Our Past and Present
Established in 1887 as the "Sketch Club", SFWA began as an independent group of women artists who met to share and critique one another's work.
In 1925, the group changed its name to the San Francisco Society of Women Artists and became the non-profit organization we know today. We changed our name again in 1946 to San Francisco Women Artists (SFWA).
For more than twenty years SFWA managed a gallery at 370 Hayes Street in San Francisco enabling our artists to exhibit in a monthly juried show. Due to changes in the economy, we closed the gallery at the end of 2001. We are most proud to now be in our new permanent gallery located at 3489 Sacramento Street.
SFWA is proud of its heritage and its successful collaboration with other local non-profit organizations. We are also proud of the many former members who have become prominent artists, including Ruth Asawa, Dorr Bothwell, Imogen Cunningham, Eleanor Dickenson, Claire Falkenstein, Jo Hansen, Emmy Lou Packard, Eleanore Rappe, Ruth Armer, Barbara Spring, Beth Van Hoesen and Dorothy Winslade.
More than an Art Gallery, SFWA is an energized and active membership organization for artists with regular juried shows. It is a non-profit organization that collaborates with other non-profit groups to support artistic endeavors through collaborative shows and events and to provide those groups with opportunities for exhibiting their artwork in a gallery venue. To date, the Jewish Community Center (Children's art program), Jewish Home for the Aged, Eldergivers, Mercy High School and the Mission Cultural Center for the Arts have all participated in our collaborative shows. SFWA has also provided needed items and financial support to community organizations like Maitri and Coming Home as well as a scholarship for a S.F. State University art student.
We serve nine Bay Area counties by providing a supportive environment for well-known and up-and-coming fine artists.
Link to a 6 minute podcast (also in print form) about SFWA & its artists from KALW News, SFGate, October 2011
Watch the VideoPlease enjoy this July 2010 video, Present! - San Francisco Women Artists in which producer Mel Van Dusen interviews two SFWA presidents, Barbara Swan and Azar Vaghefi, who talk about the organization, it's fascinating history, and its plans for the future. |