Women Not Allowed: The State of Contemporary Modern Art.
The highest price fetched for a work by a currently living artist is $91 million for Jeff Koons' "Rabbit", a stainless steel casting of an inflatable rabbit.
Jenny Saville’s “Propped” a self portrait of an overweight, stressed nude woman, holds the record for a living female artist receiving $12.4 million. Although a large sum, it’s a mere 14% of the dollar amount received for Koons' work.
My question is who decided these were truly substantial and significant works of art? What mindset allows that sort of thinking?
Isn’t the art world run by Democrats? That’s the perception anyway. If true, then, why are women so far behind in that world? I wrote a white paper on that topic in 2013 and updated it in 2023. It’s called art brain and you can read it here.
Only 11 percent of acquisitions and 14.9 percent of exhibitions, at 31 U.S. museums between 2008 and 2020, were of work by female-identifying artist according to the Burns Halperin Report in 2022.
The volume of acquisitions of work by women artists peaked all the way back in 2009.
At the current rate of growth, women artists’ total sales in the auction market will not approach 50% until the year 2053.
Of the $196.6 billion spent at art auctions between 2008 and 2019, work produced by women accounted for only $4 billion, or around 2% of the total sales.
Women who BUY art are only 36% of the art market.
What can be done about such raging idiocy?
Clearly, the art world is out of step with women. So, it depends on you and what you do in your own house. Here are a few some more statistics for you that underline how out of touch the Art World is with women.
Women are the primary decision-makers when it comes to home decor in 62% of households.
The largest percentage (82.9%) of Interior Decorating jobs are held by women.
Almost three-quarters (74%) of women are confident in their interior design skills, although most did not feel this way until they reached the age of 27 years old.
So to start making a difference in wresting the beauty of art from the art world and bring it back to your homes:
Buy from female artists.
Put real art in your home.
if you have an interior designer, insist she support women artists.
If you’re an influencer, collaborate with interior designers, remodeling, and other women artists.
Vote with your purse!
