Photo ©Greg Davis Photography/National Geographic Image Collection, of Dr. Karmabu Ringera Founder of the International Peace Initiative in Meru, Kenya.
The exhibition ‘WOMEN, a Century of Change‘ of the National Geographic Society is a selection of 57 photographs from the extensive National Geographic archive highlighting the role of women during more than a century of change around the world. The exhibition covers nine decades and a wide range of countries. Each photograph creates a portrait of different aspects of women’s existence and shows visitors how female representation has evolved since the founding of National Geographic in 1888.
Companion Documentary Premiered November 2019 on National Geographic
Companion Book “Women: The National Geographic Image Collection” 2019
National Geographic Museum Washington, DC, 2019
Santa Maria della Vita in Bologna, Italy 2020
Usina del Arte in Buenos Aires, Argentina 2020
Palacio de Gaviria in Madrid 2020
Royal Artistic Circle Art Museum, Barcelona, Spain 2020
Gladstone Regional Art Museum, Gladstone QLD Australia 2021
Colegio de Arquitectos de Madrid, Spain 2022
Nebraska History Museum, Lincoln, NE, USA 2022
City One Centre Zagreb, Croatia 2022
La Térmica, Malaga, Spain 2023
Ba Li Chun Tian V, Shanghai, China 2024
The future IS female — in large part because of the bold, inspiring women who have blazed trails for future generations. They’re women whose efforts, past and present, are reshaping leadership and what it means to be female. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the U.S. constitutional amendment confirming women’s right to vote, a powerful new book from National Geographic showcases iconic women around the world. “WOMEN: The National Geographic Image Collection” (Oct. 15, 2019) illuminates, celebrates and reflects on where the world’s women have been, where they are now and where they are going.
The book’s 450 stunning photographs, drawn from National Geographic’s unparalleled Image Collection, span three centuries and more than 30 countries. Each page creates a portrait of some aspect of women’s existence and shows readers how the depiction of women has evolved since National Geographic’s founding in 1888. Featuring 17 behind-the-scenes stories from famed female National Geographic photographers, including Lynsey Addario, Jodi Cobb and Ami Vitale, about some of their most arresting images of women, this provocative book examines women’s lifestyles across world cultures, from historic U.S. suffragette images to the haunting green-eyed “Afghan girl.”
WOMEN is divided into six themes — joy, beauty, love, wisdom, strength and hope. Complementing the chapters are three sections called “Portraits of Power.” These include evocative photos shot by renowned National Geographic photographer Erika Larsen and interviews in which National Geographic’s first female editor-in-chief, Susan Goldberg, posed the same 11 questions to an iconic group of activists, luminaries, politicians and celebrities. Among those featured are Oprah Winfrey, conservationist Jane Goodall, teen gun control activist Emma González, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and former first lady Laura Bush.
“WOMEN: The National Geographic Image Collection” is a compelling, timely and richly diverse volume. It honors groundbreaking women everywhere who’ve made it possible to say, definitively, that the future is female.
The book will have the unprecedented full support of the National Geographic media arsenal, including a corresponding cover of National Geographic magazine and a one-hour companion documentary to air on the National Geographic channel around the world.
