Anthology Film Archives

Film Screenings / Programs / Series

ANONYMOUS WAS A WOMAN

April 16 – May 29

In 1996, artist and philanthropist Susan Unterberg founded the Anonymous Was A Woman (AWAW) award, making a simple, yet radical commitment to redress the lack of institutional support for visual artists who are women over the age of 40. She sought to provide mid-career artists with the means to procure workspace, art supplies, childcare, or whatever else they needed to further their artistic careers. For the past two and a half decades, AWAW has provided unrestricted grants of at least $25,000 to ten or more artists each year.

Showcasing work by a selection of awardees from AWAW’s first 25 years (1996 through 2020), the Grey Art Museum’s exhibition explores several themes surrounding anonymity and, ultimately, celebrates the transformative impact women artists have made on contemporary art since the award’s founding. The range of artists featured in the exhibition demonstrates the demographic and aesthetic diversity of past awardees.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Anthology will host several screenings showcasing moving-image work by selected AWAW-awarded artists. These screenings will take place throughout April and May, with programs focusing on artists and filmmakers Beth B (1999 AWAW award recipient), Lynn Hershman Leeson (2014 AWAW award recipient), Michèle Stephenson (AWAW 2018), Laura Poitras (AWAW 2010), and Eve Sussman (AWAW 2010).

Guest curated by Nancy Princenthal and Vesela Stretenović, the exhibition “Anonymous Was A Woman: The First 25 Years” will be on view at NYU’s Grey Art Museum from April 1 to July 19, 2025. For more info, click here.
Special thanks to Leah Sweet (Grey Art Museum); Nancy Princenthal; Vesela Stretenović; Beth B; Lynn Hershman Leeson; Laura Poitras; and George Schmalz (Kino Lorber); Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster, and Karem Orrego (Rada Collaborative); and Eve Sussman.

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