Introduction
The article "Female artists are finally getting their turn," highlights the gender inequality in the art world, and the perception of women's art over the years. Different themes emerge from this article, such as how art is received, the impacts of historical movements, and how people are looking at modern art. For instance, there is a debate on the beneficial factor of all-women shows for art, highlighting the different arts perceptions. It is also essential to evaluate how different historical movements have influenced the representation of art by women. This paper evaluates the article "Female artists are finally getting their turn," highlighting issues in the contemporary art world.
Georgia O'Keeffe refused to participate in all-female shows in 1976, disregarding the narrative of being a woman painter, but considering herself the best painter regardless of the gender (Sheets). As a result, examining the question of the benefits of all-women shows is vital. One may question whether these shows help address gender inequality in the field, enhance women's visibility, or portray women as outsiders in the mainstream art world. All-women shows are essential in highlighting the prevalent problem of inequality in the art-world. However, it all depends on how these shows are organized. It means that the nature of these shows could further alienate art. Another article titled "Are All-Women Shows Good or Bad for Art?" accused some all-women shows of disregarding new art from unknown artists (Cotter). It can be asserted that all-women presentations are emphasizing the problem of inequality instead of solving it. Despite this, it is plausible to say that all-women shows can raise awareness of the apparent sexism with proper planning.
The view of art has been greatly impacted by historical movements. For instance, between 1550 and 1950, there was a wave of all-female shows (Sheets). They sought to highlight artists disregarded by major museums and galleries. However, despite this endeavor, equality was not achieved. The likes of "Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women," is a current show that has sought to exhibit all women's artworks, which has seen a 20% increase in attendance (Sheets). The New York Times has indicated that only approximately 11% of museum arts were women artists, highlighting the significant gender inequality (Coon). The National Museum of Women in the Arts was created to support and address the gender gap that has long persisted. The Guerilla Girls is another example illustrating a group of artists working to address gender inequality. The objective is to introduce female artists into museums. Pen and Brush conducted a panel discussion that has indicated that all-female shows are an approach to uncovering the stereotype that women do not create good artwork (Sheets). Therefore, it is evident that movements and individuals championing women's art plays a critical role in addressing gender inequality in the art industry.
The cost perspective is another way art is viewed by people. There is a significant gender inequality concerning the price of artworks. Only a few women have managed to break the $1 million at an auction (Reilly). It is not easy to find highly acknowledged contemporary artists such as Cindy Sherman and Yayoi Kusama. The auction's highest price for art by a living female and male is $7.1 million and $58.4 million, respectively (Reilly). The highest auction prices for art by a deceased female and male are $44.4 million and $142.4 million, respectively (Reilly). It is evident there is significant inequality in the arts by both genders are valued in the market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender inequality is a significant problem in art world. It is evidenced in the different ways art from different genders is viewed. Museums and galleries value the work of male artists more than their female counterparts. Similarly, the pricing of art pieces in galleries is different for both genders, with artworks by male artists being exceedingly expensive. As postulated in the article, female artists are getting some exposure. One way this is being accomplished is through all-women shows that seek to feature artwork by women hence addressing the issue of gender inequality.
