This summer, The Wolfsonian–Florida International University proudly presents Women, Art, and Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise, the largest exhibition of Newcomb arts and crafts in over twenty-five years. Featuring more than 130 objects ranging from iconic Newcomb ceramics to metalwork, textiles, and other historical artifacts, Women, Art, and Social Change sheds light on how the trailblazing female designers of New Orleans’ H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College forged a distinctively Southern aesthetic and paved the way for women artists of later generations.

Women, Art, and Social Change will be on view at The Wolfsonian–FIU from June 12 through August 30, 2015. The exhibition is organized by the Newcomb Art Gallery and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

Representing nearly fifty years of achievement in decorative arts, Women, Art, and Social Change covers the lifespan of Newcomb Pottery, one of the most important early twentieth-century American decorative arts enterprises, active from 1895 to 1940. Created by Newcomb College, Tulane University’s former women’s college, the influential Arts & Crafts program integrated commerce with an educational and social experiment that aimed to teach Southern women financial independence through the sale of their wares—each a one-of-a-kind work of art. Newcomb ceramics were crafted exclusively by female designers, whose critically acclaimed artistry drew inspiration from Southern flora and fauna and was internationally renowned for its quality and graceful forms.

“Women, Art, and Social Change is an exciting and natural complement to The Wolfsonian’s core interest of exploring the human experience and telling the story of social changes that have transformed our world. This is the perfect opportunity to focus on the impact of female artists in post-Civil War America, at a time when women’s equality was a burgeoning cause,” stated curatorial and exhibitions assistant Whitney

Richardson, who is organizing The Wolfsonian’s presentation of the exhibition. “While the artists at Newcomb Pottery aligned themselves with the tenets of the British Arts and Crafts movement—richly represented in our collection—their wares were distinct expressions of the American South. The women of Newcomb Pottery set about to create a profitable business for female artisans, and wound up creating the most significant American pottery of the twentieth century; we’re thrilled to share this story with our visitors.”

In addition to pottery, the exhibition showcases jewelry, photography, bookbinding, and textiles for a comprehensive summary that offers new insights into the extraordinary women of Newcomb—from their philosophy and sense of community, to the elegant craftsmanship that secured Newcomb Pottery’s place on the vanguard of American art and industry.

The Wolfsonian will mark the opening of Women, Art, and Social Change with a preview reception on June 11, as well as additional programming such as a free Family Day, a Takeover Tour led by a guest tour guide, film screenings, and an art-making workshop.

Women, Art, and Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise debuted at Tulane University’s Newcomb Art Gallery before launching on a national tour that included the Georgia Museum of Art, Stark Museum of Art, and Gardiner Museum.