Discovering the National Museum of Women in the Arts

At the angle of New York Ave. and H St. NW in Washington DC stands a 1908 landmark that was built as a Masonic Temple. In that capacity, women were not permitted to enter the building. Today, that same building is all about women — although men are more than welcome! Refurbished in accordance with the […]

Have You Met Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella?

At the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC is an unexpected exhibition titled Impressive: Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella (on through October 20, 2024). Ranging across the blue walls of three adjacent alcoves, a series of twenty-five 17th-century prints by artist Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella (Lyon,1641-Paris,1676) depicts The Entrance of the Emperor Sigismond into Mantua (1675). The […]

Knotty Ladies Make a Beautiful Mess

Eleven women have been curated into a group show that throws new light on fiber art. These conceptual artists push the boundaries of their textile-based medium. While freely breaking the rules, they are serious about making a strong cultural and intellectual impact, while deftly and masterfully weaving meaning into their work. […]

Rosa Bonheur: The Most Famous Artist You’ve Never Heard Of …

Édouard Dubufe (French, 1819-1883) Portrait de Marie-Rosalie dite Rosa Bonheur, 1857.

In the 19th-century, during her lifetime Rosa Bonheur was one of the most famous artists in all of Europe and North America. Required to obtain a cross-dressing permit in order to venture into the world of men — for the sake of her art — she took that world by storm! […]