Artist Talks: Women Artists of the DMV

Exhibit Dates: September 5 - October 18, 2025

Opening Receptions to Meet the Artists: Friday September 12, 4-8PM & Saturday September 13, 2-6PM

At 1429 Iris Street NW, Washington DC, 20012

Featured Artists: Mitzi Bernard, Mentwab Easwaran, Tracie Griffith Tso, Ashley Joi, Becky McFall, Margaret Polcawich, Hillary Steel, Jennifer Wagner

Saturday September 27, 2 pm: Mitzi Bernard, Mentwab Easwaran, Tracie Griffith Tso, Ashley Joi, and Becky McFall

Saturday October 4, 2 pm: Margaret Polcawich, Hillary Steel, Jennifer Wagner

DC area curator, artist, & arts activist, Florencio Lennox (Lenny) Campello, is curating an exhibition of works by 400+ women artists from the DMV and Greater Washington DC region. Comprised of both leading and established female artists, plus talented emerging contemporary female visual artists. This exhibition will be the first ever survey of female visual artists from the DMV region ever done!

It will be staged in many major art spaces including: the Katzen Arts Center at American University; The Athenaeum; The McLean Project for the Arts; Artists & Makers Galleries; the Galleries at Strathmore Mansion; Pyramid Atlantic Art Center; The Writer's Center; Montpelier Arts Center; Maryland Hall, the University of Maryland Library; Adah Rose Gallery; Joan Hisaoka Gallery; Melissa Ichiuji Gallery; the Children’s National Hospital Gallery; Nepenthe Gallery and Zenith Gallery!

Mitzi Bernard “I work with tiny pieces of paper that tell stories. Much of my art speaks to the strength and power of women, their incredible beauty and society’s value judgements. My work comes from my life and experiences. I particularly like to tell stories that show how strong we women are, even when society doesn’t see us that way.”

Mentwab Easwaran "Design is the bridge between imagination and reality, a language that translates emotion, intention, and narrative into form. As an artist, I see design as more than aesthetics — it is a tool for storytelling, a means to evoke emotion, and a vehicle for social commentary. Thoughtful design shapes how we experience the world, influencing perception, communication, and engagement.”

Tracie Griffith Tso began studying Chinese painting at age 12 and specializes in spontaneous flower-bird painting. The award-winning artist developed her style with a teacher schooled by a Hong Kong master. Griffith Tso paints traditionally, centered around age-old subjects yet. incorporates her animal and herbivore love into compositions.

Ashley Joi’s work as a multidisciplinary artist reflects a deep connection to her African ancestry, blending symbolism and diverse materials to create powerful emotional narratives. Her art is a dialogue between past and present, drawing on African mythology, history, and themes of social impact.

Becky McFall is a DC artist who specializes in portraiture, mixed media, mobiles, and biology-inspired art. Her work often uses natural and recycled materials. She aims for her art to be thought provoking, especially as she delves into the unseen wonders within the natural world, working from microscopic photography and biology texts.

Margaret Polcawich “My work begins with natural patterns, shapes, and movements, while incorporating a visual language of form and emotions. My recent work has been an exploration of visual language and form through vessels and wall art. I work in a variety of materials including polymer clay, wood, copper, pewter, wire, and paint.”

Jennifer Wagner’s work reflects a deep belief in the power of art to inspire connection, conservation, and collective pride. With over 22 years of professional experience, she specializes in large-scale community projects, murals, and installations that turn everyday discarded items into lasting works of art.

Host or Publisher Zenith Gallery