by Oana-Maria Moldovan
Throughout 2024 Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and Kirsha Kaechele, the artist who created the “Ladies’ Lounge” exhibit, have been fighting discrimination in the art industry.
After being forced to shut in May due to a lost court case, the exhibit, based in Hobart, Tasmania, has since been able to reopen, marking a landmark in female art spaces.
This legal action came in response to the exhibit’s controversial nature meaning a lawsuit was filed by a man claiming gender discrimination. Despite winning, the end of September saw Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Shane Marshall overturn this decision.
Marshall found that men could be excluded from the Ladies Lounge, because the law allows for discrimination if it promotes “equal opportunity” for a marginalised group. Adding that it provides “women with a rare glimpse of what it is like to be advantaged rather than disadvantaged.”
Having opened in 2020, the court’s initial decision mandated that MONA must make the exhibit accessible to the public. This ruling reflects ongoing legal and societal debates around the themes explored in the exhibit and the rights of individuals to access art that addresses gender and identity issues.
The reopening of “Ladies’ Lounge” is significant not only for MONA but also for the wider art community, as it underscores the challenges and tensions that can arise when art intersects with sensitive social issues and legal disputes.
Kaechele, who is also the wife of the Museum’s, explained that “men are experiencing ‘Ladies’ Lounge’, their experience of rejection is the artwork.” When forced to open the lounge for everyone, the artist chose to open a new exhibit, in the women’s bathroom featuring paintings by Picasso – which actually ended up being counterfeit, adding an additional level to the fight for female creatives.
At the grounds of the scandal stands Martin Waugh, a white, straight, cis-gendered man, and an artist himself, who felt discriminated against because he couldn’t, with his 38$ ticket, enter a room in the museum which was specifically only for women but also had a 400$ fee for entering it.
In today’s world, where there are so many spaces only for men it’s quite interesting to see one of ‘the boys’ getting upset about being unable to see art not made for him.
There have been many moments in time, across history, when people – women in this case – were indeed discriminated against in the art world because of their gender.
Let’s take the train down memory lane and look a bit into feminine historical figures who did wonders in the arts, their oppressors, and what they stood for. This will be a long ride, so buckle up, buttercup!
Historically, female artists were denied the same opportunities as their male counterparts. For example, during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, women were rarely admitted to formal art academies and were often excluded from the prestigious guilds that were essential for an artist's training and career.
Sappho (yes, this is where shappic comes from), an ancient Greek poet from around 630 to 570 BCE, was one such figure. Her lyric poetry, often focused on passion and love, has resonated through the ages. In a male-dominated society, female poets were rare (almost non-existent) and frequently marginalised.
Much of Sappho’s work was lost or destroyed over time, partly due to societal biases against female intellectuals. Despite the oppression, Sappho’s surviving fragments continue to inspire and influence modern poetry, highlighting the enduring power of female voices in literature.
While she was not the first female poet to ever exist, she was the first whose name was known by the general public.
Hildegard of Bingen, a German Benedictine abbess from the mediaeval period (1098-1179), was another trailblazer. She was a polymath who composed music, wrote theological texts, and created illuminated manuscripts.
Living in the Middle Ages, Hildegard faced the challenge of being a woman in a patriarchal religious order. You see, women were not allowed in religious spaces (yes, they were allowed to be nuns and to pray, but not to actually be seen as a theological figure).
Her visions and intellectual contributions were often scrutinised and dismissed by male clergy. Nevertheless, Hildegard’s work, especially her music and writings, has gained recognition for its profound spiritual and artistic depth, cementing her place as a pioneering figure in mediaeval art and theology.
In the Renaissance period, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) emerged as a formidable Italian Baroque painter. Known for her powerful and dynamic compositions, she often depicted strong women from mythology and the Bible – do you see the pattern?
Artemisia faced significant gender-based discrimination and was a victim of sexual violence. Her rapist, a fellow artist, was tried but received a lenient sentence. Despite these challenges, Gentileschi’s art, characterised by its emotional intensity and technical skill, challenges traditional narratives and offers a vivid portrayal of women’s strength and resilience.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842), a prominent portraitist of her time, was famous for her elegant portraits of European nobility, including Marie Antoinette. Despite her talent, she had to navigate the complexities of being a female artist in a male-dominated profession and the upheavals of the French Revolution. Her extensive body of work and memoirs provide invaluable insights into the lives of women and artists during a tumultuous period in European history.
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), an American painter and printmaker, was a key figure in the Impressionist movement. She is celebrated for her tender depictions of mothers and children.
Operating in the 19th-century art world, Cassatt faced gender-based barriers and was often excluded from the inner circles of the art community – this it’s a boy’s club after all. Cassatt’s work continues to be revered for its intimate and honest portrayal of women’s lives, and she remains a significant figure in the history of Impressionism.
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), a Mexican painter, created surreal and intensely personal works that explore themes of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race.
Although now renowned worldwide, Kahlo faced numerous personal challenges, including lifelong health issues and a tumultuous marriage to Diego Rivera (with a twenty-year age gap, they married when Frida was only twenty-two), who ended up stealing both paintings of hers and her post-mortem recognition.
Additionally, she operated within a patriarchal society that often undervalued her contributions. Despite these hurdles, Frida Kahlo has become an icon of resilience and artistic brilliance, with her works celebrated worldwide for their raw emotion and vivid storytelling.
Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was an Italian fashion designer who made groundbreaking contributions to the world of fashion. Known for her bold and imaginative designs, Schiaparelli often collaborated with surrealist artists like Salvador Dalí.
She introduced innovative elements such as the use of bold colours, especially her signature “Shocking Pink,” and unconventional materials. In the male-dominated fashion industry, Schiaparelli faced significant challenges, yet she defied traditional norms and pushed the boundaries of fashion design.
In France during the ‘30s, Schiaparelli created quite a controversy because, as it seems, she had made a habit of walking the streets of Paris clothed in men’s suits – often even tuxedos. The mayor of the city at the time reportedly forbade her from doing so and even threatened to exile her from Paris if she continued. Schiaparelli, however, disobeyed his demands.
Her work not only influenced the aesthetics of her time but also paved the way for future generations of fashion designers, making her a pivotal figure in the history of fashion.
Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), known as the “Mother of American Modernism,” painted enlarged flowers and southwestern landscapes that have become iconic. O’Keeffe had to contend with critics who often interpreted her work through a sexualized lens, minimising her artistic intentions.
Her distinctive style and dedication to her craft have established her as a major figure in American art, influencing countless artists and movements.
Yayoi Kusama (born 1929), a contemporary Japanese artist, is celebrated for her installations and artworks featuring polka dots and themes of infinity. Kusama has faced mental health challenges and institutional sexism throughout her career. Her innovative work and advocacy for mental health have earned her international acclaim and a lasting legacy in the art world.
If one were to think, even for one second, that the art industry is welcoming for women, or better yet that it is a space only for women where men are not allowed, that person is highly mistaken.
The art world, much like most other fields, has historically been dominated by men, creating significant barriers for women artists. Despite their immense talent and contributions, women have often faced systemic sexism, exclusion, and marginalisation.
While there has been progress, the contemporary art world is not free from gender bias. Female artists still struggle with issues such as lower pay, fewer solo exhibitions, and less media coverage compared to their male peers.
There are more women today in arts than ever, and the space has become more and more intersectional but it’s still not always welcoming for all women, WOC and trans women have a lower rate of selling art than white cis women from Western countries.
The works of women artists are often undervalued in the art market, and they are underrepresented in major museum collections and exhibitions. In the UK, for instance, a recent study highlighted that only 11% of works in the Government Art Collection are by women, and at London’s National Gallery, the figure is a mere 1% (that is a bit over 10% of all works).
And that is in the UK, a first-world country, with a relatively – almost – decent economy and social ramification. What about the countries where people don’t even have money to spend on art?
The artistic world has never been a space created or centred around women, but they progressed and succeeded in it anyway. Despite systemic barriers, gender bias, and exclusion, women artists have continuously made significant contributions, reshaping the art world with their resilience, creativity, and determination.
Their triumphs serve as powerful testaments to their talent and perseverance, inspiring future generations to continue breaking down barriers. As we honour these trailblazers, we must also commit to fostering an inclusive art world where all artists can thrive, regardless of gender.
This ongoing journey toward equality requires us to recognize and celebrate the diverse voices that enrich our cultural landscape, ensuring that the contributions of women artists are valued and remembered.
“The creation of art itself, in whatever form, is an act of defiance against a world that often tries to silence the voices of women. By making art, women claim their space, tell their stories, and challenge the status quo.” - Anais Nin
Edited by Emily Duff