RALEIGH, N.C. — Art lovers, collectors, and cultural enthusiasts will find a powerful testament to contemporary creativity this fall as The Centerpiece in Raleigh, North Carolina, hosts the 56th National Exhibition of the Women Artists of the West (WAOW). Opening on October 9 and running through November 6, the landmark exhibition—appropriately titled Limitless—brings together an exceptional array of paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works crafted by some of the nation’s most accomplished female professional artists.
Spanning a diverse spectrum of styles, mediums, and subjects, the exhibition highlights everything from sweeping landscapes and vibrant wildlife studies to intimate figurative works, striking still lifes, and complex representational art. Featuring award-winning professionals whose portfolios span prestigious museum collections across the country, Limitless serves as both a visual feast and a profound statement on the enduring power and evolution of women in the arts.
Main Facts: At a Glance
Event: 56th National Exhibition of the Women Artists of the West (WAOW), titled Limitless.
Location: The Centerpiece, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Dates: October 9 – November 6 (Opening Reception: Friday, October 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
Admission: Free and open to the general public.
Featured Mediums: Oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastels, bronzes, charcoals, and scratchboards.
Exhibiting Artists: A nationally recognized roster of professional artists, including Cathy Trachok, J.M. DeLipsey, Joey Frisillo, Kathy Harder, Ashwini Bharathula, Laura Cassells, Ilene Gienger-Stanfield, Carol Heiman-Greene, Elise Mahaffie, Marie Weltzheimer, L.J. Tutwiler, Christine Obers, Lisa McLoughlin, and Diane McKeown.
Chronology: From Rodeo Booths to National Museum Collections
To understand the magnitude of the 56th National Exhibition, one must look back at the grassroots origins of the organization. For more than five decades, WAOW has acted as a vital engine for professional development, community, and advocacy for women artists.
The Early Decades: Building a Foundation
WAOW was founded out of a necessity for representation and mutual support in a male-dominated fine art market. In its earliest iterations, the organization’s pioneers forged paths through unconventional spaces. As J.M. DeLipsey, a WAOW Master Emeritus and the group’s venue chair, notes, the organization’s humble roots involved members supporting one another and selling their artwork out of rodeo booths and regional fairs. Despite these modest beginnings, the founders shared an uncompromising standard of artistic excellence.
The Turning Point: Institutional Recognition
Over the subsequent decades, WAOW steadily expanded its footprint, transitioning from regional showcases to prestigious national exhibitions hosted in major galleries and cultural institutions. This growth elevated the profile of its members, many of whom transitioned from local acclaim to securing permanent residency in major U.S. museum collections.
The Present Day: The Raleigh Milestone
The journey culminates this October in Raleigh. Limitless marks a modern apex for the organization, showcasing how far its members have traveled since the days of selling art at rodeos. By securing a prominent venue at The Centerpiece, WAOW continues its tradition of bringing world-class representational and contemporary Western-inspired art to new audiences on the East Coast.
Supporting Data: The Art and the Artists
The power of Limitless lies not only in its overarching mission, but in the meticulous craft and individual brilliance of the works on display. The exhibition features a diverse array of pieces that highlight technical mastery across multiple mediums.
Standout Works and Mediums
Cathy Trachok commands attention with Of Glory in the Flower (oil, 24 x 12 inches), a piece that exemplifies her rich handling of light and texture.
Ashwini Bharathula presents Evensong (oil, 12 x 6 inches), a delicate exercise in mood and atmosphere.
Laura Cassells contributes House Sparrow’s House (acrylic, 12 x 12 inches), demonstrating the versatility and expressive potential of acrylics in miniature format.
Ilene Gienger-Stanfield captures atmospheric softness in Summer Breeze (pastel, 24 x 18 inches).
Carol Heiman-Greene showcases dynamic form in Black Beauty (oil, 16 x 16 inches).
Elise Mahaffie brings narrative depth through Duty and Pride (oil, 36 x 18 inches).
Kathy Harder exhibits Noon Break (watercolour, 13 x 15 inches), a poignant visual narrative born from a ranching tradition.
Diane McKeown steps into three-dimensional mastery with Surprised By Joy (bronze, 30 x 14 x 9 inches).
Other notable contributors include Marie Weltzheimer (Persimmons and Peppers, oil), L.J. Tutwiler (The Welcome of Cottage Colors, oil), Christine Obers (Gearing Up, pastel), and Lisa McLoughlin (Plan B, acrylic).
Official Responses: Voices from the Exhibition
The artists behind Limitless view the exhibition as much more than a commercial showcase; it is a platform for solidarity, resilience, and storytelling.
J.M. DeLipsey on "The Power of Possibility"
For J.M. DeLipsey, the title of the exhibition carries a deeply personal and philosophical weight.
"[The word] limitless, for me, is about the power of possibility," DeLipsey reflects.
She points out that women artists frequently navigate complex life challenges that their male counterparts may not face to the same degree—ranging from balancing demanding creative careers with the emotional and physical labor of raising children or caring for aging family members, to overcoming institutional barriers within the broader fine art ecosystem. However, DeLipsey firmly believes these very life experiences serve to deepen an artist’s vision, sharpen their empathy, and alter how they perceive the world around them.
"Limitless offers hope by encouraging us to look beyond constraints and recognize that opportunities can accompany difficult circumstances," she adds.
Cathy Trachok on Camaraderie and Professionalism
Cathy Trachok echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the strong bonds forged through the organization. She expresses deep gratitude and inspiration for being a part of the WAOW community.
"I hope visitors see that, regardless of subject matter, WAOW artists are an eclectic group of women united by a shared professionalism, camaraderie and love of what they do," Trachok explains.
Joey Frisillo and Kathy Harder on Inspiration
Joey Frisillo, whose piece Eagle Marsh Canal captures the rich autumn hues of her local nature preserve, cites the organization’s dedication to preserving and celebrating the natural world as a core driving force behind her work.
Meanwhile, Kathy Harder—whose watercolor Noon Break immortalizes a quiet, striking moment observed across a ranch fence during a calf-branding tradition—notes that WAOW serves as a crucial advocate for female visibility.
"An exhibition with this kind of history and legacy allows women to publicly share their skills while creating greater opportunities for visibility and growth," Harder notes.
Implications: Challenging the Status Quo in the Art World
While exhibitions like Limitless celebrate extraordinary creative achievements, they also shed light on persistent structural disparities within the global art market and museum curation.
The Representation Gap in American Museums
Despite the immense talent, historical legacy, and technical rigor demonstrated by groups like WAOW, gender equity in institutional art collections remains a distant goal. Statistical analyses of American museum holdings reveal that art created by women still accounts for a staggering minority—hovering persistently between 10 to 13 percent of total permanent collections nationwide. Furthermore, major Western and traditional art exhibitions have historically struggled to achieve balanced demographic representation, often requiring deliberate, concerted efforts from advocacy groups to open doors for deserving practitioners.
Opening Doors Through Quality and Diversity
Organizations like WAOW play a pivotal frontline role in closing this representation gap. By maintaining fiercely high standards of artistic execution, WAOW ensures that its members are judged by the uncompromising quality of their craftsmanship rather than demographic checklists.
"Our organization, and others like it, wants to help open more doors for women artists," DeLipsey emphasizes. "For us, the quality of the work is what matters most. The remarkable range of artwork in this exhibition—from oils and watercolors to scratchboard, charcoal and sculpture—is one of its greatest strengths."
A Blueprint for the Future
By bringing this high caliber of work to spaces like The Centerpiece in Raleigh, WAOW is doing more than celebrating 56 years of history; it is actively educating the public, inspiring the next generation of female creators, and prompting private collectors and curators to rethink the composition of their own collections. As Limitless opens its doors this October, it stands as proof that the future of Western, representational, and contemporary fine art is broad, inclusive, and—true to its name—limitless.
Plan Your Visit
What: 56th National Exhibition of the Women Artists of the West (Limitless)
Where: The Centerpiece, Raleigh, NC
When: October 9 – November 6
Opening Reception: Friday, October 9, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
