Women Artists

Discover artworks by the world’s most celebrated female artists

Women Artists in History

The narrative of women in art history is fraught with disparity, but recent strides aim to rectify this imbalance. Notably, Tate Britain’s 2023 rehang represents a pivotal shift, as it marked the first time in its 126-year history that half of the contemporary artists displayed were women. The rehung galleries are part of a broader commitment by institutions to diversify and correct historical oversights, evident in other major events like the 2022 Venice Biennale and innovative all-women auctions.

Despite these efforts, the reality remains stark. Research reveals a significant economic gap in the art market, highlighting that artworks by famous women artists typically fetch only a fraction of the price of their male counterparts’. Furthermore, while the majority of postgraduate art students are female or non-binary, representation by commercial galleries heavily favors male artists.

Women artists have often been overlooked in history, despite their significant contributions. In the 16th to 18th centuries, many women in Northern and Southern Europe became successful painters, teachers, and graphic artists. Often, these female artists came from artistic families, learning their craft outside official academies. Notable figures include Marietta Robusti, who trained with her father Tintoretto, and Rachel Ruysch, whose still lifes outsold her husband’s. And even as some female artists carved out significant careers by the early 19th century, by mid-century, many were still routinely excluded from art academies and major commissions. Famous women artists like Artemisia Gentileschi and Maria Sibylla Merian, who achieved recognition in their lifetimes, faced considerable obstacles, from limited access to training and patronage to outright dismissal of their artwork.

Exhibitions like Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920, currently shown at Tate Britain in London, are not merely retrospective but are interventions that challenge the entrenched stereotypes of women artists as amateurs or secondary figures in the art world. By spotlighting female artists who engaged with male-dominated subjects such as history paintings and battle scenes, these exhibitions underscore the tenacity of women in overcoming barriers to recognition and equal status in the art world. This revisionist approach is crucial in highlighting the depth and breadth of contributions made by women artists, ensuring they are recognized not only within the confines of museums but in the broader cultural narrative as well.

Famous Female Artists Today

Today, the landscape of women artists is growing increasingly diverse and dynamic. However, the majority of famous artists celebrated by museums and galleries are still predominantly male. Notable exceptions who have successfully emerged from the shadows of a male-dominated art world include Louise Bourgeois, Jenny Holzer, Tracey Emin, Marina Abramović, and Carmen Herrera.

Louise Bourgeois‘ paintings, prints and monumental sculptures, such as the famous “Maman”, explore themes of childhood, family, and fear, with a rawness that is both intimate and universal. Jenny Holzer’s innovative use of text as an artistic medium (Text-Based Art) confronts the viewer with poignant truths and societal reflections, her LED installations illuminating both public and private spaces with thought-provoking messages. Tracey Emin is a prominent contemporary British female artist known for her provocative and autobiographical artworks, including installations, drawings, prints and sculptures. Emin’s artwork explores intimacy, identity, and survival, often weaving her own personal stories with universal themes of love, loss, and resilience, striking a deep chord with audiences.

Marina Abramović, often hailed as the “grandmother of performance art,” continues to challenge and expand the boundaries of physical and mental endurance. Her artworks, which often feature her own body as the primary medium, invite deep introspection about pain, presence, and the human condition. Shirin Neshat’s compelling photographic and video artwork delves into issues of gender, identity, and politics in the Islamic world, her narratives beautifully woven with themes of power and resistance.

Lastly, Carmen Herrera, a women artist who found fame in her later years, paints with a precision and clarity that belies her age. Her geometric abstractions, characterized by their crisp lines and bold colors, are a testament to her lifelong dedication to visual purity and compositional balance.

As the artistic landscape evolves, the contributions of these trailblazing female artists serve as powerful catalysts for change, challenging conventions and inspiring a new generation. Their diverse voices and unique perspectives continue to enrich the art world, pushing for a future where talent is celebrated irrespective of gender.