15 Women-Led Art Shows to See in New York This Fall

As the curtains close on New York Fashion Week, an abundance of awe-inspiring artistic events led by women beckons for your attention, transforming your schedule into a haven of creativity and beauty.

Instead of endless scrolling online, take a moment for long, leisurely strolls through art spaces to savor these exceptional exhibitions.

In the striking waterside Victorian cottage that once belonged to photographer Alice Austen (1866–1952) and her partner, Gertrude Tate, a captivating group exhibition delves into the bond between lesbian artists and water. This exhibit curated by Gemma Rose-Bentley features notable talents such as Jenna Gribbon, Meryl Meisler, Joan E. Biren, and the iconic Austen herself.

Exhibition on view through February 21.

Sasha Gordon engages viewers with her intriguing work that often hovers between reality and surrealism. Hyperrealistic self-portraits are surprisingly juxtaposed with absurd backdrops, like a serene figure robustly clipping her toenails in a park while an explosive volcano looms in the background, creating an environment charged with discomfort yet striking beauty.

Exhibition runs from September 25 through November 1.

Los Angeles-based June Edmonds expresses her identity through vibrant colors and patterns that explore sacred geometry while reflecting on Black history. Her debut major solo exhibition in New York, titled The Sky Remains the Same, draws inspiration from the ebe-amẻn symbol from the Kingdom of Benin.

On view through October 25.

A significant retrospective of the late pioneer, June Leaf—whose expressive sculptures and dynamic drawings have left a profound influence on feminist art—has made its way to NYU’s Grey Art Museum after debuting at Phillips Academy Andover’s Addison Gallery. Although widely overshadowed by her husband, Robert Frank, Leaf’s artistic legacy deserves equal recognition. “Creating something is one thing; enlightening the world to see it is another,” she reflected.

Exhibition open through December 13.

With a title suggestive of rhythmic nuances, Karen Barbour’s solo exhibition Brainwaves and Wavestorms captivates viewers with entrancing pieces like Superlunary Landscape, where vibrant repetition creates an immersive visual experience that offers a new perspective both up close and from a distance.

Exhibition available through October 2.

Myth and memory interlace within the vivid works of Colombia-born María Berrío in her inaugural solo exhibition, Soliloquy of the Wounded Earth. Her grand-scale pieces blend watercolor, collage, and immersive worlds, inviting viewers into enchanting narratives.

Open through October 18.

Sissi Farassat, based in Vienna, presents a unique perspective in her latest series Revelation, where she utilizes glamorous, vintage portraits of unknown women, partially obscuring features to highlight the forgotten narratives of female identity, ensuring absence reveals strength.

On view through October 18.

For over fifty years, revered photographer Graciela Iturbide’s lens has documented Mexico’s Indigenous communities with an unparalleled intimacy that speaks to her deep connection and respect for her subjects and their environments.

Exhibition runs from October 16 through January 12.

Danielle Kosann’s captivating works burst with vibrant colors and enchanting detail, reflecting a modern evolution of Florine Stettheimer’s joyous spirit; her pieces such as You Still Haven’t Met All of the People Who Are Going to Love You promise to delight and inspire, particularly during the exhibition’s opening, which will celebrate her vision with a unique food installation by Allison Jacks.

Available from September 25 through October 9.

Somali-born artist Uman invites viewers into her kaleidoscopic realms filled with intricate geometric patterns, vibrant colors, and surreal forms that transport the audience into a dreamlike meditative experience.

Exhibition on view from October 30 through December 17.

Elizabeth Glaessner at P•P•O•W

The haunting figures in Elizabeth Glaessner’s paintings seem caught in a liminal space, striking an unsettling balance between life and death. Her works like Hot Spring and Out of Body evoke beauty and eeriness simultaneously.

Exhibition runs through October 18.

Inspired by Monica Sjöö’s 1987 work, The Great Cosmic Mother, Emma Kohlmann delves into themes of femininity and nature through her watercolors, emphasizing a grid-like arrangement of organic motifs that asks for quiet contemplation.

Open through October 4.

Pamela Hanson’s work captures a pivotal era in fashion photography—celebrating the friendships and authentic moments shared with vibrant fashion icons of the ’90s, resulting in a unique candidness that resonates deeply and stylishly with viewers.

Exhibition on view through November 8.

Each piece from the Brazil-born, Brooklyn-based multimedia artist explores a seamless blend of various materials—oil, plastic, and fabric—forming an intricate “ecosystem of pieces” renowned for its rich, tactile abstractions that are hard to look away from.

Exhibition available through October 18.

Artist and composer Amy Sheffer has long embraced her body, voice, and canvas as instruments of artistic exploration. Since the late 1960s, inspired by her experiences with LSD therapy, her work oscillates between dream-like states and reality.

Exhibition continues through October 25.