04/07/2026
To create is often an act of survival; for the Black woman, it is an act of revolution.
WOMEN CREATE | SPACE. GRACE. POWER. is more than an exhibition title—it is a foundational truth. This collection gathers the voices of thirteen creative women who navigate the complexities of identity, memory, and grace through a diverse array of media.
From the historic, monumental legacies of ELIZABETH CATLETT, ARTIS LANE, and SAMELLA LEWIS to the ethereal, whisper-thin silverpoint of MARJORIE WILLIAMS-SMITH, the works on these walls do not merely occupy space; they command it. The exhibition weaves a temporal thread through the Black feminine experience. We see it in the layered narratives of PHOEBE BEASLEY’s collages and the profound, soul-stirring portraiture of LOUISE MANDUMBWA.
This story is further grounded by the documentary power of EBONY BLEVINS and the tender, cinematic storytelling of NINA ROBINSON, whose photographs serve as vital archives of contemporary life and legacy. There is a rhythmic pulse found in the vibrant palettes of THERESA CATES and ERICA DUNLAP, balanced by the meticulous observations and textured stories of ALICE AIDA AYERS, ANYTA THOMAS, and PAULA ROGERS.
In the heart of Little Rock, a city with its own deep-set histories of resistance and beauty, these artists offer a sanctuary of reflection. Their hands transform clay, pigment, light, and metal into mirrors. They challenge the viewer to look beyond the surface of “craft” and into the depth of “being.” Women Create celebrates the lineage of the Black woman as the original architect of culture. It honors the quiet moments of the studio, the decisive click of the shutter, and the loud declarations of the spirit.
Here, creativity is not a hobby—it is a birthright, a testimony, and a gift.
See “WOMEN CREATE | SPACE. GRACE. POWER: A Multimedia Survey of Thirteen Black Women Artists” NOW through June 13, 2026 at 1001 Wright Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas and/or online at www.hearnefineart.com
