Where are the women in art?
Female artists continue to be under-represented in today's art market. An organization in Brussels is helping change that.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.
Next week, the inaugural edition of the Biennale of Women in Art will open in Brussels. It’s the first of its kind in Europe — a showcase of work by various artists based in Belgium.
Following the two weeks in Brussels, the works will travel to Italy, where they will be displayed in connection to the prestigious Venice Biennale. Exciting!
Unlike an art fair, which shows pieces for sale, a biennale is strictly about showcasing valuable work. “What we want is cultural mediation” rather than buyers, award-winning event organizer and Biennale creator Jemima Kulumba tells me. “Most of the people in Brussels have at least one friend who’s an artist,” she says, so being aware of the market’s lack of parity is important.
In 1989, an anonymous group of female artists calling themselves the Guerilla Girls asked themselves a question: Do women have to be naked to get into museums?
They conducted a study and found that 85% of the nudes on display in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art were women — while only 5% of the works on display were by female artists.
But while you probably already knew female artists are widely under-represented, you might not know just how big the gap still is today.
Let’s try to illustrate that with some stats, shall we?
The French culture ministry says in 2021 only 6.6% of the artists in French museum collections overall were women.
Work by female artists represents only 2% of worldwide auction sales, according to Artnet’s database. They’re also under-represented in galleries and, consequently, at art fairs as well — which means their audience is much more limited.
In Belgium, the vast majority of women graduating from its various art schools never manage to break into the market.
The Biennale won’t change all of this by itself, but it’s a great way to advance.
“I hope some of the attendees will come away wanting to support female artists,” says Jemima. “And I hope more institutions come to us to work together on this topic.”
Piece of the week
The mind behind this gorgeous oil painting, as well as the one used on the poster, is Diane Marie Uwase — a self-taught artist who lives and works in Antwerp.
You can see her oil paintings in person at the Biennale.
What’s going on?
Villa Empain, the Art Deco masterpiece by Bois de la Cambre, is hosting the Limited Edition Art Fair this weekend. “Fabulous and affordable works,” attendees have said.
Ballon Rouge, a lovely gallery near Saint Catherine, is unveiling a new show the evening of March 16th. Stop by to see the art, meet the artist, drink champagne.
Les Brigittines, one of the many contemporary dance companies in Brussels, is having a festival!
The movie theater Cinematek is also having a festival! Through March 21st.
Next week’s Tuesday lunch tour at the House of European history will be focused on the topic of gender balance, per their website.
Klarafestival, at Bozar, comes with a two-week program of classical, jazz and contemporary music. Tickets seem to be selling fast.
You can still see L’art de Rien, the Centrale for Contemporary Art’s exhibit displaying pieces made out of everyday materials and objects, until the 17th.
And the Brussels Architecture Festival (BANAD) is still going strong.
How exciting, to be living in a city where SO much happens … aside from those EUCO summits.
Enjoy your weekends,
Ana