Discovering the National Museum of Women in the Arts, NMWA, Washington

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) was created for several reasons, all related to the desire to promote and recognize the contributions of women in the arts.

Wilhelmina Cole Holladay and Wallace F. Holladay began collecting works of art in the 1970s and found that women artists were underrepresented in museums.
Wilhelmina Cole Holladay decided to dedicate her resources to creating a museum that would showcase women artists.
The NMWA is the world's first museum dedicated solely to promoting women through the arts.

The museum was incorporated as a private, not-for-profit museum in November 1985.... Before its official opening, the NMWA operated from the Holladay residence, where tours of the collection were organized.

In 1983, the museum purchased its current building at 1250 New York Avenue, NW, in Washington, DC, and opened to the public in April 1987....
The inaugural first exhibition was titled American Women Artists, 1830–1930.

The mission of the NMWA is to promote the achievements of women artists of all eras and nationalities by exhibiting, preserving, acquiring and researching art created by women, and by informing the public about their achievements.
The museum also strives to improve gender inequality in the art world by correcting the imbalance in favor of female artists.

In addition to its exhibitions, the NMWA offers educational programs, a library, and a research center. The museum is also engaged with the community and promotes social change.

In 2003, an association called Les Amis du NMWA (Friends of the NMWA) was created in Paris. The NMWA received the Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women's Freedom in 2015 for its mission to showcase women's art.

From the 17th century to the present day, more than 1000 works and 170 artists represented, an immersion in the History of Art, by women.

• https://nmwa.org/art/artists/frida-kahlo/
  
• https://nmwa.org/art/artists/camille-claudel/
  
• https://nmwa.org/art/artists/rosa-bonheur/
  
• https://nmwa.org/art/artists/joan-mitchell/
  
• https://nmwa.org/art/artists/louise-bourgeois/
  
• https://nmwa.org/art/artists/sarah-bernhardt/
  

International Women's Day:

Celebrate International Women's Day with an exclusive, free virtual event exploring the life, art, and enduring legacy of Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Join Sarah Powers, curator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ( VMFA ), for an in-depth look at her research for the upcoming exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth (April 5–September 28, 2025).

Ms. Powers will provide an overview of Kahlo’s art and life, emphasizing the crucial role of the artist’s personal mythology in shaping our understanding of one of the 20th century’s most iconic artists. Following the presentation, Ms. Powers will participate in a dynamic conversation with Laura Hoffman, Director of Digital Engagement at the NMWA. They will discuss the NMWA’s collection of Kahlo’s personal letters and how digital innovation is transforming the way we connect with personal narratives in art.

To register, click here:https://nmwa.org/whats-on/calendar/frida-kahlo-art-legacy/