Women in Focus at MOPA@SDMA

 by Patricia Frischer

Loretta Lux

Since the 1830’s, women have made huge contributions to the development of photography across a variety of genres. By 1890, women were 11% of professional photographers in the USA, 20% in Britain and 30% in Scandinavian countries.  These genres are grouped together in the exhibition Women in Focus that shines lights on these female accomplishments.  This was partly because no formal training was needed to start, it was inexpensive, could be done at home. Once equipment became more mobile, we see the rise of Margaret Bourke-White, Dorothea Lange, and Imogen Cunningham are all familiar names.  But you can discover  in this show a new range of artists, and see their work all taken from the permanent collection of the Museum of Photographic arts now merged with the collection of SDMA showing until July 13.

Natural Still lifes including nude studies, flowers and fauna, and advertising images including machine-made objects from the industrial revolution to contemporary furniture are included.  Portraits (both traditional studio portraits and experimental) especially of other women were in abundance in a variety of locations. Although women were not war correspondents during the heyday of picture magazines like Life (Margaret Burke-White was the first female staffer on Life) or agencies like Magnum Photos, they covered all social issues all over the world.

The images shown here are a tiny part of this immense show and are hopefully enough to wet your appetite for a more in-depth look. 

Anne Brigman

Margarete Bourke-White

Grace Robertson

Alma Lavanson

Julia Blackmon

Susan Ressler

Women in Focus On view through July 13, 2025 at MOPA@SDMA in Balboa Park

By the way, In celebration of March as Women's History & Arts Month Meyer Fine Art, Inc. is highlighting a group of accomplished women artists. From iconic to lesser-known, they have all established a niche for themselves in the visual arts creativity, the diversity and  richness of artistic expression. Works at a museum are not for sale, but this is your chance to own one.