Women to the Fore
True to its title, Women to the Fore gives voice and space to more than forty female-identifying artists, spanning one hundred and fifty years.
This exhibition—drawn from the Museum’s permanent collection as well as loans from regional artists, galleries, and collectors—focuses on the rich diversity and range of expression in a group of artists working in paintings and drawings, prints and photographs, collage and sculpture. While some artists are internationally recognized, others are overdue to be better known; still others are now emerging. The installation will gather and compare works from different eras and media and will include interpretation that stems from the artists’ own words.
In 2020, many people and institutions are taking stock of the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, what it won and where it failed to achieve voting rights for American women. Women are still fighting for freedom, and art can be a powerful tool to help us see the complexity of their lives and ideas. Female-identifying artists have distinguished themselves by working persistently within an oppressive patriarchal system and by rebelling against this status quo. With each succeeding generation, they have created work that raises awareness of interdependent systems of discrimination and how to make productive change. Today, feminist art history has expanded to embrace intersectionality: the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender.
Read moreWhile no one exhibition can cover such a multifaceted story, the artists in Women to the Fore challenge the dominant textbook history of American art and expand our definition of feminist art history by advocating for diversity, inclusion, and gender equity in museums, the art world, and beyond. In the nineteenth century, still life was one of the only subjects considered “appropriate” for women. Since then, artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Ebony Bolt, and Joséphine Douet have expanded the boundaries of that genre to become shepherds and observers of nature, urban environs, and cycles of life. Redefining women’s roles as nurturers or caregivers motivates Vinnie Bagwell, Tuesday Smillie, and Jessica Spence, who look to their own experiences to express a broad range of personal connections. A number of artists champion women as agents of exploration into the interrelation of sex, race, and ethnicity in modern society, including Judy Chicago, Judy Giera, Marisol, and Shanequa Benitez. Reflection upon homelands and movement across borders is a major concern of Seongmin Ahn, Julia Santos Solomon, and Ola Rondiak. Across the spectrum of these themes, in many cases, the art is political, in ways both overt and subversive.
Artists on view from the collection include Berenice Abbott, Denise Allen, Hannelore Baron, Isabel Bishop, Harriet Blackstone, Ebony Bolt, Judy Chicago, Rose Clark, Joséphine Douet, Camille Eskell, Audrey Flack, Nancy Graves, Susan Hall, Susan Leopold, Evelyn Longman, Marisol, Ann McCoy, Barbara Morgan, Louise Nevelson, Georgia O’Keeffe, Merle Perlmutter, Ellen Robbins, Yvonne Thomas, and Susan Wides. Artists represented by loans to the exhibition are Seongmin Ahn, Vinnie Bagwell, Shanequa Benitez, Mary Cassatt, Mary Frank, Mary Frey, Harriet Whitney Frishmuth, Judy Giera, Amaryllis De Jesus Moleski, Ola Rondiak, Helen Searle, Tuesday Smillie, Julia Santos Solomon, Jessica Spence, Lilly Martin Spencer, Bessie Potter Vonnoh, Elizabeth Flint Wade, and Anna Walinska.
To welcome visitors to the gallery, the Museum commissioned Yonkers-based artists Nancy Mendez, Patricia Santos, and Katori Walker, known for their street murals throughout the city, to paint a collaborative mural inspired by their own public art practice and expression of identity. During the course of the exhibition, the Museum looks forward to providing opportunities in the galleries and online to welcome public participation and to ensure that many perspectives are presented for consideration.
The exhibition is co-curated by Laura Vookles, Chair, Hudson River Museum Curatorial Department, and Victoria McKenna-Ratjen, Curatorial Assistant.
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Julia Santos Solomon (American, b. Dominican Republic, 1956). Caribbean Thoughts Mashup, 2019. Digital print on metal. Courtesy of the artist.
Selected objects
Seongmin Ahn (South Korean, b. 1971). Aphrodisiac 30, 2019. Ink, pigments, and wash on mulberry paper. Museum Purchase, 2021 (2021.6). © Seongmin Ahn.
Denise Allen (American). The Fire and Brimstone Preacher Reverend Rufus Hezikiah, 1997. Cotton, muslin, acrylic, and paper. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of the artist, 2000 (2000.06). © Denise Allen / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, NY.
Vinnie Bagwell (American). Model for Victory Beyond Sims, 2019. Bronze resin. Courtesy of the artist. © Vinnie Bagwell. Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Hannelore Baron (German, 1926–1987). Flag, ca. 1972. Mixed-media of cloth collage, pen, and ink. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Museum Purchase, 1972 (72.41.1). © Hannelore Baron.
Shanequa Benitez (American, b. 1988). Black Women’s Workforce, 2019. Acrylic paint and acrylic molding paste. Private Collection. © Shanequa Benitez.
Isabel Bishop (American, 1902–1988). The Outdoor Lunch Counter, 1950. Etching. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Mervyn & Leatrice Schacht, 2000 (2000.16.10).
Harriet Blackstone (American, 1864–1939). Portrait of Mrs. Morris Richard Poucher (née Emily Wittingham Rollinson), n.d. Oil on canvas. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Miss Elizabeth Poucher, 1972 (72.9.2).
Ebony Bolt (American, b. 1991). Botanical Dreams in the Concrete Jungle, 2017. Mixed media. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Mrs. Louis Aston Knight, by exchange, 2018 (2018.06). © Ebony Bolt.
Mary Cassatt (1844–1926). The Bath, 1890–91. Drypoint, soft-ground, and aquatint on paper. Courtesy of Adelson Galleries.
Rose Clark (American, 1852–1942) and Elizabeth Flint Wade (American, 1849–1915) . Miss M., of Washington, ca. 1900. Photogravure. Collection of the Hudson River Museum (75.0.1706.13).
Amaryllis De Jesus Moleski (American, b. 1985). Soul Hunt (search party), 2020. Gouache, watercolor, color pencil, graphite, collage, marker, acrylic, and airbrush on paper. Collection of Nkonye Okoh. © Amaryllis De Jesus Moleski.
Joséphine Douet (French, b. 1972). Fall Harvest, 2015. Giclee print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of the artist, 2017 (2017.03). © Joséphine Douet.
Camille Eskell (American, b. 1954). Tattooed Lady: Comin’ Up Roses, 2003. From the TRUNCATED series. Resin, graphite, colored pencil, false teeth, watercolor, and mixed media. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Mrs. Louis Aston Knight, by exchange, 2018 (2018.12.2). © Camille Eskell. Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Audrey Flack (American, b. 1931). World War II, 1976 (printed 1984). Dye-colored transfer print photo. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Mr. Sidney Singer, 1986 (86.19.5.7). © Audrey Flack.
Mary Frey (American, b. 1948). My Mother, My Son, 2004. Chromogenic print. Courtesy of the artist. © Mary Frey.
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (American, 1880–1980). The Vine, 1921. Bronze. Collection of David and Laura Grey. © Harriet Whitney Frishmuth.
Judy Giera (American, b. 1988). just a t gurl from brooklyn, 2019. Mixed media on canvas. Courtesy of the artist. © Judy Giera. Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Susan Leopold (American, b. 1960). Castle (Bannerman’s Castle), 2005. Digital prints, wood, glass mirror, and foam hinges. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of the artist, 2008 (2008.11). © Susan Leopold.
Evelyn Longman (American, 1874–1954). Victory, 1908. Bronze. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Museum Purchase, 2019 (2019.4). Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Ann McCoy (American, b. 1946). The Underworld, 1980. Hand-colored lithograph diptych, ed. 11/50. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Mr. Andrew Lanyi, 1981 (81.11.12). Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Nancy Mendez (American, b. 1985), Patricia Santos (American, b. 1989), Katori Walker (American). The Garden of the Divine Feminine, 2020. Tempera paint, spray paint, and mixed media. Commissioned for this exhibition by the Hudson River Museum. Supported in part by ArtsWestchester. Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Barbara Morgan (American, 1900–1992). Berenice Abbott with Cat, 1944 (printed ca. 1980). Black and white photograph. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Lloyd and Janet Morgan, 1984 (84.30.9).
Louise Nevelson (American, 1899–1988). Sky Enclosure, 1973. Painted wood. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of John I. H. Baur, 1985 (85.16.1). © 2020 Estate of Louise Nevelson / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, NY.
Georgia O’Keeffe (American, 1887–1986). Banana Blossom, 1934. Charcoal on paper. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Bequest of Carl E. Hiller, 1992 (92.1.1). © 2018 Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, NY.
Merle Perlmutter (American, b. England, 1936). From Another Room, 1974. Intaglio print. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of the artist, made possible by a Creative Artists Public Service Grant, 1976 (76.12.2). © Merle Perlmutter.
Ellen Robbins (American, 1828–1905). Ivy, mid-nineteenth century. Watercolor. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Museum Purchase, 2010 (2010.09).
Ola Rondiak (American, b. 1966). Motanka Installation, 2019. Papier-mâché, plaster of Paris, and other mixed media. Courtesy of the artist. © Ola Rondiak. Photo: Steven Paneccasio.
Ola Rondiak (American, b. 1966). Motanka Installation (detail), 2019. Papier-mâché, plaster of Paris, and other mixed media. Courtesy of the artist. © Ola Rondiak. Photo: Hudson River Museum.
Ola Rondiak (American, b. 1966). Motanka Installation (detail), 2019. Papier-mâché, plaster of Paris, and other mixed media. Courtesy of the artist. © Ola Rondiak. Photo: Hudson River Museum.
Helen Searle (American, 1830–1884) . Nature’s Bounty, 1872. Oil on canvas. Collection of David and Laura Grey.
Tuesday Smillie (American, b. 1981). S.T.A.R., 2012. From the FREE OUR SIBLINGS///FREE OURSELVES series. Watercolor on paper, collage on board. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Mrs. Eleanor Lewis, by exchange, 2021 (2021.2). © Tuesday Smillie.
Julia Santos Solomon (American, b. Dominican Republic, 1956). Caribbean Thoughts Mashup, 2019. Digital print on metal. Courtesy of the artist. © Julia Santos Solomon.
Jessica Spence (American, b. 1986). Sunday Evening, 2017. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of the artist. © Jessica Spence.
Lilly Martin Spencer (American, b. England, 1822–1902). Peach, Lily, and Rose, 1866. Oil on board. Collection of David and Laura Grey.
Yvonne Thomas (American, b. France, 1913–2009). Central Rhythm, 1967. Acrylic on canvas. Collection of the Hudson River Museum (INV.0122). © Yvonne Thomas.
Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, 1872–1955). Enthroned, 1902. Bronze. Collection of David and Laura Grey.
Anna Walinska (American, b. England, 1906–1997). Self-Portrait: Flamenco, 1939. Oil on canvas. Gift of Rosina Rubin, 2020 (2020.12). © Atelier Anna Walinska.
Susan Wides (American, b. 1955). White Plains Sprawl, January 10, 2011. Chromogenic print. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of the artist, 2012 (2012.03.03). © Susan Wides.
