FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Neuberger Museum of Art Presents “Janet Langsam: Improbable Feminist”

Purchase, NY – A new exhibition at the Neuberger Museum of Art displays the work of Janet Langsam, a renowned cultural advocate, journalist, and CEO Emeritus of ArtsWestchester.

Janet Langsam: Improbable Feminist is a compelling exploration of Langsam’s artistic journey featuring paintings, assemblages, sculptures, collages, and drawings. The exhibition opens on February 26, and the works offer an intimate view of Langsam’s creative process and legacy.

Janet Langsam: Improbable Feminist includes works Langsam created both in her Queens home and the gymnasium of an upstate schoolhouse she and her husband were converting. The exhibition spans her artistic career from its inception to the moment she transitioned from making art to championing it on a broader scale.

In the 1970s and 1980s, few women broke through the barriers of the male-dominated art world. Langsam’s shift from creating art to advocating for artists reflected her commitment to a larger canvas—ensuring accessibility to the arts and securing funding for creative voices. A Queens native, Langsam is a founder and past chair of the board of the Queens Museum. Her arts advocacy led her to serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City and later as president and CEO of The Boston Center for the Arts. She’s known also in New York City for repurposing tenement buildings into artist housing and small businesses. 

Over her 33-year tenure at ArtsWestchester, Langsam raised over $75 million for the arts, increasing the organization’s budget from $1 million to nearly $7 million. A pivotal moment in Langsam's tenure came in 1998 when, under her visionary leadership, ArtsWestchester acquired the historic 12-story bank building in White Plains, transforming it into an arts incubator with new offices, galleries, artist studios, and spaces for creative businesses.

Janet Langsam: Improbable Feminist tells a story through Langsam’s own words and creations, celebrating her dual legacies as an artist and a tireless arts champion.

The Friends of the Neuberger Museum of Art provides generous support for this exhibition. For more information, visit the Neuberger Museum’s website.