Art She Crafted presents and celebrates the ways women around the world, from ancient times to the present, have shaped art and culture. Their names are often absent from dominant art history. This exhibition brings to light the vital role women have played across all eras and continents in the development of artistic and cultural movements. It demonstrates their structural contributions to periods of cultural flourishing. In doing so, class also becomes evident: not all women had equal access to artistic opportunities or resources.
This exhibition runs from January 16 until September 27, 2026.
Guest curator Rajae El Mouhandiz selected dozens of stories, from paintings and manuscripts to textiles, fashion, design, photography, and installations. They reveal how women, despite structural exclusion, have always played an essential role as creators, patrons, collectors, donors, and innovators. The exhibition Art She Crafted invites visitors to rediscover art history through the eyes of women.
“Art She Crafted shows that women were not just subjects in art, they were its architects. This exhibition brings their stories together and celebrates a global legacy that is far older, greater, and richer than we often realize.”
The exhibition Art She Crafted weaves together different eras, countries, and art forms into one compelling story. It reveals how women around the world have played a vital role in shaping art history. Some gained opportunities to study and create through family or social networks, while others remained largely unseen or unrecognized.
Rachel Ruysch (1664–1750) became internationally renowned as a painter through her scholarly family circle. Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717) joined colonial expeditions and created groundbreaking studies combining art and natural science. In Japan, Murasaki Shikibu (ca. 973–1014/1025) found space to write at the imperial Heian court, where she authored the world’s first novel. A Japanese hanging scroll featuring her portrait is displayed in the exhibition.
Alongside these individual artists, the exhibition also highlights collective art forms such as Palestinian tatreez embroidery and Shipibo ceramics from Peru. Together, they show how generations of women, often without recognition, have preserved and passed on their knowledge, rituals, and identities.
From textiles, embroidery, and ceramics to contemporary fashion, art, and photography, Art She Crafted reveals how women have shaped art and culture throughout the centuries. From queens to activists, from independent artists to collectors, women have played a vital role at every level of artistic development.
The exhibition takes a broad and inclusive look at art history. It explores who was able to create, for whom, and under what conditions. Visitors are invited to discover a richer, more diverse, and more truthful understanding of art and culture through the eyes of women.