Art Has Always Been Equal, Right?

To be forbidden from expressing yourself through a painting, a sculpture, or even a picture nowadays seems unrealistic. Why would someone not be able to show their emotions, experiences, and even secrets to an audience in an exhibition? Is it not a basic human right? Sadly, decades ago, this was women’s reality. Automatically becoming invisible to everyone because of their gender was normal. The art world that we know nowadays was very different from the one that existed before the late 1960s. This transition did not happen all of a sudden, it was the effect of one of the biggest movements to ever exist, the Feminist Movement.

Yes, the Feminist Movement. The only reason why women all over the world get to enjoy rights that they did not have before. Like voting, attending university, and even creating their own art gallery. Which is why this past March 8th was a day where we gathered together, to commemorate the obstacles that women have overcome over the years in their quest for equality. And that is the reason why in this article, I would like to honour some of the women that began the Feminist Art Movement in the late 1960s, allowing us to portray our feelings through art without being neglected in today’s world.

One of the top names that pop up when you google the Feminist Art Movement is Linda Nochlin. A well-known art historian and activist of women’s rights. Although all of her art pieces are based on feminism, and empowerment, there is one book that put the Feminist Movement on the map. And that is, Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? (1971). This essay conveyed every single idea and thought that females had towards this issue. Why is it impossible for a woman to achieve artistic excellence, and not a man?. Why when a man wants to express his feelings he is called a genius, whereas a woman is called mad?. Once published, the book became one of the fundamentals of Feminism.

Following Nochlin is, Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro. In 1971, they founded the first ever feminist art program at the California Institute of the Arts. Followed by that, in 1972 they created the installation Womanhouse (1972), which shows a woman’s fight of being caged in a domestic space, to being liberated from gender assignments. This gave hope to the housewives that were forced into their roles, because they were forced to think that they only belonged in the kitchen.

Finally, Mary Beth Edelson. Edelson is mostly known for her painting Some Living Women Artists/Last Supper (1972). In this artwork, she uses Da Vinci’s most famous mural, and covers the men’s faces with the ones of famous female artists. The main purpose of this painting was to raise awareness to the oppression that women go through in religion, strengthening the Feminist Movement’s goal of demanding a fair treatment towards women.

This is just the beginning. As the days go by, more and more people are aware of the need for equality. To go back to the days where individuals were oppressed because of their gender would be pure madness. If you are interested on learning a bit more about women’s role of art history, I invite you to follow @thegreatwomenartists on Instagram. A safe space, where its users promote the profuse history female artistry, and celebrate artists from different backgrounds with several stories to be told. An online exhibition of what was, is, and will be our legacy in the arts world.