Women artists were essential to the development of art in Arizona and the American West from the late territorial period to early statehood, particularly between 1900 and 1940. Despite the challenging conditions, where there were no art centers, few patrons, and minimal support for art activities, the number of women artists living and working in the West increased. The state lacked the cultural support systems that sustained the art communities of Taos and Santa Fe in New Mexico. Yet, women artists, armed with significant formal art training and professional experience, were undeterred. They were drawn to Arizona’s dramatic landscapes, expansive desert, quality of light, and the long history of diverse cultures.

Many of these artists in this exhibition received academic art training in the East and Europe. Early exhibit venues included state and county fairs. Some artists were active participants in the federal arts projects in the 1930s, and the Monday Club provided another outlet. Hotel art and gift shops, photography studios, luxury goods stores, jewelry stores, churches, and the YWCA provided spaces for exhibitions. The emergence of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway and its promotion of the West significantly increased the exposure of
these artists.

The Dita and John Daub Western Women’s Art Acquisition Fund is a unique initiative dedicated to preserving the contributions of early Western women artists. It enhances the Desert Caballeros Western Museum’s collections, aligns with our focus on contemporary art by Cowgirl Up! artists, and serves as an educational and creative resource. The generosity of Dita and John Daub helps us illuminate the history of Arizona and the West while telling the great stories and raising awareness of both past and present women artists.