CONTRIBUTORS Five fabulous female art-world leaders
VICTORIA SIDDALL
On page 18, the director of Frieze introduces us to the most compelling female-focused exhibits at the fair this year. Siddall has worked at Frieze since 2004 and launched Frieze Masters in 2012 as well as Frieze Sculpture, which debuted in Regent’s Park last year.
A colour that inspires you ‘The green of London’s parks. They remind me of how lucky we are to have these beautifully designed, open spaces in the heart of the city.’
An artist you would like to meet ‘Frida Kahlo.
She made extraordinary work and was also so singular and stylish.’
Female artists we should know about ‘Kapwani Kiwanga was the recipient of the inaugural Frieze Artist Award in New York this year – I’m excited to see what she does next.’
MARINA ABRAMOVIC
For the past 40 years, the celebrated performance artist (who is interviewed on page 14) has provoked and enthralled her admirers, cutting a communist star into her stomach, lying on a block of ice and facing a loaded gun in the name of art. In 2020 she will become the first woman to take over the Royal Academy’s
Main Galleries.
Art is… ‘miraculous, surprising, transformative. We need it every day like the air we breathe.’
A colour that inspires you ‘All kinds of blue: cosmic blue, sea blue, Yves Klein blue.’
An artist you would like to meet ‘David Lynch. He revolutionises the way we perceive film today.’
Female artists we should know about ‘The multimedia artist
Ana Prvacki. She has a strong identity.’
MARIA BALSHAW
In her previous role as the director of the Whitworth and Manchester City Galleries, Balshaw worked closely with last year’s Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid, whom she describes as ‘a friend as well as an inspiration’ in our portfolio on page 54. Balshaw became the first female director of Tate in 2017.
Art is…‘the making visible of an idea or a divergent view on the world.’
A colour that inspires you ‘The burnt orange of the Rudbeckia flowers in my garden.’
An artist you would like to meet ‘I regret that I never got to meet
Lois Mailou Jones, the extraordinary painter and teacher whose career began as part of the Harlem Renaissance movement in the late 1920s and spanned seven decades. I think she would have extraordinary stories to share.’
Female artists we should know about ‘Cathy Wilkes and Charlotte Prodger – representing Britain and Scotland respectively at next year’s Venice Biennale.’
MONIKA SPRÜTH & PHILOMENE MAGERS
To mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of their original exhibition space, the pioneering gallerists talk to Bazaar about championing some of the world’s greatest women artists on page 32.
An artist you would like to meet ‘Bruce Nauman. When you visit his show at Schaulager in Switzerland, you experience a work that is relevant on every level. Seeing it reinforces the hope that art and culture have a deeper meaning.’
Female artists we should know about ‘Bridget Riley’s work has trained the sensibility of seeing, and has been integral to the development of the discourse on painting; and Rosemarie Trockel is one of very few artists who effectively challenge the role of women in both the form and content of their work.’