An ambitious art project aimed at highlighting female artists in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has grown into a massive exhibition featuring 600 women artists across 18 different venues. The initiative, called "Women Artists of the DMV," was launched by art curator and blogger Florencio "Lenny" Campello to address what he perceived as a significant underrepresentation of local female artists in regional galleries.
The centerpiece of the project is currently housed at American University's Katzen Arts Center, where 63 carefully selected artworks are on display. However, Campello notes that this isn't even the largest exhibition in the series. "This isn't even the largest one," he explained. "Some of these venues have over 100 artists in them." Each piece in the collection has been personally hand-selected by Campello, who can provide detailed histories of both the artwork and the women who created them.
During a walkthrough of the American University exhibition, Campello shared insights about the artists' careers, noting a common pattern among many of the women. He told reporters that many female artists follow a similar trajectory of producing work intensively, then taking breaks to raise children before eventually returning to their creative pursuits. While the underrepresentation of female artists in galleries and museums is widely acknowledged, Campello believes the issue extends beyond gender to include a broader problem of D.C. regional artists being overlooked by professional galleries.
The project's origins trace back to an announcement Campello made on his blog two years ago, where he outlined his plans for surveying female artists at American University. The concept quickly gained traction with local galleries, who reached out expressing interest in participating. The response from artists was overwhelming – Campello received nearly 4,000 inquiries from women artists in the D.C. region. "That goes to show you the amount of women in this area that consider themselves artists," Campello observed.
Campello has structured his exhibitions using what he describes as a three-tier pyramid system. At the top are well-known, established artists, followed by a middle tier of artists who are established but not as widely acclaimed. The foundation and largest section features emerging artists who are new to the scene. "The real powerful part is the base of the pyramid, where I try to have as many brand new artists who have never been in a museum," Campello explained.
Several standout pieces have captured attention at the Katzen Arts Center exhibition. One of Campello's personal favorites is a work by Teresa Oaxaca, which he describes as "a super busy painting" that is expertly anchored by a small corner detail, demonstrating strong art historical knowledge. The artist even painted the frame to complement the vibrant piece, which depicts a scene from the famous Renaissance painting "The Feast of the Gods."
Another remarkable work is an oil painting by Sharon Moody that bears a striking resemblance to comic book art. Moody specializes in vintage comic book imagery, and according to Campello, "the way that she can depict each paper is beyond belief. It's incredible." Visitors have been particularly drawn to a portrait titled "Olivia" by Wendy Jones Donahoe, which shows a young girl who was friends with the artist's daughter. Campello praised the work's psychological depth, noting that it captures "not just the likeness of the subject – which she does incredibly well – but also, even more important, a psychological signature of that person."
The exhibitions have resonated strongly with visitors, including Grace Ashford, a sophomore at American University who works at the Katzen museum. "I also love the versatility of all the artworks in here and the way that it is a lot of human beings being represented," Ashford said. "I feel like it ties into aspects of femininity and humanity and seeing people as they are." Her favorite piece is an oil painting by Judith Peck called "Coastal Communities," which she admires for its use of color, including yellow, pink, black, and blue elements throughout the composition. "It really draws you in, and it almost portrays her essence, as well as just her physical representation, it's also representing the complexity of her," Ashford noted.
The Women Artists of the DMV project will continue to unfold over the coming months, with galleries throughout the D.C. region participating in the exhibition series. Notable upcoming venues include the Strathmore Galleries in Bethesda, Maryland, which will open its exhibit on October 4, and the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel. Campello is confident in the project's impact, challenging viewers by saying, "I challenge anyone to go to one show and not want to go see all the other ones."
The various exhibitions will conclude on different dates, with the American University show scheduled to end on December 7. However, Campello hopes to continue the project beyond these initial closures, potentially expanding its reach and impact. Those interested in visiting the exhibitions can find a complete list of participating venues and dates on the Women Artists of the DMV website, ensuring that this celebration of female artistic talent in the D.C. area reaches the widest possible audience.
