The Art Museum Patriarchy

 Since the start of the 21st century, there have been countless advancements for women in the art world. However, some important areas remain  the meager representation of female artists in museum collections. A 2019 investigation by Artnet, an art market publication, and “In Other Words”, a podcast and newsletter, uncovered that in the previous decade, just 11 percent of artworks acquired for the permanent collections of major museums were created by female artists. Some museums included in this study were the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But why does this statistic come as such a surprise?

For the past 20 years, there has been an illusion of progress surrounding America’s major museums. Amidst the wave of positive change that has swept the rest of the art world, it feels safe to assume that our museums, too, are doing all that they can to ensure equal representation for artists of all backgrounds. But according to Artnet, the reality is that the amount of female artworks in major museums peaked in 2009 and has been declining ever since, proving that female-identifying artists are still severely underrepresented.

Another way this illusion is maintained is through exhibitions. While just as informative and enlightening as art that is permanently on display, being chosen for exhibitions does not necessarily mean success for female artists. As the New York Times explains it,: “The barometer of achievement for female artists … is not the number of solo and group exhibitions they are given, which are often less expensive and easier to mount, but direct purchases by the museum for their permanent collections, as well as donations.” In other words, exhibits by and centered around female artists are definitely a step in the right direction, but they are simply not enough. 

It is well known that there has been a long history of underrepresentation for women in the art field. Harsh gender roles meant that, until recently, most female artists were not taken seriously, or even considered artists. In addition to the lack of proper opportunities and resources given to women to make themselves and their art known, many talented female artists are not able to be widely recognized. 

Because many museums focus on reputation and name-recognition when acquiring art for their collections, museum committees see purchasing and displaying art done by women as a risk, both financially and socially. 

The lack of female artwork in influential museums leaves us with only parts of the whole picture: valuable experiences, stories, and messages about our historic and present-day culture are left out when art from the female perspective is not available to us. In order to have a fully-formed understanding of ourselves and our past, there must be more representation for female artists. 

On a more positive note, reform groups such as the Guerrilla Girls have been gaining attention in recent years and as a result, many museums are beginning to put an active effort towards equal representation.