Cox's first renowned painting was "The Lotus Eaters", which was displayed at the National Academy of Design in 1887, the Paris Exposition in 1889, and with "A Rondel" at the Palace of Fine Arts at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. In 1893 Cox displayed the painting, "Psyche" at an annual exhibition for the Society of American Artists. She was elected a member in the same year. The National Academy of Design awarded her the 1896 Third Hallgarten Prize for "Pomona", and the 1904 Second Hallgarten Prize for "The Sisters".