About The Women’s Gallery

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What began in 2013 as one woman—pregnant, hormonal, and deeply inspired—has since grown into a mission-driven movement to amplify women in the arts.

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Julie Ahmad’s journey as an artist began during her pregnancy with her daughter, Aaliyah. In her own words, “There was some kind of organic correlation between my body being in the state of creation and my heart urging my hands to do the same.” That moment awakened a fire—and it hasn’t stopped burning since.

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Drawn to the freedom and fluidity of abstract art, Julie embraced an intuitive painting style rooted in trust, symbolism, and expression. Her work explores intersectional feminism, social awareness, and a cosmopolitan aesthetic influenced by nearly a decade spent in New York City’s fashion industry.

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As her career expanded, so did her reach—with domestic and international licensing deals, permanent placements at Austin Art Garage and atxGALS, and exhibitions at The Cathedral ATX, Women and Their Work, West Elm Austin, Louis Shanks Furniture, and through the Austin Studio Tours. Her artwork has graced the cover of Private Client Magazine, and in 2020, she was honored to speak in Magnolia Network’s Hi I’m Sevy, a moving documentary about a young, non-verbal abstract artist with Down syndrome.

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In 2019, she transformed her studio from rustic charm to full gallery glam. By 2023, she had taken on the under-addressed gender disparity in the fine arts world—officially converting her solo studio into a traditional gallery exclusively representing women artists.

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Since then, The Women’s Gallery has become a creative hub in Austin, TX, hosting dynamic art shows, curated Happy Hour Series, and deeply intentional community events.

 

Highlights include:

• Exhibition Empower (Sept 2023), the gallery’s first group show with a live DJ and 5 female ATX artists

• A feature on the Emmy-nominated TV show The American Dream (Feb 2024), celebrated with a packed viewing party

• Our largest show to date, From Muse to Masters (Apr 2024)

• The inaugural Women’s Gallery Art Awards (Dec 2024), voted on by our community and celebrating 14 artists in five categories

• Welcoming our first apprentice, 13-year-old Quinn (Aug 2024), through a partnership with Acton Academy

 

Julie’s mantra—“We are stronger together”—is the backbone of the gallery’s mission. “Knowing that these incredible women have entrusted me with their artwork is not just an honor, but a driving force.”

 

Now, in 2025, we step into our biggest chapter yet:
On September 13th, we officially re-launch as The Women’s Gallery in our newly expanded South Lamar space. With more room, more artists, and more energy, we’re building a vibrant, inclusive platform for women in the arts—and a legacy that’s just getting started.