Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah, California, has opened 'Look Again: Portraits of Daring Women,' an exhibit featuring woodcut and collage portraits by artist Julie Lapping Rivera. Inspired by The New York Times' 'Overlooked' series, the project highlights historically unsung women from around the world. The exhibit includes a local component with works by 15 Mendocino County artists honoring influential women in their lives. A special virtual program with Lapping Rivera and Times editor Amisha Padnani is scheduled for June 18.
The exhibit matters because it directly confronts historical gender bias in media and historical records, using visual art to restore recognition to overlooked women. By pairing Lapping Rivera's national project with local artists' tributes, the museum creates a dialogue between global and community narratives. The show also responds to contemporary concerns about discrimination, making it both a historical corrective and a timely cultural statement.