In March 2025, The New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMC) and Turner Carroll Gallery collaborated to host a world-class, professionally juried exhibition of New Mexico women artists.
Three jurors reviewed artwork submitted by 172 women-identifying artists who are residents of New Mexico and members of the NMC registry. From this impressive pool, 33 were selected for the exhibition from cities around the state including Taos, Santa Fe, Estancia, Las Vegas, Madrid, Jaconita, Cerrillos, Farmington, Medanales and Las Cruces. With over 400 attendees at the opening, this was one of our most successful exhibitions yet!
Over 400 attendees at the March 25, 2025 opening of the exhibition
The jurors included Tonya Turner Carroll, art historian, curator, and co-founder of Turner Carroll Gallery and [CONTAINER] in Santa Fe, Marisa Sage, director of the NMSU University Art Museum, and Barbara Stafford, Ph.D. art historian, writer, curator, and speaker.
This project has been a long-time vision of art lover, collector, and NMC board member Roddie Harris. “It has been my dream that our member artists are celebrated for their work and acknowledged for their important role in both the NMC and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC,” she stated.
Regarding the exhibition, Carroll says, “All three jurors were very impressed with the quality of the artwork submitted by the extraordinary women artists in New Mexico. Now, more than ever, their voices need to be heard, and their works need to be seen by larger audiences. Most recent reporting still shows that works by women artists make up only 11% of artworks in museum permanent collections, and that works by women artists remain undervalued compared to their male counterparts. This exhibition marks a celebration of these artists’ skills, and an excellent opportunity for contemporary art collectors to acquire artworks selected by a team of curators and art historians at a hugely favorable acquisition cost. I’m excited to be part of this project.”
Marisa Sage, reflecting on her experience jurying The New City of Ladies says, “As a dedicated supporter of New Mexico’s arts community and the talented artists I admire, I’ve been over the moon to discover even more local female artists through the jurying process open to all NMC Artist Registry members. After spending time with the remarkable works of these women artists, I’m eager to see their pieces come together at Turner Carroll Gallery in Santa Fe and to meet them in person to learn more about their practices. My heartfelt thanks to the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts for selecting me to be part of this incredible event and to the phenomenally talented artists who applied.”
The NMC was established in 1997 to support the mission of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, and to bring recognition to the achievements of New Mexico women artists in the visual, digital, performance, and literary arts. The NMC engages NM women artists and allies with respect, inclusion, support, empowerment, and creativity. Through various programs, it empowers women artists of New Mexico by amplifying their voices, celebrating their achievements, and recognizing how they enrich our lives. We believe in the importance of amplifying these voices and invite you to be part of this journey.
Dr. Stafford, commented on her experience as a jury member, “This riveting inaugural exhibition—launched by the New Mexico State Committee—transcended my Santa Fe newcomer’s expectations for the seriousness and complexity of the art created in this state. Not only did the surprising number of artists’ submissions demonstrate breadth and depth, but a keen eye for thought-provoking subject matter coupled with incisive execution in multiple media. Here’s hoping this exciting initiative turns into a future biennial!”
Karine Swenson, Showtime, 2024, encaustic on panel, 30 x 30″
The New City of Ladies serves as both an awareness-raising event and a fundraiser for the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Its mission is to uplift New Mexico women artists by increasing awareness of the incredible female artistic talents in the state and helping the world discover their exceptional work.
Dr. Stafford, commented on her experience as a jury member, “This riveting inaugural exhibition—launched by the New Mexico State Committee—transcended my Santa Fe newcomer’s expectations for the seriousness and complexity of the art created in this state. Not only did the surprising number of artists’ submissions demonstrate breadth and depth, but a keen eye for thought-provoking subject matter coupled with incisive execution in multiple media. Here’s hoping this exciting initiative turns into a future biennial!”
The New City of Ladies serves as both an awareness-raising event and a fundraiser for the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Its mission is to uplift New Mexico women artists by increasing awareness of the incredible female artistic talents in the state and helping the world discover their exceptional work.
We invite you to join us in pursuing cultural preservation and artistic exploration. When you support Turner Carroll Gallery, you’re not just purchasing art; you’re helping to shape the legacy of contemporary art for future generations. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Together, we can continue to amplify the voices of artists who will inspire those who come after us.
If you are interested in previewing any of the works in the exhibition, please get in touch with us at info@turnercarrollgallery.com or call 505-986-9800 for additional information on the artist you are interested in.
10% of all proceeds will support the New Mexico State Committee National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Artists in the exhibition: Leigh Oviatt, Jan Marie Sessler, Karine Swenson, Elizabeth Buckley, Andrea Pichaida, Janet O’Neal, Jennifer Nehrbass, Katie O’Sullivan, Suzanne Kane, Kim Eubank, Kathleen McCloud, Carol Meiraben, Aleya Hoerlein, Nicole Merkens, Mira Burack, Sheryl Zacharia, Nina Glaser, Diane Marsh, Nilu Amirazimi, Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, Sharon Brush, Victoria Rabinowe, Linda Barlow, Salome Jaffe, Marianne Hall, Marietta Leis, Christina Hall-Strauss, Kelly Eckel, Kimberly Reed-Deemer, Kate Rivers, Linda Mae Tratechaud, Ellen Koment, Lucy Lyon
Author: Sophie Carroll