Why Women Artists on the Rise Edition 4 Deserves a Place in Your Collection
At Arts to Hearts Project, celebrating and promoting emerging women artists has been at the heart of what we do since the very beginning. We have always believed that there are so many women creating remarkable work, shaping conversations, experimenting with new ideas, and quietly building their place in the art world, and their stories deserve to be seen, shared, and remembered.
That belief is what gave birth to Women Artists On The Rise in 2024, with its very first edition featuring 100 contemporary rising women artists from around the world. It was a beautiful beginning, but one edition never felt like enough. There were simply too many artists to celebrate, too many stories waiting to be discovered, and too much incredible work being made for us to stop there.
So we made another edition. And then another.
And now, two years after that first book, we find ourselves here with the 4th Edition of Women Artists On The Rise.
This new edition brings together 100 exceptional women artists in a luxurious 232-page hardcover collector’s book, created to be more than just a publication. Wrapped in an elegant gold-foiled die-cut jacket and featuring cover artwork by Elen Bezhen, it is a beautiful visual experience, a celebration of contemporary art, and a keepsake to return to again and again.
Inside, readers will discover remarkable artworks spanning a wide range of mediums, alongside award-winning artists and exclusive interviews that offer a closer look into the minds, practices, and journeys behind the work. Carefully curated through the Women Artist Award, this edition celebrates the creativity, vision, and impact of women who are shaping the art world today.
And perhaps that is what makes Women Artists On The Rise so special. It is not simply about putting names and artworks between the pages of a beautiful book. It is about creating a record of the women making art now, giving their work a place to be discovered, and bringing their stories into the hands of artists, collectors, art lovers, and curious readers around the world.
Four editions in, the journey continues, with 100 more women to celebrate and another beautiful chapter in the story of women artists on the rise.
About the Project: Women Artists On The Rise
For generations, women artists have been asked to fit their work into categories, to explain their practices through labels, movements, themes, expectations, or assumptions created by others. But the truth is far more complex. There is no single way to be a woman artist, no single subject that defines women’s experiences, and no singular story capable of capturing the depth and richness of women’s creative lives.
That understanding sits at the heart of Women Artists On The Rise – 4th Edition.
Rather than beginning with a fixed theme, this edition chose to embrace an open one. Not because there was a lack of direction, but because freedom itself became the direction. It created a space where artists could arrive exactly as they are, bringing forward the work that feels most urgent, meaningful, and authentic to their practice.
What emerged is a collection that refuses simplification. Across its pages are works that explore memory and personal histories, collective experiences, tenderness and resistance, belonging and displacement, joy and grief, imagination and inquiry. Some artists turn inward, examining intimate moments of transformation, while others look outward, responding to culture, community, politics, and the world around them.
Together, they reveal the extraordinary breadth of contemporary women’s artistic voices. More importantly, they remind us that creative excellence does not look one particular way.
At Arts to Hearts Project, we believe meaningful visibility begins with making room for complexity. It begins by allowing artists to speak in their own language, through their own materials, processes, and perspectives. This book was created in service of that belief.
The artists featured here are not connected by a single medium, geography, aesthetic, or subject. They are connected by something far more important: a commitment to creating work that is honest, thoughtful, and deeply their own.
Perhaps that is the true theme of this edition. Not a subject. Not a movement. Not a trend. But the freedom to define your own voice and the courage to share it with the world.
Thoughtful Conversations With Artists
A book about artists should always leave room for their voices, and this edition begins by doing exactly that.
Women Artists On The Rise – 4th Edition opens with four thoughtful conversations that take us beyond the finished artwork and into the stories, ideas, experiences, and creative processes behind it. These conversations offer a closer look at what shapes an artist’s practice, where their ideas come from, and how their relationship with art continues to evolve.
We begin with Elen Bezhen, the edition’s cover artist and Cash Award winner, whose work sets the tone for this beautiful new chapter. Her conversation is followed by Dora Abodi, Audrey Scheck, and Laura Hegan Smith, each bringing her own perspective, experiences, and artistic language to the pages of the book.
Together, these conversations remind us that an artwork is rarely just what we see. Behind every piece is a way of thinking, a collection of memories, questions, discoveries, and countless moments that shape the artist and the work they choose to share with the world.
These four conversations invite us to pause, look a little closer, and meet the artists behind the art.
Meet Our Cash Award Winners
Every edition of Women Artists On The Rise brings together artists with something special to say through their work. This year, we are proud to recognize three artists whose practices stood out for their strength, vision, and the stories they bring to contemporary art. Ellen Bezhen, Fiona Cowell, and Iratxe Yarritu were honored as the cash award winners of the 4th Edition, with Ellen receiving the $500 USD Cash Award, Fiona as First Runner-Up, and Iratxe as Second Runner-Up.
Ellen Bezhen — Cash Award Winner
Ellen Bezhen is a figurative painter who explores the relationship between nature and humanity, with a particular focus on the feminine image. Born in the North Caucasus, she studied art in Moscow, where she was influenced by the Northern Renaissance. Her paintings bring together traditional techniques and contemporary approaches, creating works that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Now living and working in France, Ellen’s art invites us to look at the connection between the human figure and the natural world in a way that feels quiet, thoughtful, and full of meaning.
Fiona Cowell – First Runner-Up
Fiona Cowell is a contemporary textile artist with a background in three-dimensional design. Inspired by historical and cultural embroidery, she reinterprets traditional techniques into unique, modern compositions. Her work shows how textile art can move beyond its familiar boundaries, bringing together craft, sculpture, and a strong sense of imagination. Through her practice, Fiona reminds us of the beauty that can come from looking at traditional materials in a new way.
Iratxe Yarritu – Second Runner-Up
Iratxe Yarritu’s work takes us into a world where nature, the subconscious, and the unknown come together. Inspired by the magical woods she was raised in and the darkness of her own inner world, she explores the relationship between utopian scenarios and the strength of mental diseases. Her paintings reflect on the fragility of the mind and our connection to nature, creating a sense of mystery that stays with you. There is something deeply personal in the way Iratxe approaches her subjects, and her work reminds us that art can be a way of exploring the parts of ourselves that are not always easy to put into words.
Together, these three artists represent the depth and diversity of Women Artists On The Rise, 4th Edition. From Ellen’s figurative paintings to Fiona’s textile compositions and Iratxe’s dreamlike worlds, each artist brings a different way of seeing and making. We are so happy to celebrate their work and the voices they add to this edition.
Our 100 Selected Artists
The 100 selected artists are the heart of this book, each bringing their own story, perspective, and way of creating to the pages. Together, they make this edition a beautiful celebration of the many voices, ideas, and artistic practices shaping contemporary art today. We are so happy to have these artists as part of Women Artists On The Rise, 4th Edition, and to share their work with you. Here are the 100 artists contributing to this special edition.
Inside The Pages
Inside the pages of Women Artists On The Rise, 4th Edition, you’ll discover beautiful artwork by 100 emerging women artists, each bringing her own story, style, and creative perspective to the book. From paintings and mixed media to photography, sculpture, and other unique practices, every page offers something new to explore. It’s a collection full of color, ideas, and the incredible diversity of women artists creating today. We hope you enjoy discovering their work as much as we enjoyed bringing it all together.
Why This Book Deserves a Place on Your Shelves
There is something special about having a book that brings so many different artists together in one place. Women Artists On The Rise, 4th Edition, is more than a collection of beautiful artwork. It is a celebration of 100 emerging women artists, their stories, their ideas, and the different ways they see and create. Every page gives you a chance to discover an artist you may not have come across before, find new inspiration, and spend time with work that makes you feel something.
Whether you are an artist, a collector, an art lover, or simply someone who enjoys discovering new creative voices, this book is a beautiful addition to your shelves. It is the kind of book you can pick up when you need inspiration, flip through when you want to discover something new, or return to whenever you feel like being surrounded by art. With so many unique practices and perspectives brought together, it becomes a little reminder of how much creativity exists in the world and how important it is to make space for it.
We hope this edition finds a special place in your home, your studio, or your collection, and that you enjoy exploring these artists and their work as much as we enjoyed putting this book together.
