by Samar Hussaini, NAWA Exhibition Chair

The NAWA Exhibition Committee is dedicated to providing members with a wide range of opportunities to showcase their talents through both in-person and online exhibitions. By curating an annual schedule of exhibits that highlight the diverse skills and creativity of NAWA artists, the committee ensures that the richness of the community is reflected in every showcase. These exhibitions, whether hosted in galleries or through online exhibits, give members valuable opportunities to engage with wider audiences and increase visibility for their work.

A key focus of the committee is building partnerships with both galleries and foundations. Collaborating with established institutions, emerging art spaces, and influential foundations opens up new opportunities for NAWA members to display their artwork in a variety of settings. These partnerships in turn foster exposure and recognition, while the addition of online exhibitions allows NAWA artists to connect with a global audience. All NAWA online and in-person exhibitions are open to the viewing public, with artwork available for purchase through the NAWA website or office.

Examples of recent and upcoming exhibitions include: The Feminine Horizon: Inner and Outer Landscapes (Green Door Studio, LLC, Milburn, NJ); Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories (Vanda Gallery, New Rochelle, NY); Flushing Bank Partnership (in-person at Flushing Bank, NYC, and Brooklyn, NY); Aloft Partnership (in-person at Long Island City, NY); The NAWA 136th Anniversary Annual Members Exhibition (in-person & online at One Art Space, NYC, NY); Winter Small Works (online); Summer Small Works (online); and, individual online exhibitions dedicated to photography, sculpture, and mixed media, showcasing the unique talents of our artists in each discipline.

By fostering collaborations and offering diverse exhibition formats, the NAWA Exhibition Committee upholds its mission of promoting women artists. These efforts ensure members have ample opportunities to showcase their work, access new resources, and gain recognition within both the gallery world and the broader arts community. Signature Members are encouraged to join the committee, supporting and uplifting one another through shared inspiration, resources, and a collective passion that fosters growth and collaboration. NAWA continues to expand its support for artistic expression, encouraging artists to push boundaries and audiences to explore new perspectives, creating a vibrant and engaged arts community.

by Mary Ahern, NAWA PR Committee Chair

As Chair of the Public Relations Committee at the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), I have the privilege of leading a dedicated team that keeps our historic organization vibrant and visible in today’s digital age. Our committee plays a vital role in supporting NAWA’s growth while preserving its rich legacy as the United States’ first established women’s professional art organization. We recently welcomed Jen Haefeli as Co-Chair of the PR Committee. Jen is spearheading exciting new initiatives to build connections with prominent women business leaders, curators, and museum professionals to create new exhibition opportunities for our members.

Communication is at the heart of everything we do. Our team writes and posts weekly articles in NAWA News, which is our public-facing platform on the NAWA website that keeps our community connected and informed. Through these articles, we showcase our members’ achievements and share fascinating historical highlights. One of our most popular features, “NAWA Luminaries,” written by Susan M. Rostan, brings to life the stories of the remarkable women who have shaped our organization’s prestigious history.

Our dynamic social media presence thrives thanks to our dedicated team—Pamela Flynn, Nancy Good, Amy Hutto, Monica Shulman, Lauralynn White, and Kathleen Zimmerman. They create engaging content across Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and other platforms, ensuring every artist juried into our exhibitions receives dedicated coverage with their statements shared to our growing audience. Our private Facebook Member Only Group, expertly managed by Abby Zonies and Judy Kirtley, has become a vibrant space where our artists connect and support each other.

The graphic design projects for both online and print are created by our talented PR graphic design team. Their efforts include social media, advertising, brochures, booth graphics, and exhibition posters. Jen Sterling, Janet Mishner, and our newest volunteer, Kathleen Kinkopf, focus on modernizing our branding while honoring NAWA’s rich heritage.

These design elements are crucial to our promotional strategy. We take an active part in promoting the semi-annual Membership Drives and Fundraising initiatives, Exhibitions, and community outreach events with the PR Committee orchestrating all promotional efforts, press releases, and graphics creation.

The preservation of NAWA’s history is another passion of ours. Susan Rostan, M.F.A, Ed.D and Co-Leader of the NAWA Historical Research Team, leads our efforts to document our organization’s extensive legacy. Her work encompasses research into our past presidents, significant current exhibitions of our historical members, and the watershed moments that have marked our long existence. This work isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about understanding and sharing NAWA’s vital role in the ongoing story of women in American art.

As a volunteer-run organization, NAWA’s strength comes from our members’ dedication. I’m continually inspired by how our diverse members contribute their time and talents to our mission. Through our PR efforts—from press releases and social media to historical research and community building—we’re ensuring that NAWA remains a powerful force in supporting and promoting women artists in the 21st century.

Leading this committee has shown me the incredible impact we can have when passionate volunteers come together with a shared mission. Every day, we work to amplify women’s voices in the arts, continuing NAWA’s century-long dedication to ensuring women artists receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve. I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplish together.