‘WHERE ARE ALL THE WOMEN ARTISTS?’ – A TALK AT SOHO HOUSE
‘We’re all here because of the artists, the human beings who need their voices heard,’ said Kate Bryan, introducing a discussion exploring gender disparity in the art world. On her panel at 40 Greek Street were three such artists: Susan Hiller, Annie Kevans and Sarah Maple. ‘I was still at art school when I realised I would be held back in my career for being a woman,’ said Maple, who has since exhibited at Tate Britain and garnered acclaim for her work, which challenges traditional notions of religion and femininity. Kevans shared the story of ‘Women and the History of Art’, a series of portraits documenting lesser-known artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola, Idelle Weber and Edmonia Lewis. She started with just four portraits of female Impressionists and found she wanted to keep going. ‘The more I read, the more I wanted to paint. I ended up doing it for my own pleasure – it became a fan project.’ Meanwhile, Hiller discussed the encouraging changes she had witnessed. ‘I’m seeing an increasing number of women buying art and taking museum positions,’ she said, galvanising an audience keen to see female creativity flourish.