Women to Watch 2027: A Book Arts Revolution (NMWA)

WASHINGTON, DC | Women to Watch 2027: A Book Arts Revolution, on view at NMWA from April to August 2027, will be a dynamic exploration of contemporary artists’ books: works of art in book form. Artists’ books can appear in a wide variety of formats and materials, encompassing innovative uses of paper and print, sculptural works, and much more. This exhibition encourages audiences to rethink the nature of book arts by challenging assumptions about the medium and featuring works that combine approaches and techniques.

The exhibition coincides with NMWA’s 40th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Women to Watch series, which supports the careers of women and nonbinary artists across regional and international art scenes. The 16 featured regions in 2027 include Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Greater Kansas City Area, Massachusetts, Mid-Atlantic Region, New York, Ohio, San Francisco/Northern California, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming in the U.S.; and Italy, Japan, South Asia, and the United Kingdom abroad. In honor of the anniversary, a dynamic slate of programming will celebrate past and current Women to Watch participants.

From each of NMWA’s 16 national and international committees, Curator Tia Blassingame will select the artists and work will be included in the 2027 exhibition in Washington, D.C.

About Tia Blassingame:
The proprietor of Primrose Press, Tia is a book artist, printmaker, and scholar whose work examines the intersection of race, history, and material culture through artists’ books and print media. She is Associate Professor of Art at Scripps College, where she teaches letterpress printing and book arts and serves as director of Scripps College Press. Blassingame is the founder of the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective, an initiative that fosters collaboration and engagement among BIPOC artists and scholars of book history and print culture.

About Liaison Curator Elizabeth Ajunwa:
Elizabeth Ajunwa is the director of NMWA’s Library and Research Center. Since joining the institution in 2022, she has served as curator for the museum’s book arts acquisitions.