A groundbreaking art exhibition honoring women artists throughout Colorado's history is now on display at the Colorado State Capitol's Rotunda Gallery. The exhibition, titled "Living Tradition. Past. Present. Future. Colorado Women Artists," features 12 mobile murals painted on canvas that celebrate influential female artists who have shaped the state's artistic landscape. The Women's Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter (WCACO) organized this ambitious project after four years of preparation.

"I wonder how the twelve portraits in the rotunda change the percentage of women in the building," artist Annette Coleman joked as she stood near the Capitol's grand staircase, which is surrounded by murals predominantly featuring men. Coleman and her fellow WCACO members recognized the importance of telling these stories themselves. "We have 12 murals honoring Colorado artists that are past, present, and future," Coleman explained. "We decided that if we don't get out and tell these stories about Colorado women artists, nobody else probably would."

The comprehensive exhibition extends beyond the Rotunda Gallery to include dozens of additional artworks displayed in the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's offices. These pieces include both works by the artists honored in the murals and creations by the artists who painted them. The 12 featured women artists span different eras and artistic disciplines, including Elisabeth Spalding, Eppie Archuletta, Gerda Rovetch, Betty Woodman, Sally Elliott, Carlotta Espinoza, Senga Nengudi, Jean Smith, Zoa Ace, Annette Coleman, Jane DeDecker, and Melanie Yazzie.

This exhibition represents one of three annual shows presented through the Colorado Creative Industries program, which champions local art within the Capitol building. In 2025, other exhibitions have included "Art of Teaching Artistry" and "This is Native Art." Josh Blanchard, director of Colorado Creative Industries, emphasized that the program highlights the diversity of arts and artists in Colorado while promoting "ideas or themes through art that may resonate with our legislators, with our state employees, and with all of the visitors." The program has been operating for over a decade as part of initiatives to promote Colorado artists on a platform with statewide impact.

The collaborative nature of creating these murals proved transformative for the participating artists. Rebecca Gabriel, who joined WCACO and co-created the murals, discovered the power of artistic collaboration. "There's a real synergy when artists work together," Gabriel observed. "Our names aren't on the murals, and that's how it should be. We all did it together." Despite being created by committee, the murals maintain a cohesive visual style featuring black-and-white portraits of each artist surrounded by imagery from their respective works.

The collaborative process involved specialized roles, including what the group calls "Face Whisperers." Gabriel, designated as one of these specialists, applies finishing touches to the portraits after the team works together on the initial creation. This role suits her expertise in portrait and figure painting. "I've always worked in a very solitary way in my studio," Gabriel shared, "but I got very inspired... There is something to be said about the magic of collaboration."

The exhibition highlights artists who not only excelled in their craft but also contributed significantly to their communities. Epiphana "Eppie" Archuleta serves as a prime example of this dual impact. A master weaver from La Jara in Colorado's San Luis Valley, Archuleta established a wool mill and trained numerous people in weaving techniques. "What she did for her community is give back a viable business based on what they were already doing: raising sheep," Coleman explained. "She trained a lot of weavers, and she has work in the Smithsonian. So, you know, she's one of the rock stars."

Another featured artist, Carlotta Espinoza, played a crucial role in Denver's Chicano/a arts movement during the 1960s and 70s. Gabriel praised Espinoza as "a muralist who is up there with the greats." Espinoza created murals for activist Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales and painted many works celebrating Mexican and Mexican-American culture and history. Tragically, almost all of her original murals have been destroyed over time. "She's in her middle eighties now, but we have this mural of her and interest in her work. And you know, it's changed things for her, for her legacy," Gabriel noted.

The WCACO members emphasize their mission to recognize these artists while they're still alive and ensure their legacies endure. Gabriel articulated the urgency behind their work: "Women, they're not honored, they're not shown. And so it's like, we're not gonna wait for the museums or the galleries. We're gonna take it into our own hands and create these murals to uplift these women. And I think that it's been an incredible success."

The exhibition will remain on display at the Colorado State Capitol through March 2026, providing an extended opportunity for public engagement with these important artistic legacies. Visiting hours are free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., ensuring broad accessibility to this celebration of Colorado's women artists and their enduring contributions to the state's cultural heritage.