Texas Vignette seeks to bridge gender disparity gap in art

By Taylor Mayad Powell

Attention Texas women artists! Texas Vignette announced this week a call for entries for its seventh-annual Vignette Art Fair, which will take place Oct. 2-4 at its new Dallas Design District location, On The Levee (1108 Quaker St., Dallas, TX 75207). The three-day juried event showcases works exclusively by Texas women artists, promoting exceptional yet underrepresented regional talent. Maggie Adler (pictured), a veteran museum curator and arts advocate with more than 20 years of experience, will serve as curator for the 2025 Vignette Art Fair. The fair is free and open to the public Oct. 3-4, with a ticketed Preview Benefit on Oct. 2. 

The call-for-entries is now open. Deadline to apply is June 27, and selected artists will be notified by August 1. Submission fee is $36. For qualifications/rules, details, and instructions, go to texasvignette.org/call-artists.

The Vignette Art Fair is unique in that it is fully submission-based, curated in an exhibition-style setting, and solely spotlights the work of women artists. Most significantly, 100 percent of all sale proceeds go directly to the artists.

“As we continue our mission to elevate and support women artists across Texas, we’re thrilled to partner with Maggie Adler as curator for the 2025 Vignette Art Fair,” said Jessica Ingle, founder and president of Texas Vignette. 

“Maggie’s extensive experience and commitment to both historical and contemporary art make her an ideal partner in showcasing the breadth and richness of women’s artistic contributions in our state. We look forward to the dynamic perspectives she will bring to this year’s fair.”

Founded in 2017, Texas Vignette seeks to bridge the gender disparity gap, as female artists continue to be underrepresented in museum exhibitions, acquisitions, and galleries compared to their male counterparts. 

According to various studies, in 2023 works by women artists accounted for just 13 percent of total auction sales, a slight decrease from 13.8 percent in 2022. Furthermore, a survey of 18 prominent United States art museums found that 87 percent of the artists represented are male, and only 13.7 percent of living artists represented by galleries in Europe and North America are women.

Adler has more than two decades of art world experience as a curator, speaker, writer, mentor, fundraiser and leader. She brings historical art expertise to contemporary projects that support artists and inspire institutional growth. Adler spent more than a decade at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and now works independently, focusing on the connections between historical and contemporary art. Adler previously held roles at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Williams College Museum of Art and the Addison Gallery of American Art.

“I recently attended a conversation between two accomplished women artists. When asked about their inspirations, both mentioned that they did not know or see many famous women artist role models when they chose to pursue their callings, the vocations that stirred their hearts.” Adler said. “I choose to serve as the 2025 Vignette Art Fair curator, a fair that celebrates women artists, because I believe representation matters. Every person who identifies as a woman should be able to envision a world in which who they wish to be is possible. I look forward to fostering their creativity and amplifying their voices for them and for the future.”

Participants must identify as a woman and be a current Texas resident. Submission requirements include an artist statement, bio, CV, exhibition history and a link to the artist’s website and/or Instagram handle.

Vignette Art Fair will be open with free admission Friday, Oct. 3, from noon-7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Preview Benefit is on Oct. 2, from 6-9 p.m. 

For more information, go to texasvignette.org.