The Canton Museum of Art in Ohio is presenting 'Shattered Glass: The Women Who Elevated American Art,' an exhibition running from November 25, 2025, through March 1, 2026. Curated by Christy Davis and Kaleigh Pisani, the show spans all museum galleries and features over 120 works by 76 female American artists from the 1780s to the present day. Highlights include Audrey Flack's 1977 photorealist painting 'Marilyn,' still-life trompe-l'oeil works by Claude Hirst (born Claudine in 1855), Sister Corita Kent's 'Circus Alphabet' print series, and a photograph of Lee Miller in Adolf Hitler's abandoned apartment. The exhibition aims to spotlight underrecognized women who persevered despite barriers in the art world.
This exhibition matters because it directly confronts the historical omission of women from mainstream art history, using the 'glass ceiling' metaphor to frame the systemic challenges female artists have faced. By presenting a broad chronological range and diverse media—from 18th-century painting to 20th-century pop art and photography—the show offers a corrective narrative that emphasizes quality and resilience over gender bias. It also serves as a regional cultural event for Ohio audiences, reinforcing the role of mid-sized museums in advancing inclusive art historical scholarship.