Women of the World: A Global Collection of Art

WOMEN OF THE WORLD: A GLOBAL COLLECTION OF ART, curated by Claudia DeMonte

Women of the World presents artwork by women artists from 178 countries around the globe (artists and countries listed on reverse). Each piece was created specifically for this exhibition in order to express the artist’s experience of being a woman.

The works in the exhibition vary greatly in terms of style, materials and technique, many of which are particular to the artist’s native country. Traditional techniques, such as embroidery and appliqué, are present, as are new digital technologies. Certain themes appear frequently, crossing geographic boundaries, including motherhood, labor, and the experiences of gender bias and political oppression.

This unprecedented exhibition is the result of more than two years of research by curator Claudia DeMonte, artist and Distinguished Scholar/Teacher at the University of Maryland. The organization of this exhibition was prompted by DeMonte’s observance of the wide variety of women’s experiences during her extensive travels to more than 75 countries. Many artists in the exhibition were contacted with the assistance of foreign museums, embassies, and universities, as well the United Nations, the United States Information Agency, the U.S. Navy, and the Peace Corps.

A fully illustrated exhibition catalogue with essays by DeMonte and Arlene Raven will be published by Pomegranate Communications in June. After its premier presentation at White Columns, the exhibition will tour to seven other venues throughout the United States (other possible venues pending). After the completion of the tour, the artwork will be sold at auction, with all proceeds benefiting the New York Women’s Foundation. This exhibition is sponsored by Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro, the Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Art Development Committee of an Anonymous Foundation, and the General Research Board of the University of Maryland.