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Spring 2026 | Member Update
From the desk of Lorna Meyer Calas, SFA President
I’m so proud of the progress made by SFA for NMWA since our humble beginnings approximately ten years ago. We have grown from a small group of dedicated women to a 2026 membership of 60 women supporting emerging women artists in Northern California and the museum in Washington DC. Our exciting educational program enhances our knowledge of not only contemporary artists but of courageous women artists of the past who are now being more fully recognized. We all have a debt of gratitude to pay to our events committee for the incredible experiences they have organized for us and to our Secretary, Lisa Lubliner, for designing our website and sending our online invitations.
Our philanthropic contributions and our extraordinary events are a testament to the quality of our group and the relationships we have established with important Bay Area institutions who host and support us. Please mark your calendars for April 16th for our private visit and tour at the Asian Art Museum. It is our group’s first visit to the museum, and it is certain to be a day to remember.
As part of our continuing support of NMWA, our group provided a sponsorship for the exhibition Making Their Mark highlighting the Bay Area’s Shah/Garg collection of contemporary women artists working in abstraction. In addition to contributing to this exhibition, we hope to continue to assist the museum by purchasing work by our regional “Women to Watch” artists for the museum’s collection.
It will be an exciting September for us as we present a Book Arts exhibition, curated by Anthea Black, featuring our “Women to Watch 2027” candidates at the CCA Campus Gallery. The gallery is under the directorship of our own Jaime Austin, and we are all grateful to her for all she has done to make our exhibitions possible.
Please make a note that the museum will celebrate their 40th Anniversary next year along with the 20th Anniversary of “Women to Watch.” There will be a host of exciting activities along with the exhibition A Book Arts Revolution where one of our current artist candidates will be selected to show her work. Please stay tuned for further information as we decide how our group can participate in the festivities in Washington DC.
Warmly,
Lorna
NMWA NEWS
NMWA announces the retirement of
Director Susan Fisher Sterling
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) has announced that Susan Fisher Sterling, the Alice West Director, will retire at the end of 2026 after nearly four decades of service to the institution. Sterling joined the museum in 1988 as an associate curator, became Director in 2008, and has played a transformative role in shaping NMWA into a globally respected museum dedicated to championing women through the arts.
During her 18-year directorship, Sterling oversaw significant growth, including expanding the museum's collection to more than 6,000 works by over 1,500 artists, organizing major exhibitions, launching influential initiatives such as #5WomenArtists, and leading the museum's $67.5 million renovation, completed in 2023. She also strengthened NMWA's international partnerships and helped advance the global conversation around gender equity in the arts.
Sterling will retire on December 31, 2026, and will remain as a consultant during the leadership transition. The Board of Trustees has begun a search for the museum's next director as NMWA prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027.
W2W Artists Making Headlines
June 2026
San Francisco Advocacy for the National Museum of Women in the Arts is delighted to celebrate recent milestones for two Women to Watch artists.
Rhonda Holberton Featured on PBS NewsHour
Rhonda Holberton, a participant in SFA's 2018 Women to Watch exhibition Stardust to Steel (Heavy Metal), was recently featured in a national PBS NewsHour segment highlighting Motherboards, currently on view at the San José Museum of Art.
Link to PBS segment (segment begins at 36:15)
Lava Thomas at the Obama Presidential Center
Installation is underway for Lava Thomas's Resistance Reverb, Movement 1, at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Learn more about Resistance Reverb, Movement 1
Thomas participated in SFA's 2020 Women to Watch exhibition Surfacing Histories, Sculpting Memories (Paper Routes). We are thrilled to see her work included in this landmark cultural institution.
We are proud to celebrate these achievements and the continued impact of artists whose work we have had the privilege to champion through Women to Watch.
Congratulations to Rhonda Holberton and Lava Thomas.
In Case You Missed It...
Susan Fisher Sterling Celebration
July 10 | de Young Museum
SFA members gathered at the de Young Museum to celebrate Susan Fisher Sterling and her remarkable forty years of leadership at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The day featured a private tour of Nengi Omuku: The Gathering with Claudia Schmuckli, presentations by Abram Jackson and Emma Acker, and a celebratory luncheon in the historic Piazzoni Murals Room where chapter leaders and Women to Watch artists reflected on Susan's lasting impact on our community.
In Cahoots Residency + Studio Visit
May 20 | Petaluma, CA
Members enjoyed a memorable visit to In Cahoots Residency + Studio, hosted by Women to Watch 2027 nominee Macy Chadwick. Nestled in the Petaluma countryside, the residency offered a welcome change of pace and an inspiring glimpse into a thriving creative community.
Macy shared the story behind the residency, her commitment to mentorship and artistic exchange, and the deeply personal inspiration for her artist's book Diary of Open Water. Members also met resident artists Laura Emeritz, Sue March, and Ching-In Chen, gaining insight into their practices and the collaborative spirit that defines In Cahoots.
The afternoon was a reminder that meaningful conversations, shared creative experiences, and genuine human connection remain at the heart of artistic practice.
Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries
April 16 | Asian Art Museum
Members gathered at the Asian Art Museum for a private tour of Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries, led by Chief Curator Dr. Robert Mintz. His thoughtful insights into Shiota's exploration of memory, displacement, identity, and human connection enriched an already powerful exhibition, offering members a deeper understanding of the artist's work and process.
Following the tour, members enjoyed time together in the Donor Lounge, where remarks by Dr. Soyoung Lee provided a glimpse into the museum's future vision. The morning offered a meaningful opportunity for reflection, conversation, and a shared appreciation of one of the year's most compelling exhibitions.
Now on View
Adia Millet (WtW 2024)
Some Particular Heaven: Ideas of Utopia
BAMPFA
Group Exhibition
August 5-July 11 2027
Sandra Ono (WtW 2020)
The Shape of Thought
Marin MOCA
Group Show
May 16 - August 30, 2026
Slow Light
WI Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
Group Show
June 4 - August 16, 2026
Kate Laster (WtW 2027)
Mourning Pages
The Fourth Wall Gallery
Solo Exhibition
July 18 - Sept 3
Katherine Vetne (WtW 2018)
The Armory Show
Javitz Center, NYC
Solo Exhibition
September 24 -27
Rhonda Holberton (WtW 2018)
Motherboards
San Jose Museum of Art
Group Exhibition
April 10, 2026 – January 10, 2027
US Artists + Knight Foundation Art & Tech Fellowship
Awardee
2026
Davina Semo (WtW 2018)
Tender Shield
Benton Museum of Art
Solo Exhibition
August 22, 2026 – June 27, 2027
Lava Thomas (WtW 2020)
Resistance Reverb, Movement, 1
Obama Presidential Center
Permanent Installation
Julia Goodman (WtW 2020)
Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity
Ranch Studios Artist Residency
Petaluma, California
August 2026
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Recent Media Features
Julia Goodman (W2W 2020)
Art is Awesome | Podcast
Julia discusses paper-making from recycled fabrics, teaching at CCA, and her evolving practice connecting material, memory, and motherhood.
🎧 Listen →
Vivian Sming (W2W 2027)
In Stock | Magazine article
Founder and publisher Vivian Sming discusses the resurgence of independent publishing, the importance of handmade books, and building Sming Sming Books as an artist-led press.
📰 Read →
Rhonda Holberton (WtW 2018)
PBS NewsHour | Television Interview
Featured in PBS NewsHour's CANVAS series, Rhonda discusses her sculpture Collateral Influences, created for Motherboards at the San José Museum of Art, and reflects on the intersections of technology, history, and the overlooked contributions of women to computing.
📺 Watch →
(segment begins at 36:15)
On Our Shelf
SFA for NMWA Publication
REUNITED: Bay Area Women to Watch Candidates 2018–2024 | Exhibition Catalog
Published in conjunction with the 2025 REUNITED exhibition, this catalog documents the work of the twelve Bay Area Women to Watch artists selected between 2018 and 2024. Featuring twelve original essays, the publication celebrates the artists and the continuing commitment of SFA's Women to Watch program.
Publisher: California College of the Arts
Learn More →
Davina Semo (W2W 2018)
A Gathering of Bells | Catalog
Published in conjunction with Davina Semo's recent body of bell sculptures, A Gathering of Bells documents a significant chapter in the artist's evolving practice. Featuring essays and installation photography, the publication explores Semo's innovative use of sound, sculpture, and public space.
Publisher: SCAD Museum of Art
Learn more →
Lava Thomas (W2W 20)
Homecoming | Monograph
Published by Sming Sming Books, Homecoming is the first monograph devoted to Lava Thomas's work. Produced in conjunction with her exhibition, the volume features essays by leading scholars and explores Thomas's investigations of memory, history, and social justice through sculpture and installation.
Publisher: Sming Sming Books
Learn More →
Image Credits
•Susan Fisher Sterling Portrait by Lexey Sewall