FLY GIRLS:  The WASP Portraits

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From 1942- 1944, during World War II, over 1000 women left homes and jobs to become the first women to fly for the US military. They became the Women Airforce Service Pilots, the WASP, flying ferrying missions in the US. Thirty-eight pilots did not survive. They were promised military status, but they were disbanded without benefits in 1944, and their records were sealed. The FLY GIRLS portraits celebrate the WASP who defied gender stereotypes during WWII, and then spent decades fighting to gain recognition and secure their place in history. It was not until 1977 that the WASP were granted veterans’ benefits.

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Each portrait combines vintage photographs, artifacts, news clippings, digital art, and encaustic wax paint. The portraits are 30x40 and are designed to draw the viewer up close to read the artifacts and learn the WASP stories.

 

FLY GIRLS is a traveling exhibition touring nationally. It has been at the Nashville airport (BNA), Palm Springs Air Museum, the US Army Aviation Museum, and will be at the Customs House Museum in Clarksville, TN starting October 2024, and Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in October 2025. Alison is booking 2025-2026 dates. For inquiries, please email Alison. 

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SHOP  prints on ETSY

LEARN more about the history of the WASP

BOOK the exhibition

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Photos and artifacts are used with permission from Texas Women's University WASP archives.