to perceived social norms for women, the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender characteristics strongly linked to biology. Our scope has broadened and the limitations of social expectation and female gender expression. are no longer so constrained.”
Visit newyorksocietyofwomenartists.com
Pen + Brush
Pen + Brush is a 127-year-old publicly supported not-for-profit “fighting for gender equity in the arts.” It is located at 29 East 22nd Street, NYC, NY. This organization showcases the work of “women, non-binary and female-identified transgender artists and writers to a broader audience with the ultimate goal of effecting real change within the marketplace.” Among its many services the organization provides mentorship and exposes stereotypes and misconceptions that perpetuate gender-based exclusion. All art work is for sale, 75% of all sales go directly to the artist and 25% goes to the organization.
Visit penandbrush.org
American Women Artists (AWA)
American Women Artists is a non-profit organization dedicated to the inspiration, celebration, and encouragement of women in the visual fine arts. Since its inception, AWA has worked diligently to bring women artists to the attention of the art world through museum shows, juried competitions in leading galleries around the country, festivals, symposiums, workshops and an international exchange. “Our goal is to increase the number of professional opportunities for women in the visual fine arts by creating the kinds of opportunities that lead to greater inclusion.”
AWA serves members throughout the U.S. along with a growing contingent of artists from Canada. It is an independent, tax-exempt non-profit organization that celebrated its inaugural exhibit in 1990 at the Tucson Museum of Art. It incorporated as a 501c3 in the state of New Mexico in 1998.
Visit americanwomenartists.org
More Opportunities and Services for Women Artists
Learn about our exhibitions
WomenArts
This is a worldwide community of artists and allies based in Berkeley, California, that works for empowerment, opportunity, and visibility for women artists. “We provide a variety of free online networking, fundraising and advocacy services, and we organize Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN Day), an annual international holiday celebrating women’s creativity in all its forms. We believe in the power of women artists to create, connect, and change the world.” Martha Richards, Founder & Executive Director states, “We dream about what will happen as more and more women artists gain the resources they need to express their creativity fully. We are convinced that they will change the world.”
Visit the WomenArts website womenarts.org Visit their Blog womenarts.org/blog
Art+Feminism
“Art+Feminism is a campaign improving coverage of cis and transgender women, non-binary folks, feminism and the arts on Wikipedia. From coffee shops and community centers to the largest museums and universities in the world, Art+Feminism is a do-it-yourself and do-it-with-others campaign teaching people of all gender identities and expressions to edit Wikipedia.”
Visit artandfeminism.org.
Association of Women Art Dealers
This organization facilitates business and collaborations between women art professionals. Its vision is “to be the premier international network for women art dealers. We provide a platform for meeting fellow collaboratively-minded art dealers, gallerists and consultants.”
The founder of AWAD is Susan Mumford an art world expert, mentor, trainer, author, public speaker and creative entrepreneur. AWAD members work together making art deals, gallery and pop-up exhibitions, art fairs, sharing of shipping costs to art fairs, and more. AWAD also offers masterclasses, networking events and online platforms. “We believe that by working together as a whole, we benefit on an individual basis, by enjoying increasingly successful art businesses.”
Visit womenartdealers.org
NLAPW
The National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) has been offering a place for women artists, writers, composers and choreographers to enrich their professional lives through networking, professional development, exhibits, concerts, publications and service to the community for more than 100 years. Its membership is comprised of journalists, painters, choreographers, sculptors, illustrators, songwriters, poets and many other women who are in creative fields.
The non-profit corporate mission statement of the NLAPW is: “To encourage, recognize, and promote the production of creative work of professional standard in Art, Letters, and Music, and through outreach activities provide educational, creative, and professional support to members and non-members in these disciplines.’ The core values of the NLAPW are respect, knowledge, creation and preservation of the arts.”
The NLAPW consists of 82 branches, 20 State Associations and many Members-at-Large. There are over 1,600 professional women artists, writers, composers, and choreographer members of the League, some in large cities such as New York, Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay area, and Honolulu, and others in rural areas, such as Vermont, the Dakotas and in Hawaii.
Visit nlapw.org
Hera Gallery and Educational Foundation would be a great addition to this list! One of the first women’s art galleries to open in the US, along with ARC, SoHo20, and AIR. Hera Gallery is a creative space serving in a rural setting dedicated to representing underrepresented artists and bringing a contemporary art gallery to a community outside of any major city.