Nancy G. Heller, Professor Emerita of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia

Contemporary Women Artists: Five Remarkable Examples

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 1:30 pm

Hybrid in-person and online program via Zoom

In 2025 it is no longer surprising to see exhibitions of art made by women or books that focus on their lives and work. During the last few decades there has been a veritable explosion of interest in female painters, sculptors, and installation artists working in a wide variety of materials, techniques, and styles. This richly illustrated lecture examines five exceptional women who have received MacArthur “Genius” grants, had major museum retrospectives, and earned prizes from such prestigious international shows as the Venice Biennale.

We will discuss American women from the urban Midwest, the Deep South, and an Indian reservation, plus a European artist and one born in Ethiopia. Simone Leigh is known for making massive, stylized clay and bronze images of Black women; Julie Mehretu produces multi-layered abstract paintings with subtle references to both landscapes and politics; the humorous and insightful work of Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooke/Crow) explores her cultural history; Spanish sculptor Cristina Iglesias has produced work that can only be viewed while wearing scuba gear; and Amy Sherald has reinvigorated the venerable painted portrait.

$15 fee for guests and subscribers (no fee for members)

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