Anonymous Was a Woman, a prominent philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting woman-identifying artists, has unveiled the recipients of its prestigious 2025 grants. This year, 15 exceptional artists will each be awarded $50,000, a significant contribution designed to foster their creative endeavors and enhance their careers. This initiative continues the organization's legacy of recognizing and empowering women in the arts, providing crucial financial backing to those who have often been overlooked or underrepresented in the mainstream art world.
Among the distinguished artists receiving this year's grants are Candida Alvarez, a celebrated painter whose work was recently featured in a retrospective at El Museo del Barrio in New York, and Park McArthur, an artist who garnered critical acclaim for her ambitious survey exhibitions in Vienna and Mönchengladbach, Germany. Additionally, photographer Lola Flash, whose work is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art, is also a recipient, further cementing the diverse range of artistic talent recognized by the grants. Other notable artists include Kunié Sugiura, a photographer who recently had a show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and sculptor Sonya Kelliher-Combs, whose art is part of the ongoing exhibition “An Indigenous Present” at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston.
Susan Unterberg, the visionary founder of Anonymous Was a Woman, expressed her profound inspiration regarding this year's grantees. In a recent statement, she emphasized the critical importance of their work, especially during a time when artistic freedom and women's rights face increasing challenges. Unterberg highlighted that the recipients' vision, dedication, and originality serve as a powerful reminder of the stakes involved in artistic expression and reinforce the organization's unwavering commitment to supporting artists who pursue their craft with conviction and imaginative spirit.
The organization, established by Unterberg in 1996, initially operated with her identity as the benefactor concealed, hence its evocative name, Anonymous Was a Woman. Her role as the founder was only publicly revealed in 2018. Over the years, before and after this revelation, the organization has consistently provided vital financial support to numerous influential artists, including celebrated figures such as Joan Jonas and Simone Leigh. These grants, primarily targeting artists over the age of 40, have played a pivotal role in enabling many women artists to sustain their practices and achieve significant recognition.
Beyond its well-known $50,000 grants, Anonymous Was a Woman has expanded its philanthropic scope in recent years to include funding for projects with an environmental focus. This expansion demonstrates a broader commitment to supporting artists who engage with pressing contemporary issues, further diversifying the impact of the organization's charitable work. The continued dedication of Anonymous Was a Woman to empowering and recognizing woman-identifying artists reinforces its crucial role in fostering a more inclusive and equitable art landscape.
