We spoke with NMWA Director of Publications Elizabeth Lynch about the museum’s brand-new collection highlights catalogue, which explores the breadth of the museum’s holdings and draws connections among more than 180 works. Buy your copy today! A book like this is a huge undertaking! Briefly tell us about the process from conception to publication. Yes—we started the planning stages years ago, and this project kept us very busy during the building’s renovation. With colleagues including curators, educators, and members of NMWA’s shop, development, and leadership teams, I discussed goals for the ..read more

After a long two-and-a-half-year renovation, I am thrilled to welcome visitors to the “new NMWA!” Join me as I reflect on our celebratory and action-packed reopening festivities. Visitors explore Cornelia Parker’s Thirty Pieces of Silver (exhaled) Sugar Bowl (2003) in the special exhibition The Sky’s the Limit; Photo by Elyse Cosgrove/Asico Photo In the lead-up to reopening, we were honored to host First Lady Jill Biden, who spoke at a gathering for supporters and friends who made the renovation possible. A longtime fan of the museum, Dr. Biden said, “when women artists have a place to show th ..read more

In celebration of the museum’s new Learning Commons and its re-envisioned gallery space, the Betty Boyd Dettre Library and Research Center (LRC) invited nine book artists to create works that honor the museum, its holdings, and women artists whose art has been historically overlooked. Holding Ground: Artists’ Books for the National Museum of Women in the Arts features works by Alisa Banks, Adjoa Jackson Burrowes, Julie N. Chen, Suzanne Coley, IBé Crawley, Colette Fu, Kerry McAleer-Keeler, María Verónica San Martín, and Maricarmen Solis. Many of the works reflect on the museum as a special and ..read more

One of the new standout features of NMWA’s revitalized building is the use of technology to bring artists’ voices to life. Immersive experiences and digital prompts enhance guests’ exploration of the museum. Through digital engagement, NMWA seeks to spark curiosity, inspire advocacy, and encourage slow looking among visitors as they move through the building’s expanded and redesigned art spaces. In Focus: Artists at Work The new video presentation In Focus: Artists at Work provides an intimate look into the work and inspirations of artists in NMWA’s collection through short, documentary-style ..read more

Since 2017, thematic installations of NMWA’s collection have mixed and mingled artists across time and place. These innovative groupings—in some cases anchored by a medium, in others by an idea—aim to transform visitors’ perceptions of art objects and their creators. Within NMWA’s newly renovated building, galleries will continue to reject outdated chronological and gender-based art hierarchies. A joyful and provocative combination of works spanning six continents and six centuries emphasizes the illimitable vision of women artists worldwide. Fresh Themes Throughout the third-floor collection ..read more

In preparation for NMWA’s reopening in October, two collection works that will be on view for the first time received conservation treatments. Conservator Kristen Loudermilk spent nearly sixty hours with Hudson River Landscape (1852) by Abigail Tyler Oakes (1823–ca. 1898) and Call to Church and Flowers (1970) by Clementine Hunter (1887–1988). With NMWA Assistant Editor Alicia Gregory, she discusses her meticulous work, as well as a few interesting discoveries. Abigail Tyler Oakes, Hudson River Landscape, 1852; Oil on canvas, 17 x 22 7/8 in.; Gift from the Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Ar ..read more

NMWA Assistant Editor Alicia Gregory spoke with former Fresh Talk speaker Elizabeth Acevedo, now a National Book Award–winning author, about her debut adult novel Family Lore (2023). The epic, multigenerational story follows the magical women of one Dominican American family as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives. Buy your copy from NMWA’s Museum Shop! Elizabeth Acevedo; Photo by Denzel GolattCan you talk about your process and how you ultimately wove this epic story together? This book was written over the course of three years, and it was driven by intuition. I kept s ..read more

The 2023 #5WomenArtists campaign, art+, fine arts and beyond, examines gender inequity in arts-related fields including architecture, design, music, and film. We recently spoke with five television and screenwriters: Sinead Daly, Safura Fadavi, Lacey Friedman, Meridith Friedman, and Dipika Guha, about their work, the writers who inspire them, and why the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is important to them.  What recent projects have you worked on?  Sinead Daly: I’ve worked on a variety of TV shows that range from soapy drama (Tell Me Lies, The Summer I Turned Pretty) to true c ..read more

Museum Shop Director Adriana Regalado spoke with Bibi Abelle, a tattoo and makeup/special effects artist, based in Takoma Park, Maryland. Follow Bibi on Instagram and TikTok @bibi.abelle.   1. What is your background and how did you begin tattooing?   I’m first generation—my parents are Haitian. Their dreams for us were linear: go to college, become a doctor or accountant. When I was 14, I got sick and was diagnosed with cancer. I underwent treatment throughout high school—it was not the usual high school experience.  I went to college in Pennsylvania, but quickly real ..read more

Today we announced some exciting news: the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) will reopen to the public on Saturday, October 21. After our building’s two-year closure, I could not be more thrilled to share our plans to welcome visitors into our beautifully renovated spaces. With reimagined galleries and public areas, NMWA’s updated building will truly complement our groundbreaking work to champion women artists. With our inaugural exhibition, The Sky’s the Limit, we will showcase the new capabilities and size of the galleries by presenting monumental, immersive artworks. The exhibitio ..read more