American Women Artists, or AWA, is a national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, celebrating, and advancing women in the visual fine arts by providing the professional tools needed to succeed in today’s art world. Since 1991, AWA has helped women artists overcome long-standing barriers and build careers equivalent to their male counterparts with initiatives like 25 in 25, which aims to secure 25 museum exhibitions for women artists in 25 years. 

What makes AWA different is that we don’t just advocate for space—we build it. AWA is the only organization offering women artists annual museum exhibitions, direct financial support, and an annual symposium that provides inspiration, education, and fellowship. Through participation in exhibitions, artists advance in membership status while gaining professional credentials, increased exposure, sales opportunities, and eligibility for financial awards. Each year, AWA distributes over $40,000 in awards directly to artists. AWA offers opportunities for continuous growth and meaningful engagement. We believe that a rising tide lifts all boats, and together we are creating that tide. 

AWA partners with leading U.S. museums, including the Tucson Museum of Art, Haggin Museum, Rockwell Museum, and Booth Museum of Western Art, among others to expand institutional representation for women artists. When AWA launched 25 in 25, less than 5% of works in U.S. museum collections were by women, a stark reminder that women’s voices had been overlooked not due to a lack of talent, but because of generations of limited access to education, exhibition space, patronage, and institutional support. Today, that number has risen to 13%—real progress, though much work remains. Women’s art still accounts for less than 10% of auction sales, and women artists continue to earn only 66 to 80 cents for every dollar earned by their male peers. 

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