National Museum of Women in the Arts

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), located in Washington, D.C. is the only museum solely dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements in the visual, performing, and literary arts. NMWA was incorporated in 1981 by Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay. Since opening its doors in 1987, the museum has acquired a collection of more than 3,500 paintings, sculptures, works on paper and decorative art. While traveling abroad, Mr. and Mrs. Holla... more

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), located in Washington, D.C. is the only museum solely dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements in the visual, performing, and literary arts. NMWA was incorporated in 1981 by Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay. Since opening its doors in 1987, the museum has acquired a collection of more than 3,500 paintings, sculptures, works on paper and decorative art. While traveling abroad, Mr. and Mrs. Holladay admired a 17th-century still-life by Flemish painter Clara Peeters. The Holladays later sought information on Peeters, yet the definitive college art history text (H.W. Janson’s History of Art) failed to include Peeters, or any other female artist. The Holladays then decided to make works by women the basis for their art collection, which later would become the core of NMWA’s permanent collection. In 1983, NMWA purchased a landmark 78,810 sq ft (7322 m²) former Masonic temple to house its works. Initially drafted by architect Waddy B. Wood... less