Women’s History Month 2017: Celebrating #5WomenArtists—and More March 1, 2017
Wangechi Mutu, The End of carrying All, 2015, video, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by contemporary@mfah 2016. © Wangechi Mutu
Magdalena Fernández, 2iPM009, from the series Pinturas móviles (Mobile Paintings), 2009, video installation with sound, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Caribbean Art Fund and the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund. © Magdalena Fernández
Loretta Pettway, Log Cabin (Bricklayer), c. 1970, cotton denim, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase
Tania Bruguera, Estadística (Statistics), 1995–2000, cardboard, human hair, and fabric, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Caribbean Art Fund and the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund. © Tania Bruguera
Lee Krasner, Blue and Black, 1951–53, oil on canvas, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation. © 2015 The Pollock-Krasner Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Elizabeth Catlett, Standing Mother and Child, 1978, bronze with copper alloy on wood base, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the African American Art Advisory Association. © 2021 Catlett Mora Family Trust / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Maria Martinez and Julian Martinez, Jar (Olla) with Feathers and Avanyu, 1930–43, ceramic, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gift of Miss Ima Hogg.
Linda Ridgway, The Dance, 2000, bronze, the MFAH, in celebration of the life of Karen H. Susman from the partners and spouses at Susman Godfrey L.L.P. © Dunn and Brown Contemporary, and the artist
Can you name 5 women artists?
It’s a provocative, seemingly simple question that has a not-so-simple answer. The National Museum of Women in the Arts launched the #5WomenArtists campaign in 2016 to spark conversation around Women’s History Month, which is celebrated in March. Hundreds of museums and other institutions have rallied to support the campaign by highlighting the contributions of pioneering female artists throughout history.
This year, in 2017, we join the campaign to help ensure that the answer is, without hesitation, “Yes—and I can name WAY more than 5.”
In March, celebrate along with us as we share:
- Facebook Live talks focusing on works of art that are on view in our galleries. Watch on our Facebook page
- A new Google Art Project exhibition highlighting work by women artists represented in the MFAH collections. Browse the online exhibition
- Docent-led gallery talks that include art by women as part of the tour. Drop in for any Highlights or Art Bite Tour this month—they’re free with general admission, which is waived on Thursdays
- Blog posts that explore the work of women artists in-depth, with a new topic every week
- More facts and tidbits on social media throughout the month: Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and follow along with the conversation at #5WomenArtists
