Women to Watch 2027: A Book Arts Revolution

A dynamic exploration of contemporary artists’ books: works of art in book form. Artists’ books can appear in a wide variety of formats and materials, encompassing innovative uses of paper and print, sculptural works, and much more. This exhibition encourages audiences to rethink the nature of book arts by challenging assumptions about the medium and featuring works that combine approaches and techniques.​​

This is the latest edition of the museum’s hallmark exhibition series featuring national and international artists whose work is underrepresented on the global stage. Presented every two to three years, the series is developed through a unique collaboration between NMWA and its widespread outreach committees. Located across the U.S. and around the globe, NMWA’s committees are volunteer advocacy groups that champion women artists beyond the museum’s physical walls. For the 2027 edition of Women to Watch, the committee network worked closely with local curators to create shortlists of 62 nominated artists. From this list of artists, NMWA liaison curator Elizabeth Ajunwa and guest curator Tia Blassingame have selected sixteen artists to exhibit their works in Washington, D.C.​​

The selected artists and their corresponding regions include: Golnar Adili (New York; Consulting Curator Jennifer Farrell), Indu Antony (South Asia; Consulting Curator Vidya Shivadas), Karen Beckwith (Ohio; Consulting Curator Sienna Brown), Eliza Bentz (Georgia; Consulting Curator Cynthia Nourse Thompson), Letizia “Letia” Cariello (Italy; Consulting Curator Iolanda Ratti), Kayla Clark (Wyoming; Consulting Curator Beth Venn), Candace Hicks (Texas; Consulting Curator Hannah Klemm), Sarah Hulsey (Massachusetts; Consulting Curator John Buchtel), Saya Irie (Japan; Consulting Curator Yukie Kamiya), Acadia Kandora (Arkansas; Consulting Curator Catherine Walworth), Yoonmi Nam (Greater Kansas City Area; Consulting Curator Leesa Fanning), Larissa Nowicki ( United Kingdom; Consulting Curator Welmoet Wartena), Elizabeth Pineda (Arizona; Consulting Curator Heather Sealy Lineberry), Vivian Sming (San Francisco/Northern California; Consulting Curator Anthea Black), Janelle Washington (Mid-Atlantic Region; Consulting Curator Elizabeth Ajunwa), and Suze Woolf (Washington; Consulting Curator Catherine Alice Michaelis).

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website