Abstract Expressionists: The Women

May 16, 2026
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Speed Art Museum
2035 South Third St. Louisville, KY 40208

The Speed Art Museum is proud to present Abstract Expressionists: The Women, Kentucky's first exhibition devoted to Abstract Expressionism. While we might be familiar with the story of artworks by Jackson Pollock or Willem de Kooning, this groundbreaking presentation celebrates the bold, innovative contributions of women who led the movement that transformed American art in the mid-20th century. Visitors will encounter over 30 major artists, including Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, Vivian Springford, Grace Hartigan, and Lee Krasner, experiencing their work as it was meant to be seen—up close, in person, and at full scale.
Building on the Speed's acclaimed series highlighting women artists—including Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism (2018) and Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939 (2025)—this exhibition explores post-World War II America through the 1970s, a moment of radical experimentation that led to the first truly avant-garde movement born in the United States. Visitors will explore the work of women who broke artistic conventions, redefined art, and expanded the possibilities of scale, color, and process in ways that were revolutionary for their time.
From the sweeping abstract gestures of Frankenthaler's Circus Landscape (1951) to the luminous colors of Springford's Scuba Series (1972-1984/5), each work invites reflection, sparks curiosity, and celebrates creativity, risk-taking, and perseverance. Richly illustrated and thoughtfully curated, the exhibition also includes archival photographs, historical documents, and a timeline of female artistic achievement, providing context and insight into this pivotal period.
Experience the energy, action, and emotion of Abstract Expressionism in person through the groundbreaking work of women artists, whose bold vision helped shape this uniquely American art movement and changed how we see the world. Tickets will be available soon.
Abstract Expressionists: The Women is organized by the American Federation of Arts from the Christian Levett Collection and FAMM (Female Artists of the Mougins Museum), France. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Ellen G. Landau. It is generously supported by Berry Campbell Gallery, Betsy Shack Barbanell, Monique Schoen Warshaw, and Clare McKeon and the Clare McKeon Charitable Trust. Additional support has been provided by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation and the Every Page Foundation.
The Speed Art Museum's presentation is organized by Tyler Blackwell, Curator of Contemporary Art.