The concept of the uncanny, as explored in the Uncanny exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), offers profound insights into women artists’ use of psychological and feminist themes. Rooted in the psychoanalytic theories of Freud and earlier descriptions by Ernst Jentsch, the uncanny describes the experience of something strangely familiar yet alien, provoking feelings of anxiety and disquiet. Women artists have historically been associated with notions of strangeness and the 'other' in visual culture, often depicted through a male gaze that marginalizes their perspective. This exhibition reverses that narrative, highlighting how women artists reclaim agency by using the uncanny to challenge and destabilize ingrained gender and societal preconceptions. Key to the exhibition is the exploration of “unsafe spaces”—ghostly, disorienting interiors that feel psychologically unwelcoming or abandoned. These spaces symbolize broader themes such as political tension, racial trauma, and collective fear, reflecting women’s lived experiences and histories of marginalization. Uncanny art, therefore, becomes a form of resistance and liberation, using aggressive defamiliarization to confront entrenched norms and prompt viewers to question their assumptions about gender roles and societal structures. The exhibition also connects to recent feminist scholarship, such as Alexandra Kokoli’s work which examines the intersection of Freudian psychoanalysis and feminism. By presenting artworks that unsettle the familiar, the show foregrounds women’s complex worldviews and emotions—including fear, revulsion, and existential anxiety—in ways that empower rather than silence. Furthermore, this framework allows for a deep interrogation of cultural legacies, including the history of reproductive rights, as noted in related protest art from groups like Guerrilla Girls, who challenge traditional values on abortion and highlight women’s autonomy over their bodies. The interweaving of psychological unease with socio-political critique positions uncanny art by women artists as an essential voice in contemporary feminist discourse. In summary, the Uncanny exhibition shares a rich, multi-layered narrative that goes beyond traditional art displays by engaging visitors with unsettling yet meaningful experiences. It invites us to reconsider the role of women in art history, not as passive subjects, but as active creators who use the eerie and the enigmatic to explore identity, trauma, and empowerment.