8 exhibitions on women’s contribution to art
8 exhibitions on women’s contribution to art demonstrate the invaluable contribution of women to culture.
Over the years, women have made significant contributions to art, science and culture. But we have become accustomed to seeing this contribution overshadow that of the male gender. Many museums, books, public discourse and, of course, schools give more emphasis and attention to men. Imagine being able to see all the influence that has been wrought by women. To wander through an exhibition where every creation and every corner celebrates women. To read in books all that has been achieved by female figures. Well, you can do it.
All over the world, regardless of location, culture, customs, cultures and religion, the need to redress this imbalance and the desire to represent the female gender is felt. We searched and found 8 exhibitions and museums that focus on women for you to visit if the road takes you there.
1.EMST – What If Women Ruled the World
Of course we couldn’t not start from Athens. If you live in or plan to visit the capital, the National Museum of Contemporary Art should be on your itinerary. From December 2023 to November 2024, the EMST is hosting a series of four exhibitions titled “What If Women Ruled the World?”
It is the first time, in Greece, that the exhibitions are exclusively by women. An initiative by Artistic Director Katerina Grego inspired by the new work of the same name Yael Bartana.
The exhibitions explore the idea of what the world could be like if it were ruled by women, asking the question if there would be less violence, more justice and more care for the environment and human rights.
Exhibition duration: 14.12.2023 – 27.10.2024
Location: EMST Athens. Kallirois Ave. & Amvr. Frantzi Str. (Former FIX Factory) Athens
2.Naomi: In Fashion Victoria & Albert Museum
One of the world’s most famous and iconic museums will host a retrospective exhibition on the life and career of Naomi Cambell.
The exhibition is dedicated to Cambell’s 40-year career and will feature pieces from her personal wardrobe, as well as pieces from her iconic runway appearances. There will also be an installation of stunning photographs from fashion editorials, curated by British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.
Naomi Cambell pushed for diversity on the catwalks and was the first black model to be photographed for the cover of French Vogue in 1988. She is also the first black woman to pose for the cover of American Vogue in 1989.
Duration: 22 June 2024 – April 2025
Location:Victoria & Albert Museum London
3.The Design Museum - Barbie: The Exhibition
Following the success of the Barbie film, an exhibition dedicated to Barbie and her evolution through time is coming to London. You’ll have the chance to explore over 250 rare and iconic objects, from Barbie’s inception in 1959 to the present day. You can see everything from the first black, Latino and Asian dolls to dolls representing people with Down syndrome, dolls with wheelchairs and dolls of different professions and appearances from the defined first Barbie doll.
Duration: 5 July 2024 – 23 February 2025
Location: The Design Museum – London
4.Tate Modern Exhibition - YOKO ONO: MUSIC OF THE MIND
Continuing on to London you can visit the exhibition dedicated to the career of Yoko Ono.
Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist, singer, songwriter and
composer activist. The exhibition features over 200 works spanning seven decades, celebrating Ono’s contributions to art, music and peace activism.
Duration: 15 February 2024 – 1 September 2024
Location: Tate Modern Exhibition – London
5.Tate Modern Exhibition - Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920
At the Tate Modern Exhibition you can also visit ‘Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920′ : an immersive exhibition showcasing the often overlooked contribution of women artists to British art. Featuring over 150 works, the exhibition breaks stereotypes about female artists, often considered amateurs, by showcasing their talent and seriousness. They painted subjects that were typically reserved for men and fought for equal opportunities in art, reshaping the art world for women.
Location: Tate Britain – London
6.The Warsaw Rising Museum - The Journey of the Heroines
If you find yourself in Warsaw then the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which describes the whole history of the liberation of Poland and the historical events in Warsaw, should be on your list. Apart from the descriptive and illustrative depiction of history, this museum has a tribute to women. More often than not, men are highlighted as war heroes and become historical symbols.
In this museum, due importance is given to the contribution of women during the war and also during the uprising.. The resilience, strength, bravery and determination of women amidst the adversities of war is showcased. Polish women simultaneously played the roles of mother, wife, cook, nurse and warrior as they took to the battlefield and resistance.
Location: The Warsaw Rising Museum – Warsaw
7.KATAIS Athens - I AM A VULVA by Effie Emmanouilidi & Planet Sisterhood
As part of the “Athens Pride Festival”, for a few days KATAIS Athens presents the exhibition “I AM A VULVA” by Efis Emmanouilidis. The exhibition includes handmade ceramic vaginas, video projections and installations that highlight contemporary femininities in Greece.
Efis Emmanouilidis’ work challenges gender stereotypes and emphasizes the value of femininity in a society that often represses it. In Greece, similar concerns have been at the centre of debates and public discourse around femicide.
Duration of the exhibition: 23.05 – 02.06, Monday – Saturday 11:00 – 20:00 Location: KATAIS Athens 3 Vourvachi – Koukaki Athens.
8.The Art Institute of Chicago - Radical Clay: Celebrating Contemporary Women Pottery Artists in Japan
In Chicago we can find the exhibition “Radical Clay”. The exhibition presents 40 striking works by 36 contemporary women ceramicists, highlighting their significant contribution to the field of ceramics in Japan after World War II. The exhibition focuses on the innovative and bold works created by these women artists from
1970s and onwards and are mainly representations of strange bodily deformities.
Duration: 2023- 3 June 2024
Location: The Art Institute of Chicago
