Central to Their Lives: Southern Women Artists in the Johnson Collection
Spanning the decades between the late 1890s and early 1960s, Central to Their Lives brings together for the first time the paintings and sculptures of forty-two diverse women artists who made significant contributions to the art of the South. The exhibition examines the challenges female artists faced during a period in which women’s social, cultural, and political roles were being redefined and reinterpreted. Whether working from dedicated studio spaces, in spare rooms at home, or on the world stage, the artists showcased made remarkable impacts by fostering future generations of artists through instruction, incorporating new aesthetics into the fine arts, and challenging the status quo. Organized by the Johnson Collection in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the exhibition is on view at the Gibbes Museum of Art January 17, 2020 – May 3, 2020.