Although we’re a long way off from achieving equality, this article focuses on some positive changes for women artists. This article was published in 2018 with a few more recent additions.
Wikipedia Expands its Women Artists
The Museum of Modern Art, NYC, NY, held the fifth annual Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon on March 3, 2018. It was an all-day communal updating of Wikipedia entries on subjects related to gender, art, and feminism. The annual global initiative focuses on improving Wikipedia entries related to notable women artists and art world figures and helps improve Wikipedia’s gender imbalance.
Giving Credit to Female Artists
April 19, 2018 National Geographic published an article “6 Female Artists Who Turned Modern Art On Its Head” written by Elaina Zachos, who stated, “Despite their mastery and innovation of the arts, the visionary women of the modern art world are rarely discussed in mainstream histories.”
“200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World”
This book and exhibition presented by BMW Group. The project is comprised of women’s stories that shine light on gender equality, inspired by “…a belief that you can’t empower women without listening to their stories.” For more information visit twohundredwomen.com
Whitney Museum Tries to Balance the Scales
The 2017 Whitney Biennial, the seventy-eighth installment of the longest-running survey of American art, which takes place every other year, began amidst racial tensions, economic inequities, and polarizing politics. Christopher Lew and Mia Locks served as the co-curators for the Biennial in which half of the 63 artists are women and people of color.
Women’s Museum in California
The Women’s Museum of California in San Diego is one of only six museums of women’s history in the U.S. Founded in 1983 as the Women’s History Reclamation Project, the museum’s tag line is “preserving the past… inspiring the future”. It features a variety of changing exhibits on women’s history, sponsors workshop and lecture series, develops and implements educational and cultural events, including art shows, live performances and presentations, and much more.
“Rebel Women: Defying Victorianism”
This exhibition at The Museum of the City of New York, July 17, 2018 – January 6, 2019, explores the trailblazing women who challenged Victorian social norms in 19th-century NYC. It features photographs, garments, paintings, and prints that reflect the often-untold stories of independent, courageous, and unconventional women who made an impact on NYC’s society, culture, and economy during the 19th century. For more information visit mcny.org/exhibition/rebel-women
Women Eco Artists Dialogue
This is a pioneering network of feminist eco-artists, educators, curators, and writers working toward the goal of a just and healthy world. They focus on women’s unique perspective in ecological and social justice art. It was founded in 1996 by Jo Hanson, Susan Leibovitz Steinman and Estelle Akamine in response to increasing requests for artist referrals and for designing ecoart exhibits and programs. If you are a women artist who creates ecoart learn more about joining WEAD Artists on its website weadartists.org
New York Studio School Women Art Exhibition
The New York Studio School and the NYSS Alumni Association presented “X Marks the Spot: Women of the New York Studio School”, July 23-August 26, 2018, curated by NYSS Alumni Malado Baldwin and Maia Ibar. The curators stated, “Until equilibrium has been achieved in the art world, we believe showing female work to be a necessity. In the aftermath of the election and the #metoo movement, it seems even more essential to encourage equalization in the art world.” For more information visit nyss.org/exhibition/x-marks-the-spot
Manhattan Arts International’s Annual “HerStory” exhibition
For more than 25 years I’ve had the honor and privilege of curating “HerStory” exhibitions in public venues and online at ManhattanArts.com. As a result of these exhibitions more than 1,000 women artists have received global exposure and special awards for their art. The next two-month online exhibition is scheduled for spring-summer 2020. Visit Manhattan Arts International for more information.
“She Persists: A Century of Women Artists in New York, 1919-2019” was an exhibition at Gracie Mansion in NYC, NY, in December 2019. This exhibition, featured the works of 44 women, about resilience and how ideas, influences, and networks of support flow across generations in New York City. On view was a painting by Alice Neel of her daughter-in-law, a silkscreened quilt “Tar Beach II” by Faith Ringgold, and a still life of flowers by the promising young painter Jennifer Packer. Photographs by Berenice Abbott capture a family on the steps of a Brooklyn residence and the George Washington Bridge, among other great works of art.
Lisa Phillips Speaks Out
“The first step in addressing inequality is acknowledging it… Hard data makes it plain and clear,” states Lisa Phillips, director of the New Museum in New York, who initiated an important study “The Ongoing Gender Gap in Art Museum Directorships”, in 2014, the first to analyze salary data collected from the association’s 200-plus membership from the vantage point of gender. The study was updated in 2017.
Lisa Phillips is known for promoting work by outsider artists and strident social activists, and work by under-recognized women. In 2017 The New York Times ran an article about Lisa Phillips as “The Most Powerful Woman in the New York Art World”.
The Story of Women and Art 1, 2, and 3 – A DVD
This is a riveting three-part documentary available on DVD from Amazon. It addresses the fact that too often in the annals of art, women have been shown on the canvas but not behind the brush. The documentary features enterprising women who have defied the odds to produce great works of art and become innovators in their fields. Professor Amanda Vickery escorts us on an unprecedented tour through four centuries of Western art.
Keep the Conversation Going
We must continue to maintain a dialogue that is approached with a non-judgmental attitude and exercise empathy, understanding, respect and tolerance.
Hope flourishes when we ask ourselves important life-changing questions and when we expand the conversation with others, including those who may be different than us. We need to keep an open mind when learning about and discussing topics that affect not only women but every member of our society.
You May Also Want to Read Organizations that Advance the Status of Women Artists.
Leave a Reply