National Museum of Women in the Arts Reopens After $67.5 Million Renovation

Inaugural Sculpture Show Signals Museum's Renewed Aim to Promote Women in the Arts

The National Museum of Women in the Arts, first opened in 1987, has reopened following a two-year, $67.5 million renovation which has significantly updated the formerly wedge-shaped 1908 structure originally built as a Masonic Temple.
The renovation resulted in increased gallery space by 2,500 square feet, improved educational spaces, and a system for hanging art from the ceiling, which solves an issue with displaying larger works in the former galleries.
Additionally, the museum now features better art storage, improved lighting and climate control, enhanced digital technology, and improved access for the disabled.
The museum's 6,000 works by 1,500 artists are now displayed thematically, rather than chronologically, which has been met with criticism regarding the treatment of older and historical art.
The museum's reopening exhibitions include 'The Sky’s the Limit,' which features a range of sculptures, many of which are suspended from the ceiling, including works by artists Rina Banerjee, Sonya Clark, Petah Coyne, Alison Saar and Yuriko Yamaguchi.
Despite an improved presentation of female artists in mainstream museums, the National Museum of Women in the Arts continues to face the challenge of defining its role in promoting and studying art by women.