Imagine a time when the societal constraints in America felt stifling, particularly for ambitious women. Now, picture a vibrant city across the Atlantic, beckoning with promises of independence, artistic freedom, and the chance to reinvent oneself. This was Paris in the early 20th century, a city that became a sanctuary and an incubator for a remarkable generation of American women. A groundbreaking exhibition, “Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900 – 1939,” celebrates these trailblazing figures, offering an intimate glimpse into their lives, their art, and their profound impact on modern culture.
Why Paris? A Quest for Freedom and Identity. During the first four decades of the 20th century, American women made crucial contributions to the vibrant creative scene in Paris. They were drawn by a strong desire for independence, crossing the Atlantic to pursue personal and professional ambitions in a city widely seen as the epicenter of modernity. Paris offered an escape from the prejudices and societal limitations they faced in the United States, providing the freedom to blaze new trails and experiment with their art and identities. Here, “unorthodox women” could thrive and fully embrace their multiply marginalized identities, paving the way for modernist movements and expanding possibilities for women back home.
The exhibition features portraits of approximately 65 to over 85 remarkable women, presented in a variety of mediums. These include iconic figures such as Josephine Baker: The dazzling dancer and activist, Isadora Duncan: The pioneering dancer, Zelda Fitzgerald: A prominent figure in literature and the arts, Loïs Mailou Jones: An influential artist, Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Anaïs Nin: A celebrated diarist and author, Gertrude Stein: A pivotal figure in modernism, known for her salon and writings, Ethel Waters: A renowned singer and actress, Anna May Wong: An acclaimed actress. Other notable women include Sylvia Beach (the pioneering publisher who printed Ulysses), Natalie Clifford Barney, Elsie de Wolfe, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and Ada “Bricktop” Smith (the jazz-era club owner and cultural connector).
These women defied conventions and excelled in diverse fields, including art, literature, design, publishing, music, fashion, journalism, theater, and dance.
A central theme of “Brilliant Exiles” is the dynamic role of portraiture in articulating the refashioned sense of self and the new conceptions of modern female identity that emerged from these women’s experiences in Parisian life. The exhibition highlights how these women redefined traditional notions of female identity, paving the way for a new visual language that reflected their evolving selves. As Nelda Damiano, the Georgia Museum of Art’s Pierre Daura Curator of European Art, states, “Portraits have always been a great way to reveal, or construct, one’s identity… These artists were able to present themselves to the world however they saw fit.
The exhibition features works by acclaimed artists such as Berenice Abbott, Louise Heron Blair, Tsuguharu Foujita, Anne Goldthwaite, Loïs Mailou Jones, Isamu Noguchi, Man Ray, Anne Estelle Rice, Augusta Savage, and Edward Steichen14. Specific artworks include Luigi Lucioni’s “Ethel Waters” (1939), Ethel Mars’ “Woman with a Monkey” (1908), Marion Beckett’s “Theresa Helburn” (1922), Louise Heron Blair’s “Self-portrait” (1929), Celine Tabary’s “Loïs Mailou Jones” (ca. 1940), Michel Gyarmathy’s “Josephine Baker” (1936), and Frances Cranmer Greenman’s “Self-Portrait” (1923)12…. Visitors can expect an immersive visual experience, with photographs, paintings, rare books, and design objects that evoke the avant-garde spirit of 1920s and ’30s Paris.
At the Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia The exhibition is organized by the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, with federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool14…. It is curated by Robyn Asleson of the National Portrait Gallery, with in-house curation by Nelda Damiano at the Georgia Museum of Art6….
• Location: Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, 90 Carlton Street, Performing and Visual Arts Complex, Athens, GA 306021….
• Dates: July 19, 2025, to November 2, 2025.
• Admission: Free to the public.
The Georgia Museum of Art is hosting a variety of related events to complement the exhibition, offering diverse ways to engage with the themes and history:
• Opening Reception: A sneak preview on July 18, 2025, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm (advance registration recommended, free for certain members, $15 for others).
• French Wine Tasting Event: With The Lark Winespace on July 31 from 5-7 p.m. ($28 per person).
• Toddler Tuesday: Brilliant Faces: On August 12 at 10:00 am – 11:00 am (registration required).
• Lecture by Robyn Asleson: “Daring to be Modern: American Women in Paris, 1900 – 1939” on August 21 at 5:30 p.m.
• Teen Studio: Slay in Overlay: On August 21 from 5:30-8 p.m. (registration required).
• Family Day: Brilliant Exiles: As part of a Community Open House on August 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (free registration).
• 1920s Fashion-Inspired Figure Drawing Open Studio: On August 28 from 6-8 p.m. (registration required).
• Film Screenings: “Midnight in Paris” on August 28 at 7 p.m. and “Coco Before Chanel” on October 16 at 7 p.m.
• Gallery Talk: American Expat Fashion in Paris: With Noel Corbin on September 10 at 2 p.m.
• Studio Workshop: Portraiture: A series of three classes on September 18, September 25, and October 2 from 6-8 p.m. (fee applies).
• Tour of the exhibition in French: On September 24 at 2 p.m.
• Homeschool Day: In Her Element: On September 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (registration required).
• Faculty Perspectives: Susan Rosenbaum: On October 8 at 2 p.00 pm.
• Student Night: On October 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Echoes of Now: The Lasting Legacy The exhibition is not just a historical retrospective; it offers clear parallels between the world these women inhabited and our own. As Nelda Damiano highlights, “This exhibition is especially relevant because what we are still witnessing is not far from what women in the early 20th century experienced” It powerfully demonstrates that women are capable of transforming societal challenges into “incredible feats of art and storytelling”.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the stories of these “convention-defying American women” who left their mark on Paris and reshaped the possibilities for women everywhere. “Brilliant Exiles” offers a compelling narrative of agency, creativity, and the enduring power of finding freedom to define oneself. We invite you to experience this insightful exhibition and be inspired by the “verve, ambition, tenacity and passion” captured within these striking portraits.
More information from the website:
For Art Nouveau private tours in Europe, visit https://artnouveau.club
The desire to abandon the historical movements of the 19th century was an important impetus behind Art Nouveau and one that establishes the movement style. Industrial production was, at that point, widespread, and yet the decorative arts were increasingly dominated by poorly-made objects imitating earlier periods. The practitioners of Art Nouveau sought to revive good workmanship, raise the status of craft, and produce genuinely modern design that reflected the utility of the items they were creating.
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