The Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCAA) opened Women of PAC on March 13, 2026, presenting the work of Cincinnati-based artist M. Katherine “Kay” Hurley alongside six guest artists from the Pendleton Art Center: Barbara Ahlbrand, Tracy Casagrande Clancy, Halena Cline, Tina Gutiérrez, Karen Heyl, and Paula Wiggins. Curated by Annex Gallery and organized within MoCAA’s Women in the Arts Program, the exhibition coincides with International Women’s Month and reflects the museum’s commitment to recognizing the creative contributions of women while fostering meaningful exchange between artistic communities.
The Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCAA) opened the exhibition Women of PAC on March 13, 2026, presenting the work of Cincinnati-based artist M. Katherine “Kay” Hurley together with six guest artists from the Pendleton Art Center: Barbara Ahlbrand, Tracy Casagrande Clancy, Halena Cline, Tina Gutiérrez, Karen Heyl, and Paula Wiggins. Curated by Annex Gallery and organized within the framework of MoCAA’s Women in the Arts Program, the exhibition coincides with International Women’s Month and reflects the museum’s ongoing commitment to recognizing the creative contributions of women while fostering meaningful cultural exchange between artistic communities.
Installed across the museum’s main gallery and the Aldo Menéndez Room, the exhibition offers visitors a dialogue between Hurley’s long-standing painting practice and a diverse constellation of contemporary artistic voices emerging from the Pendleton Art Center in Cincinnati. Through painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, the participating artists reveal distinct approaches to form, landscape, memory, and the natural world, demonstrating the vitality of collaborative artistic environments and the importance of shared creative ecosystems.
The opening reception brought together artists, collectors, students, families, and members of the broader community in an atmosphere marked by generosity, curiosity, and conversation. One of the evening’s most meaningful moments occurred when several children visiting the exhibition began to draw their own interpretations of the works they encountered. Their spontaneous drawings quickly formed a small informal display within the gallery, transforming the exhibition into a living space of discovery and reminding visitors that artistic experience is not only about contemplation, but also about participation and the transmission of creative values across generations.
Beyond the artworks themselves, Women of PAC represents a growing dialogue between cultural communities in the Midwest and South Florida. The collaboration between MoCAA, Annex Gallery, and artists associated with the Pendleton Art Center reflects a shared commitment to building bridges between institutions, encouraging the circulation of ideas, and creating new opportunities for artists to present their work in different regional contexts. These exchanges contribute to the strengthening of cultural networks and highlight the role of museums and galleries as platforms for cooperation, mentorship, and mutual support.
As the exhibition continues through April 10, 2026, Women of PAC stands as an example of how contemporary art exhibitions can serve not only as spaces for presenting artistic production, but also as environments where dialogue, community engagement, and cultural collaboration flourish. Through initiatives such as this, MoCAA reaffirms its mission to connect artists, audiences, and institutions while nurturing the creative energies that sustain vibrant cultural communities.