We covered Ruth Asawa’s work and the retrospective exhibition that started in San Francisco at SFMOMA and that is opening soon in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City. What we didn’t realize at the time was how big the show is. Jori Finkel points out that the Ruth Asawa Retrospective is the MOMA’s largest exhibit of works by a woman artist (by count of items). SFMOMA acknowledged the size, saying that they didn’t think about the sheer numbers. MOMA’s curator also acknowledged it, although neither museum’s promotions highlight the record-breaking size. Promotions for other exhibitions try to play up the number of pieces.
Finkel points out a couple of reasons why these museums might not want to advertise the size. Asawa was collaborative and not competitive with other artists. She would not have liked to see competitive style advertising. Finkel points out other reasons in the article, such how art world promotes women artists and art critic reactions to that “superlative” style advertising. It’s worth reading the detail in the article.
MOMA’s largest exhibit of works by a woman artist starts on October 19 and runs through February 7, 2026. After that, it moves to Spain and Switzerland.
