South Wing Galleries

Undiminished: Heroines of California Art

November 9, 2024 – March 8, 2025

Curated by Dora James

While traditional East Coast art clubs—hubs for mentorship, networking and buyer connections—excluded women in the 19th and early 20th centuries, California’s art scene welcomed them with open arms. Here, women not only joined but also led – and founded – new art clubs. That’s just one example of how California has fostered a rich legacy of outstanding female artists, a tradition that began more than 150 years ago and still thrives today.

Curated by Dora James, this exhibition showcases more than 30 remarkable works by Elsie Palmer Payne, Elanor Colburn, Henrietta Berk, Mabel Alvarez, Betye Saar, Burr Singer, Ruth Peabody, Patssi Valdez, Agnes Pelton, and others.