Riveting: Women Artists from the Sara M. and Michelle Vance Waddell Collection

The rise of the feminist rights movement in the 1960s sought equality for women in all levels of society and helped fuel the creation and amplification of artwork by women. They worked in subjects that had been deemed previously taboo and considered off-limits for women, and they continue to do so today. Women creatives must navigate working within, around and through societal barriers, whether by skirting the edges or punching through proverbial walls, often in bold and sometimes shocking ways. This collection of work celebrates artists from the extensive collection of Sara and Michelle.

With Sara as the driving force, the collection has grown to reflect the couple’s personal interest to find emergent and powerful artistic statements that speak to current social issues, including those relating to LGBTQ+ communities and reproductive rights. They appreciate the art of women from all manner of backgrounds who work in a variety of styles and media, and they collect on a local, regional, national and international level.

Statement from the Dayton Art Institute’s exhibition.

artwork by Casey Riordan Millard

Ashley, from the Broken Lady series. Jessica Harrison

detail shots from Carolee Schneeman’s Interior Scroll

Confidence. Ashley Carroll

Tribute to My Mother. Nikesha Breeze

Recently exhibited at the Dayton Art Institute, Riveting presents the incredible collection of contemporary artists from the major, private collection of Bader+Simon board member Sara M. Vance Waddell and her wife, Michelle. This collection is a powerful blend of work encompassing social issues such as LGBTQ+ communities, reproductive rights, and racial and gender equality. The artwork media includes paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photographs, and textiles.

We are pleased to present some of the work of this engaging and provocative exhibit.

Welcome to the USA. Judy Polstra

As a boxer herself, Sara has several pieces that reflect the sport.