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Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

A group of people stand around a table looking at a dress laid out on top. Lighting and processing equipment is visible in the background.

How the American Women’s History Initiative Pool Lays the Groundwork for a New Museum

Since 2018, the American Women's History Initiative Pool has funded more than 200 projects across the Smithsonian, supporting research, collections, and programming that make women's history visible long before the museum has a building.

Black and white photograph of an Indigenous woman with short, dark hair wearing a long-sleeve floral patterned blouse with a darker piece of floral fabric draped over her shoulder and tied at her waist.

Fragments of Ancient Pottery Inspired Maria Martinez

Discover how Maria Martinez revolutionized Pueblo pottery with her innovative black-on-black ceramics, inspired by ancient fragments and created through experimental firing techniques at San Ildefonso Pueblo.

Grandma Moses seated in a chair slightly turned away from the camera holding a book in her lap.

Grandma Moses' Folk Art Took Her from the Farm to Fame

Discover how Grandma Moses, a self-taught artist, turned to painting in her late 70s and became an American folk-art icon.

Two visitors stand in front of a colorful abstract painting and wall text in a museum gallery.

Pictures of Belonging Reveals Hidden Stories of Japanese American Artists

Pictures of Belonging at the Smithsonian American Art Museum spotlights Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo, three Japanese American women artists whose overlooked stories bring powerful voices to the forefront of American modern art.

Three images of Ella Fitzgerald, side by side. Her eyes are closed as she sings into the microphone she is holding in front of her.

An Inside Look at Smithsonian's 'Collected' Podcast Season Two: The Musical Genius of Black Women

In this chat between "Collected" podcast curators, learn more about season two, "The Musical Genius of Black Women," which dives into notable Black women who made their mark on music.

Black and white portrait of Mary Cassatt sitting in a chair wearing fur and a feathered hat.

Mary Cassatt Gave Women a Place in the Impressionist Movement

Mary Cassatt reshaped the art world by elevating everyday domestic moments into beautiful Impressionist works of art. Discover how she championed the visibility of women as both subject and artist and helped bring Impressionism to American museums.

Black and white portrait of Dat So La Lee seated in a chair and surrounded by six decorative baskets on the floor by her feet.

Basket Maker Dat So La Lee’s Artistry Was a Means of Survival

Meet Dat So La Lee, a Washoe basket weaver whose signature degikup style preserved her cultural heritage and offered a means of survival as she adapted to the American economy.

Six women sitting closely together posing for the camera. They are wearing uniforms with light skirts and dark jackets and an armband with the letter C on it.

Lee Miller's Legacy: From Fashion Model to War Correspondent

Lee Miller, who captured some of the most harrowing photographs of World War II, started as a model and Surrealist photographer. Learn about her life and legacy that has inspired a major motion picture.

A black silhouette of a jumping woman against a colorful fabric background.

Foregrounding Fiber in American Art

The Renwick Gallery’s newest exhibition, Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women, showcases artists who used everyday materials such as cotton, felt, and wool to tell deeply personal stories and offer an alternate view of American art.

Painted portrait of Cresse Crosby. Her short dark hair stands out against the light background.

On the Trail of American Women in Paris

Learn what motivated curator Robyn Asleson to put together the exhibition Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939, at the National Portrait Gallery.

Candid color photo of Audre Lorde from the shoulders up standing at a microphone and podium.

Learn More About LGBTQ+ Women With These Podcasts, Paintings and Portraits

Learn about four LGBTQ+ women who were featured in projects across the Smithsonian

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