The New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) is presenting the Sue Werner Thoresen Juried Exhibition at its Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, opening May 1, 2026. The show features 73 artists whose works explore the experiences of women, girls, and gender-diverse people, inspired by the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation’s Status of Women in New Hampshire report. Themes include education, healthcare, economic opportunity, caregiving, safety, representation, and societal expectations, with attention to intersections of race, class, ability, sexuality, geography, and access to resources. The exhibition is held in memory of Sue Werner Thoresen (1944–2024), a longtime advocate for community well-being and gender equity, and includes awards in her honor.
This exhibition matters because it brings a timely, socially engaged focus to a regional art venue, using visual art as a platform for dialogue about gender equity and systemic challenges in New Hampshire. By honoring Thoresen’s legacy of advocacy and philanthropy, the show connects contemporary artistic practice with grassroots civic leadership, highlighting how local art institutions can address pressing social issues and foster community reflection.