Female artists have historically received the short end of the stick in the art world. And that’s not wholly changing. A recent New York Times article noted that the 100 top-selling artists globally at auction in 2023 contained only 11 women. But in recent years, museums and galleries have been more intentional about showcasing the work of female and BIPOC artists, so the work is at least getting out there more, if not catching up equally in sales. 

Embark on a journey of discovery at these groundbreaking 2024 museum shows, featuring a diverse array of female painters, sculptors, and photographers. This is not just an opportunity to find your new favorite artist, but a chance to be part of a historical shift in the art world. 

“Sandra Vásquez de la Horra: The Awake Volcanoes” at Denver Art Museum

Through July 21

This is the first solo show in the U.S. for Chilean artist Vásquez de la Horra, who recently also exhibited at the 2022 Venice Biennale. The exhibition showcases the artist’s paintings, prints, and drawings, probing the relationship between the body (primarily the female body) and the world around it. In many instances, the bodies depicted blend with the landscape they’re set into, begging the question: is the volcano the landscape or the woman?

Mercedes Dorame: Woshaa’axre Yaang’aro (Looking Back)“ at the J. Paul Getty Museum

Through July 28

Mercedes Dorame, a Los Angeles-based artist and a member of the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California, brings a unique perspective to her work. Her art is a profound exploration of how people position themselves in relation to the land they inhabit, a theme that resonates deeply at the Getty Center, where you can experience her unique vision. 

The window offers views of the Pacific Ocean and the traditional Pimugna. Her large-scale sculptural and painted Tongva island od works, the first “Rotunda Commission” at the Getty, explore the coastline that has been an essential cultural resource for Native inhabitants for generations.

“Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective“ at the Chicago Institute of Art

Through August 11

Ramberg (1946-1995) last had a comprehensive museum exhibition at least 30 years ago. In this retrospective at the Chicago Institute of Art, more than 100 of her works are on display. Ramberg, associated with the Chicago Imagist movement, is best known for her cropped, stylized paintings of female bodies: a torso in lingerie, a hand holding a tissue, a lock of hair. These works speak to the dynamic between women, their bodies, and the public gaze. The exhibition also features some of her later, more abstract pieces.

“Firelei Báez” at the ICA Boston

Through September 2

Curator Eva Respini has dubbed Báez one of the great artists of our time, and this exhibition showcases a broad swath of mid-career artists’ work. Focusing primarily on painting, with some drawings and installations included as well, Báez’s work probes the historical narratives of the Atlantic basin, including her native Dominican Republic. With lush greenery, fluid female bodies, and layers of fantasy and symbolism, Báez unravels the enforced colonial narratives, the African diasporic folklore, and the anthropology and geography of the region.

“LaToya Ruby Frazier: Monuments of Solidarity“ at MoMA

Through September 7 

LaToya Ruby Frazier is an artist and activist in photography, performance, and moving images. She’s best known for “The Notion of Family,“ an intimate photographic portrayal of her family in Braddock, Pennsylvania, where she found working-class Black families were not represented. The survey exhibition at MoMA includes some of these photographs and works that turn her camera outward toward other similarly marginalized communities.