Guerrilla Girls in "Bodies of Knowledge" - Season 11 | Art21

Key Concepts

Art world discrimination (sexism, racism), Guerrilla Girls (anonymous activist artist group), art institutions, representation of women and artists of color, museum funding, art as investment, public opinion, art world ethics, Guerrilla art, statistics as evidence, collective art.

Guerrilla Girls: Origins and Mission

The Guerrilla Girls formed in 1985 in response to the stark underrepresentation of women and artists of color in the art world, specifically triggered by the 1984 Museum of Modern Art exhibition, "An International Survey of Painting and Sculpture," which featured only 17 women out of 169 artists. The group aimed to combat sexism and racism within art institutions and challenge the dominance of wealthy individuals and institutions in shaping art and culture. They chose anonymity to focus on the issues rather than individual personalities.

Tactics and Strategies

The Guerrilla Girls employed a data-driven approach, using statistics to expose inequalities in gallery representation, museum acquisitions, and exhibition opportunities. Their early tactics involved creating posters with bold graphics and provocative headlines, often displayed in the SoHo and East Village art districts. These posters presented facts about the lack of representation of women and artists of color in galleries and museums. They funded their activities by passing the hat around to pay for printing.

Example: One of their first posters listed male artists who allowed their work to be shown in galleries that showed fewer than 10 percent women or none at all.

Impact and Influence

The Guerrilla Girls' work ignited dialogue and challenged the art world's status quo. Their anonymity allowed them to speak freely and criticize institutions without fear of reprisal. Their posters forced galleries and museums to confront their biases.

Example: A gallery director's son asking why her name was on a Guerrilla Girls' poster illustrates the immediate impact of their work.

Frances Morris, director of Tate Modern, recounts how a Guerrilla Girls' pink letter and the inability to respond to journalists' questions about diversity prompted her to prioritize the representation of women and artists of color in the museum's international collection.

Quote: "Dearest art collector, it has come to our attention that your collection, like most, does not contain enough art by women. We know that you feel terrible about this and will rectify the situation immediately. All our love, Guerrilla Girls."

Systemic Issues and Criticisms

The Guerrilla Girls highlighted the systemic nature of discrimination in the art world, pointing out that while art schools may have a significant female population, women are often excluded from the mainstream art world. They also criticized the reliance of art institutions on wealthy donors, whose investments in art influence exhibition choices and potentially create a conflict of interest.

Guerrilla Girls' Code of Ethics for Art Museums (Examples):

• "Thou shalt not give more than three retrospectives to any artist whose dealer is the brother of the chief curator."
• "Thou shalt provide lavish funerals for women and artists of color, who thou planneth to exhibit only after their death."
• "Thou shalt banish board members who make the world a worse place."
• "If thou exhibiteth super-expensive art bought at super-fancy galleries and donated by super-rich collectors for super-big tax deductions, thou must renameth thyself The Museum of Super-Rich People's Art."

Guerrilla Art and Public Engagement

The Guerrilla Girls advocate for public engagement and critique the notion that art is solely for the elite. They believe the public should have a say in what is displayed in museums. They created a monument to be placed outside every museum to encourage dialogue and accountability.

Continued Relevance and Global Reach

The Guerrilla Girls' work continues to resonate with younger generations, who are increasingly exposed to their message through social media and educational institutions. Their statistics-based approach remains a powerful tool for exposing inequalities and promoting diversity. While they have achieved recognition in Europe, resistance to their message persists in the United States.

Conclusion

The Guerrilla Girls' decades-long activism has challenged the art world's biases and promoted greater representation for women and artists of color. Their use of data, provocative messaging, and anonymity has made them a powerful force for change. While progress has been made, systemic issues remain, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance and advocacy in the art world. The Guerrilla Girls encourage a shift in perspective, viewing art as a collective endeavor that enriches everyone's lives, not just a competition for winners.