Advancing Women Artists Concludes 14-Year Mission to Restore Female Artists' Works in Florence

In 2020, the American nonprofit Advancing Women Artists (AWA) announced its dissolution after 14 years dedicated to discovering, restoring, and showcasing female artists' works in Florence. Established by Jane Fortune, AWA successfully restored 70 pieces created by women from the 16th to the 20th centuries, featuring notable artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Marisa Mori, and Plautilla Nelli. Linda Falcone, the director, considers the organization's closure a triumph for enhancing awareness in Tuscan museums. Collaborating with institutions like the Uffizi Galleries led to a rise in the exhibition of women's art. The last restoration, a painting by Violante Ferroni, will be publicly unveiled in May 2021, marking the end of AWA's endeavors, although significant portions of Italian art history still await restoration.