Project for Empty Space is excited to host its annual fête, the Badass Art Woman Awards, on November 17, 2026, from 6:30 - 11 PM at 172 Norfolk Street, NYC. This year’s theme is Constellations, inspired by the stellar work each Honoree does in supporting our cultural ecosystem.
BAWA brings together more than 300 philanthropists, museum leaders, curators, collectors, art lovers, artists, cultural workers, and friends of the organization for an evening of celebration, exchange, and shared commitment to the artists and visionaries shaping more expansive futures.
Constellations takes inspiration from the radiant networks that make artistic futures possible: a constellation of leaders, artists, mentors, cultural workers, and badass women whose brilliance helps others find their way.
This year’s BAWA celebrates collective light by honoring Jean Cooney, Executive Director of Creative Time; Kristina Newman-Scott, Vice President of Arts at Knight Foundation and Komal Shah, Founder of Making Their Mark Foundation. Together, they illustrate how leaders, advocates, and visionary women can illuminate the path for so many others.
Proceeds from the 2026 Badass Art Woman Awards help us support and sustain the 60+ critical exhibitions and public programs we organize each year—serving a community of over 250,000 direct audience members across four exhibition spaces, having exhibited more than 450 artists to date, running an arts residency building with more than 65 artists studios, and having awarded more than half a million dollars in grants and stipends to participating artists.
OUR STELLAR 2026 HONOREES
-
JEAN COONEY
Executive Director
Creative Time -
KRISTINA NEWMAN-SCOTT
Vice President of Arts
Knight Foundation -
KOMAL SHAH
Founder
Making Their Mark Foundation
To explore sponsorship opportunities, alternative payment methods, or if you have any questions, please contact Lucia Roldan at lucia@projectforemptyspace.org
The Badass Art Woman Award (BAWA) emerged organically one day while chatting with several other cultural practitioners in our circle at an event. We noticed a general homogeneity in the types of people who are recognized in large institutional spaces. It was very apparent that many of the women cultural workers in our industry; particularly those who cross over multiple roles beyond artists (ie curators, gallerists, academics, writers, etc.), are often overlooked. Of course, there are occasions when women in the art world transcend into the mainstream realm; however, those instances are far too few. We wanted to create an award that brought in a true sense of celebration and joy- a ‘badass’ celebration! Thus, BAWA was born. A celebration of women who do phenomenal work within the Contemporary Art world.