Project for Empty Space celebrated its 15th anniversary with the annual Badass Art Woman Awards at the Angel Orensanz Foundation in Manhattan. The event honored Dr. Deborah Willis, Ebony L. Haynes, and Helen Toomer, and featured performances by Mia X, Marcy De Pina, and Armana Khan, with a crowd of artists, curators, and scholars including Mickalene Thomas, Derrick Adams, and Legacy Russell.
The awards highlight diverse professions in the art world—teaching, curation, writing, and advocacy—and underscore Project for Empty Space's decade-plus commitment to supporting artists in New York and New Jersey through exhibitions, residencies, and studio programs. The gathering of influential women and their nominees reflects the organization's role in fostering community and recognizing transformative work across the visual arts.