As part of the centennial celebrations of artist Joan Mitchell, AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research & Exhibitions and the Joan Mitchell Foundation are collaborating on an event on October 1, 2025, bringing together leading scholars and curators to explore Mitchell’s relationship to the second-wave feminist movement.

A pivotal Abstract Expressionist artist, Mitchell’s work has often been interpreted through the lens of her male contemporaries and within the dominant frameworks of the movement. However, the 1960s and 1970s were a transformative period for Mitchell, shaping her self-perception, career, and relationships with other women artists. This panel discussion will highlight new research and perspectives on how this historical context impacted Mitchell. The conversation will emphasize the importance of Mitchell’s letters and personal archives, offering insight into how the second-wave feminist movement provided her with new frameworks to understand her own artistic trajectory and her position within the art world. It will also invite reflection on how feminist methodologies in art historical research can shed light on a complex and now famous figure.

The discussion will be preceded by an introduction by Sarah Roberts, Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Joan Mitchell Foundation and co-curator of the landmark retrospective Joan Mitchell, organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The panel will feature four distinguished speakers, Cora Chalaby, Flavia Frigeri, Julia Marchand, and Grazina Subelyte. It will be moderated by AWARE’s founder, art historian and curator Camille Morineau.

Throughout the event, documentary films on Joan Mitchell by Angeliki Haas and Marion Cajori will be screened on loop. The evening will conclude with an informal cocktail reception to celebrate Mitchell and her enduring legacy.