# Female Artists of Mougins Museum

FAMM (Female Artists of the Mougins Museum) is a private art museum located in Mougins, Provence, France, near Cannes. Dedicated exclusively to female artists, it showcases a collection of over 100 artworks by approximately 80 artists from across the globe. The collection spans major artistic movements, from Impressionism to Contemporary Art, addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in the art world.

## Mission and vision

FAMM’s mission is to celebrate the contributions of female artists throughout history and into the contemporary era. The museum aligns with broader efforts to amplify women’s voices in art, drawing comparisons to institutions such as the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Frauenmuseum in Bonn, Germany. FAMM has been widely praised for its focus on female artists and its role in fostering a more inclusive art landscape.

## Artists and exhibitions

FAMM’s collection spans a range of artistic movements, showcasing notable works by:
* Impressionism: artists include Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzalès, and Blanche Hoschedé Monet, who were pioneers in this movement.
* Surrealism: featured works by Frida Kahlo, Leonor Fini, Leonora Carrington, and Dorothea Tanning explore dreamlike, fantastical themes.
* Abstract Expressionism: the museum includes pieces by Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler, showcasing the movement’s emotional and expressive innovations.
The museum also displays sculptures by Louise Bourgeois and Barbara Hepworth, as well as conceptual and performance art by Marina Abramović. Contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, and Jenny Saville are part of the evolving collection.

## Museum layout

FAMM’s exhibitions is divided into three floors with the exhibitions chronologically organized from bottom to top:
* Ground floor: features 19th-century Impressionism and Post-Impressionism with works by pioneers such as Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Eva Gonzalès. The gallery introduces the foundations in women’s roles in shaping modern art movements.
* First floor: covers works with Abstract Expressionism and other mid-20th-century artistic innovations, including pieces by Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, and Helen Frankenthaler, alongside European abstractionists like Maria Helena Vieira da Silva.
* Second floor: focuses on contemporary art, showcasing figurative and conceptual works. Installations and paintings by figures including Jenny Saville, Tracey Emin, and Sarah Lucas, which are based on the themes of challenging societal norms, identity, and resilience, appear on the floor.

## Founding and historical context

The transformation of the Museum of Classical Art in Mougins into FAMM in 2023 had largely changed the museum's focus by its founder, Christian Levett. Formerly, Levett, a former British investment manager, developed the original museum in 2011 to juxtapose classical artifacts with modern art, but over time, he changed this toward celebrating female artists which lead to the naming of the FAMM.
Mougins, a picturesque village known for its artistic heritage, was selected as the location for FAMM due to its connection to cultural icons like Pablo Picasso and Fernand Léger. Picasso, in particular, spent his final years in Mougins, further cementing the village’s reputation as an artistic hub.

## Media coverage

Since its opening, FAMM has received widespread media attention for its dedication to women artists. Prominent publications, including Le Parisien, The Times, and Harper’s Bazaar, have noted it as being a notable cultural institution in the French Riviera. Critics have praised FAMM’s efforts to address gender imbalance in the art world and its role in fostering discussions about diversity and inclusion.