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Celebrating Women Artists: Stories, Practices, and Perspectives

This Women’s History Month, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) invites visitors to explore the work of women artists whose practices challenge narratives, center community, and celebrate the diversity of experiences as women. Through painting, photography, and mixed media, these artists expand how we see and understand the world, offering new perspectives on identity, culture, and creativity.

1. Elsie Palmer Payne | The Blues in the Night (1941) |📍Gallery of California Art

Elsie Palmer Payne, The Blues in the Night, 1941. Oil on canvas. Art Acquisition Fund. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.

Elsie Palmer Payne’s evocative painting captures mood and emotion with bold brushwork and intimate storytelling. Her work explores everyday life while elevating personal and communal experience, highlighting the resilience and expression of women across generations.

2. Hung Liu | Still Point (1998) |📍Gallery of California Art

Hung Liu, Still Point, 1998. Oil on canvas. Acquired through the funds provided by the Collectors Gallery. ©The Hung Liu Estate/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.

Hung Liu’s paintings often reinterpret historical images, emphasizing stories that have been marginalized. Still Point reflects her distinctive approach, blending memory, cultural history, and meticulous technique to engage viewers with the nuances of personal and collective identity.

3. Tanya Aguiñiga | Museoexclusion Exorcism (2022) |📍Gallery of California Art

Tanya Aguiñiga, Museoexclusion Exorcism, 2022. Mixed media textile. Courtesy of Tanya Aguiñiga and Volume Gallery, partial gift purchased with Art Deaccession Funds. © Tanya Aguiñiga. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.

Through textile and mixed media, Tanya Aguiñiga addresses questions of belonging, exclusion, and cultural memory. Her work invites reflection on social structures and the ways women navigate, resist, and transform their communities through art.

4. Carrie Mae Weems | Untitled (Two Women at Table) (#2448)(1990) |📍Gallery of California Art

Carrie Mae Weems, Untitled (Two Women at Table) (#2448), 1990. Gelatin silver print. Gift of the Estate of Marjorie Eaton by exchange. © Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.

Carrie Mae Weems captures intimate human interactions and the dynamics of gender, race, and identity. Her photography encourages viewers to reflect on relationships, history, and the lived experiences of women navigating complex social worlds.

5. Renée Leann Castro-Ring (Lisjan band of the Ohlone Tribe) | Rinihmu Pulte’irekne (2025) | 📍Great Hall, Good Fire: Tending Native Lands

Renée Leann Castro-Ring, Rinihmu Pulte’irekne, 2025. Mixed media triptych. Courtesy of the artist and Oakland Museum of California.

Renée Leann Castro-Ring’s work bridges contemporary and Indigenous artistic practices. Through her triptych, she foregrounds Native women’s knowledge, storytelling, and connection to land, expanding understanding of California’s cultural landscape.

By exploring these works, visitors can reflect on the creativity, resilience, and diverse perspectives of women artists who continue to shape California’s cultural landscape. OMCA invites everyone to celebrate Women’s History Month by engaging with these powerful artworks, learning the stories behind them, and considering the ways women’s voices and experiences enrich our understanding of art and community.

Plan your visit to the galleries today