Mar 6 – Apr 3

New Woman

2026 Juried Exhibition

As  part of the signature programming of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center’s Nourse Gallery, CCAC is issuing a call-to-artists for the third edition of “New Woman,” a juried group exhibition and accompanying fellowship for one selected artist. CCAC’s signature first-floor gallery, named for Elizabeth Nourse (one of the earliest women artists to achieve widespread recognition and make a living as a professional painter), aims to follow Nourse’s tradition by showcasing the artwork of women artists of Cincinnati and beyond, including the the New Woman exhibition and fellowship.

One winning artist will be selected from the group show for the biennial New Woman Fellowship at CCAC, receiving a solo exhibition and honorarium in the following year. The exhibition and fellowship together serve as a platform for recognizing and supporting the creative voices of women working across media, disciplines, and stages of their careers.

Opening Reception
Friday, March 6 | 6 – 8 pm

Location
CCAC’s Gallery

Gallery Hours
Mon/Wed/Fri: 10 am – 5 pm
Tues/Thurs: 10 am – 8 pm
Sat: 10 am – 12 pm
Sun: closed

Applications for the 2026 Juried Exhibition are now open

Submission deadline is Jan 30, 2026

Open to all artists 18+ of a marginalized gender within the greater Cincinnati area. All fine art media considered. Submission does not guarantee inclusion.

Elizabeth Nourse (1859–1938) was a pioneering American painter from Mt Healthy, Cincinnati whose career embodied the spirit of artistic independence deserving the title New Woman. After studying at the McMicken School of Design (later the Art Academy of Cincinnati), she moved to Paris in 1887, where she built an international reputation as a realist painter known for her sensitive portrayals of women, working people, and rural life. Nourse supported herself entirely through her art—an extraordinary achievement for a woman of her time—and became one of the first American women admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Her work was exhibited widely in Europe and the United States, praised for its psychological depth, technical refinement, and compassionate attention to everyday subjects. Today, Elizabeth Nourse is recognized as a trailblazer whose legacy continues to inspire contemporary women artists.