Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Hilma af Klint. Can you name more female artists? We wouldn’t blame you if your answer was no.
The art industry has historically been male-oriented, but even in modern times, the situation hasn’t completely shifted. Women artists are underrepresented in both commercial galleries and museums, with only 14% of the Top 500 Contemporary artists accounted in the world for auction turnover, a study reveals.
Art curator and director Marion Friedmann believes that times are getting better although the preference for more male artists is still there.
‘There is a gap as everywhere else, also in other professions. Women haven't spoken up enough and could not do so. But now they do. More and more emphasis is given on female artists,’ she says.
‘Of the many female art students that enter the career, many women do get to the point that they get children and family, and some of them don't get back to their professions, and don't continue on their route.’
Since 2017, Liz Kori, a contemporary painter based in London, has undertaken a career based on her art. Various exhibitions in the city displayed her colourful works but her full potential could shine only through social media.
‘In terms of success, valuation and notoriety, the work of female artists is still valued less than their male counterparts,’ says Liz. ‘Even I as an artist struggle to name any women artists, yet a list of male artists would easily roll off my tongue. And that saddens me.’
For emerging artists like Sophia Gray, a pattern and textile designer turned painter based in East Wittering, changes are being made but there’s still a lot to get done. Like many other artists, she promotes her art on social media and her online shop on Etsy, but one day she hopes to have her work displayed in an art gallery.
‘Galleries have still got these old-fashioned views,’ she says. ‘There’s a stigma attached to it and people seem to, not praise male artists more, but seem to almost respect them more which I don’t get why. I live and breathe art, how’s that make it any different just because you’re a man?’
The study also shows that there’s a specific stereotype in the visual arts industry of women being perceived more as muses, rather than ‘true’ creators. In fact, 12 artists from different European countries reported that art is associated with aggressiveness, ruthless ambition, arrogance and self-promotion, traits typically attributed to men.
Liz blames the male-dominated system for the misogynistic treatment of women artists throughout history.
‘The mindset of women being “subjects” and rarely the creator is the reason why many museums and galleries will have at least half of their displayed works depicting a female, yet an overwhelming majority of the artists being exhibited are male,’ she says. ‘The female body is constantly used to sell art, it's only right that the representation of women artists should be more fair.’
Sophia feels the same way.
‘Women should just be respected and celebrated for their art. I like to think of myself as a muse sometimes but it’s my brain and if people like my work then I think they like the way I think.’
The future looks bright for women artists and maybe one day we’ll be able to recognise their contribution to the world of art.