November 2023 Featured Interview
National Museum Celebrating Women Artists Reopens
A Conversation with
Susan Fisher Sterling
Alice West Director, National Museum of Women in the Arts
Susan Fisher Sterling, Ph.D.
Photo Courtesy: National Museum of Women in the Arts
Photo Courtesy: National Museum of Women in the Arts
"We are honored to have Alice West Director Susan Fisher Sterling as a Sanctuary guest during the historic groundbreaking reopening of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. It’s a very special moment to celebrate a great institution that continues to support and memorialize women artists and their lasting place in the world of art."
~ Sandra Bertrand
~ Sandra Bertrand
About Susan:
Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C., Susan Fisher Sterling, Ph.D., has built her career and the stature of the museum around the message of equity for women through the example of excellence in the arts.
When she signed on as associate curator of the new museum in 1988, she had just graduated from Princeton University with a master’s and Ph.D. in art history, specializing in modern and contemporary art. As the museum’s curator and chief curator, she produced exhibitions and publications on a range of contemporary women artists, including well-received international shows focused on the art of Brazil and postmodern photography.
Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C., Susan Fisher Sterling, Ph.D., has built her career and the stature of the museum around the message of equity for women through the example of excellence in the arts.
When she signed on as associate curator of the new museum in 1988, she had just graduated from Princeton University with a master’s and Ph.D. in art history, specializing in modern and contemporary art. As the museum’s curator and chief curator, she produced exhibitions and publications on a range of contemporary women artists, including well-received international shows focused on the art of Brazil and postmodern photography.
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Among Susan’s honors are Orders of Merit from Brazil and Norway, the President’s Award of the Women’s Caucus for Art, and selection in 2011 as one of ArtTable’s 30 most influential professional women in the visual arts.
Under Susan's leadership, NMWA marked its 36th anniversary in 2023. It is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to advancing women in the arts. About National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA): The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. Today, the museum is considered an increasingly international force. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. The museum addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today. |
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Sandra Bertrand, Sanctuary’s travel & culture editor, asked Susan about the museum’s extensive renovations, challenges women artists continue to face, and her hopes for the museum’s future.
On the eve of the October reopening of The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), you must be filled with memories. Not only have you faced the challenges of a $67.5 million renovation, but you’ve had the thrill of watching this monumental challenge come to light. Can you share with our readers some of the highlights?
On the eve of the October reopening of The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), you must be filled with memories. Not only have you faced the challenges of a $67.5 million renovation, but you’ve had the thrill of watching this monumental challenge come to light. Can you share with our readers some of the highlights?
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Our extensive renovation offers thrilling new opportunities for programs and exhibitions, expanded public spaces, a state-of-the-art performance hall and improvements to accessibility. These reimagined spaces represent so much potential for the museum, now and into the future. I am most excited about the new multipurpose facility where visitors of all ages can participate in hands-on art making as well as the integration of our extensive library and research archives more directly into the visitor experience.
The legacy of the historic building has been respected throughout the renovation. The exterior is clean and shines like new, while iconic interior spaces like the Great Hall are more beautiful and more functional than ever. We also have made upgrades that enable us to continue to safely and securely house NMWA’s collection as well as create better spaces for groundbreaking exhibitions and vibrant programming. |
NMWA Entrance (2023)
Photographer: John Mannarino ~ Photo Courtesy: NMWA |
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In addition to having more gallery space to show off NMWA’s collection, we now also have the ability to display art of a grander scale, which you will see in full effect in our inaugural exhibition, The Sky’s the Limit. Here we will showcase the new capabilities and size of the galleries by presenting monumental, immersive artworks. The exhibition features 13 contemporary artists making dynamic and intricate works at large-scale. Sculptures will hang from the ceiling, across walls, and project outward from corners. Visitors will also experience the museum’s collection anew, with works presented in nine thematic groupings.
You have said that NMWA serves as the nexus for a worldwide community of advocates for art and women. Its renovation will enable NMWA to tell a more complete story of women in the arts and to share that story widely. As a representative of an institution devoted to women’s struggle to become more visible as creative beings, when did you become aware of the pressing need for this recognition in the world at large? Do you consider yourself to be a feminist? Yes, I am a feminist. |
I strongly believe in the power of art to encourage dialogue on difficult topics and to foster social change. This is more critical now than ever. I believe that the arts will continue to be a bellwether of our society and can help to promote equity. I look forward to the day when the ideals we promote at the National Museum of Women in the Arts become fully integrated into mainstream museums, the art market and art events around the world. Until that day, however – and I would venture to say, even thereafter – women artists need support and benefit from venues that specifically champion them and lead the way forward. Many of the historic barriers that have faced women for years remain – from gender inequity in the art historical canon and gallery representation, to museum exhibitions and museum leadership. This is one of the reasons that our work is so essential.
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NMWA’s collection comprises 6,000 works of art. How do you see the collection growing overall? What are some of the plans for future exhibitions domestically or internationally?
According to data compiled in the 2022 Burns-Halperin report for 2008–20, only 10.5% of acquisitions at 31 of the most prominent U.S. museums were works by female-identifying artists, and only 14.9% of exhibitions were of work by female-identifying artists. Statistically these disparities are significantly worse when we consider the intersectionality of gender, ethnicity, race and sexuality. Over the same period, only 2.7% of acquisitions and 6.4% of exhibitions at these museums were by Black American artists. Quantitative studies of other racial and ethnic groups are yet to be done, but anecdotal evidence points to the same results. It is essential for cultural institutions to take substantial and systematic steps to address gender inequity and diversity in their programming, their collections, and their leadership, so that this conversation moves beyond a single moment. NMWA seeks to counter a limited view of feminism. Since its inception, NMWA’s programming and collections have been diverse and global. In recent years, the museum has placed a priority on acquiring and highlighting works of art by women of color, and we are committed to continuing to expand the diversity of our collection overall. Our programming also reflects this goal. As for future programming, stay tuned, as we will be announcing new upcoming exhibitions shortly. |
"They Call Me Redbone but I’d Rather Be Strawberry Shortcake"
© Amy Sherald (2009) Oil on canvas ~ 54 x 43 inches NMWA, Gift of Steven Scott, Baltimore, in honor of the artist and the 25th Anniversary of NMWA Courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth ~ Photo by Lee Stalsworth |
Having the great privilege of knowing NMWA’s visionary founder, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, what stands out most in your mind about this extraordinary woman and her determination to create the first museum in the U.S. to exhibit women’s art exclusively?
When the National Museum of Women in the Arts opened in 1987, we were asked why a museum focused on women was necessary. The answer was obvious then – although few could see it – and 36 years later, it is still obvious now. While some progress has been made, women continue to be overlooked by museums and undervalued by the art market.
When Wilhelmina Cole Holladay began collecting art with her husband in the 1970s, she made a rare and bold choice to focus on art by women. Her historic direction led to opening NMWA to the public in 1987. For nearly 40 years, Mrs. Holladay was the guiding light of our museum. She knew the power of art and the importance of women in art and the world. Her foresight in recognizing women artists of the past and championing women artists of the present by creating a new museum was visionary – even revolutionary – for the time. Her actions signaled a major shift in our thinking about art and society, and it is her purpose we carry forward with us today.
When the National Museum of Women in the Arts opened in 1987, we were asked why a museum focused on women was necessary. The answer was obvious then – although few could see it – and 36 years later, it is still obvious now. While some progress has been made, women continue to be overlooked by museums and undervalued by the art market.
When Wilhelmina Cole Holladay began collecting art with her husband in the 1970s, she made a rare and bold choice to focus on art by women. Her historic direction led to opening NMWA to the public in 1987. For nearly 40 years, Mrs. Holladay was the guiding light of our museum. She knew the power of art and the importance of women in art and the world. Her foresight in recognizing women artists of the past and championing women artists of the present by creating a new museum was visionary – even revolutionary – for the time. Her actions signaled a major shift in our thinking about art and society, and it is her purpose we carry forward with us today.
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Collection Galleries at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
Photo by Jennifer Hughes ~ Photo Courtesy: NMWA
Photo by Jennifer Hughes ~ Photo Courtesy: NMWA
In closing, what specifically do you hope for the future of the museum in America’s twenty-first century?
During times like these, with renewed calls for social justice, the National Museum for Women in the Arts as an institution is challenged to look inward and take new actions – to welcome new perspectives, refresh our offerings, and champion women and nonbinary artists who best represent our ideals and a path forward for all. Our mission is to bring forward powerful artistic voices and overlooked narratives, so that their achievements and perspectives are recognized, honored, and able to inspire future generations.
When I try to envision the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ future, I often look at the Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) trajectory. MoMA was the first museum of modern art, and even though many of the world’s great museums now exhibit lots of modern art, MoMA is still the flagship. I believe that in the future NMWA will be that, too, for women artists.
During times like these, with renewed calls for social justice, the National Museum for Women in the Arts as an institution is challenged to look inward and take new actions – to welcome new perspectives, refresh our offerings, and champion women and nonbinary artists who best represent our ideals and a path forward for all. Our mission is to bring forward powerful artistic voices and overlooked narratives, so that their achievements and perspectives are recognized, honored, and able to inspire future generations.
When I try to envision the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ future, I often look at the Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) trajectory. MoMA was the first museum of modern art, and even though many of the world’s great museums now exhibit lots of modern art, MoMA is still the flagship. I believe that in the future NMWA will be that, too, for women artists.
For the first time ever, NMWA has produced a series of short films spotlighting collection artists. In Focus: Artists at Work can be viewed now through September 22, 2024. For this project, NMWA worked with the award-winning film production company Smartypants Pictures to create the series, each video profiling one contemporary artist in the museum’s collection.
