In Her Image
/In Her Image: Art By Women Veterans
September 15 - October 31, 2026
Curator: Steven Luu
Margaret Mahan, Psychological Armor, 2014, print on handmade paper
In Her Image centers the voices and experiences of women veterans, challenging the male-dominated narratives that have often minimized, misunderstood, or overlooked their contributions to military history. Featuring seven women veteran artists whose military careers span nursing, music, infantry, aviation, leadership, policy, and other fields of service, the exhibition presents their varied artistic perspectives shaped by lived experience. Through a range of artistic practices, the works reveal the complexity of military service and challenge any single understanding of what it means to be a veteran.
The exhibition title reimagines the biblical phrase “In His Image” as “In Her Image,” inviting viewers to reconsider who is seen, remembered, and granted authority within cultural and historical narratives. The exhibition affirms the long tradition of women serving, leading, creating, and defining their own experiences. Together, the artworks form a collective portrait of resilience, sacrifice, achievement, identity, and transformation.
Veterans’ Statistics
U.S. veterans 17.3 million
Post-9/11 veterans 4.4 million
Women veterans 700,000
Combat-injured veterans treated in post-9/11 wars approx. 20,000
Combat-related amputees post-9/11 approx. 3,000
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) over 556,000
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 440-800,000
Veterans experiencing Military Sexual Trauma (MST) 300,000 to 400,000
Veteran suicides 30,177
Veterans without stable housing 35,574
Veterans incarcerated 49,000
Veterans attending George Mason University 5,600
Military-Affiliated and Veteran Support Services:
Military-Affiliated and Veteran Students - Counseling and Psychological Services