A few years ago, Gaby Viteri founded First Female PB, an arts organization dedicated to “empowering women through art and creativity.” Since its inception, the organization has fostered a range of inspiring projects, and now, as a highlight of its work, the inaugural Women’s Art Week, March 5 – 15, is in full swing.
One of its major features is the first all-female photography exhibit in Palm Beach County, hosted at Terracotta House Studio in Boca Raton. As the perfect way to kick off Women’s History Month, I had the opportunity to chat with Gaby to learn more about this special exhibit, which runs from March 8 – 31.
Who are the featured artists?
As the first all-female photography exhibit in Palm Beach County, “Parallels” showcases the work of Elizabeth Palace, Valerie Noell, Cailin Byrne, Shannon Griffin, and Hayley Wilson. Curated by Valerie Noell and myself, this groundbreaking exhibit will be on display throughout the entire month of March as part of the inaugural Women’s Art Week, presented by First Female.
Is this your first event in Boca Raton?
This is our first event open to the public in Boca Raton. While we previously hosted a members-only Friendsgiving and an artist talk in Delray Beach, we’re beyond excited to invite people to explore different parts of our beautiful county through this exhibit.
What do you hope to convey with this photography exhibit?
The theme for the entire Women’s Art Week is parallels, and we really dive deep into this concept with the exhibit. In fact, it’s the highlight of the week. The way it came about is actually a funny story. The artists were asking for a theme, and, quite frankly, I didn’t have one. Then, I started thinking about parallels—how, as women, we all live these parallel lives that seem to be running their course, marching forward like train tracks. We are daughters, mothers, workers, friends, consumers, creators. We grieve, we celebrate—all at once. We wear many hats. But every so often, those parallel lines inevitably collide, and that’s when the magic happens. It’s in that moment, when worlds crash together and chaos reigns, that creativity strikes.
What can attendees expect to see?
Visitors can certainly expect a curated experience. Valerie and I had so much fun putting this together, and in many ways, we embody the theme ourselves. We live parallel lives, yet our different perspectives and experiences came together to create something truly magical. It also helped that we both entered the project with the same intention: to craft worlds and experiences. What you’ll see isn’t just an art show—it’s a complete atmosphere designed to engage your senses in a way that invites you to appreciate the work in a more intimate, meaningful way.
Our art scene in Palm Beach County is becoming increasingly more vibrant. How much has it changed or evolved over the past few years?
The art scene is definitely becoming more vibrant, and I’m incredibly proud that First Female is at the forefront of it. By creating opportunities like Women’s Art Week, we’re providing artists with the perfect platform to showcase their creativity. I’m thrilled to see where we are after three years, and I absolutely love that it’s women who are leading the charge. I’ve never witnessed such creative collaboration, with people coming together simply because it’s an opportunity to do something different and push boundaries.
Experience the “Parallels” photography exhibit from March 8 – 31!
Terracotta House Studio
1050 N.W. 1st Ave., #11, Boca Raton
terracottahouse.co
For more information on Women’s Art Week Palm Beach, visit firstfemalepb.com
For more from Olivia Hollaus, click here.
