NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ARTISTS (NAWA): A TRADITION CONTINUES March 21–April 20, 2024 Founded in 1889 by five artists, the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) holds a vital place in the history of American art as the first women’s fine art organization in the country. Envisioning greater professional access for women artists barred from salons, classes, and galleries in the male-dominated nineteenth-century art world, NAWA began to provide women with structural support, and more crucially, opportunities to exhibit their work. In a time when women artists were primarily associated with crafts and decorative arts, this vibrant community of artists advocated for more diverse, complex contributions and achievements of women to modern art. From its inception, NAWA’s annual exhibitions proved an enormous success, attracting the participation of artists such as Mary Cassatt, Rosa Bonheur, Cecelia Beaux, and Suzanne Valadon. As the organization steadily grew, its membership expanded to include prominent figures such as Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, who established the Whitney Museum of American Art, as well as artists Blanche Lazzell, Louise Nevelson, and Faith Ringgold. Artists involved in NAWA explore a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, video art, installations, and mixed media. “On the whole the National Association of Women Artists has a very strong sculpture group,” wrote an Art Digest critic in 1949 while reviewing a show at the Argent Galleries.
In response to the cascade of changes to women’s lives— particularly during the women’s movement of the 1960s and the restructuring of the paid labor force in the 1970s— NAWA has steadfastly supported the concerns of women artists, believing in the value of an organization dedicated especially to women even in the midst of increasing integration in the art world. In 1988, the organization and the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University collaborated to house NAWA’s permanent collection. Furnished by generous donations and occasional purchases, the collection’s holdings emphasize NAWA’s historical scope and present a rich inventory of American art. In celebration of the Association’s 135th anniversary, Hollis Taggart is proud to feature works by both NAWA contemporary artists and six honorary vice presidents: Pat Adams, Judith Brodsky, Judy Chicago, Audrey Flack, Faith Ringgold, and Dorothea Rockburne.
Acknowledgments On the occasion of Women’s History Month, the gallery is pleased to collaborate with the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), a prestigious organization celebrating its 135th anniversary. We are grateful to board member Jeffrey Wechsler for his varied and invaluable assistance with this project and to Jill Cliffer Baratta, Executive Director of NAWA, for her energetic support. A huge thank you is extended to the McCall Associates for the design of this brochure. They generously donated their time and skill gratis, as their contribution to NAWA. Please note that a percentage of all sales proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to NAWA.