ART

Do Women Have To be Naked to Get into Art Galleries? 🎨

“Do women have to be naked to get into the Met Museum?” is the famous Guerrilla Girls poster that exposed the art world’s bias: while less than 5% of artists in the Met were women, 85% of nudes were female.

Now, here’s a quick thought experiment: try naming five famous male artists. Not so hard, right? Now, try naming five famous female artists. For many, even art students, it’s a real challenge. In this article, as we explore the role of women in art, from the passive subjects of classical works to the fierce voices of feminist movements, we’ll see how the question posed by the Guerrilla Girls still remains relevant: has anything really changed?

💡 Things to consider

•  Women as Passive Muses: In the art world, women have often been portrayed as symbols of beauty and desire, seen through what’s called the "male gaze." Paintings like The Venus of Urbino by Titian and Olympia by Manet depict women as passive figures meant to be observed, reinforcing the idea that a woman’s role in art is to be admired, not to act. Such representation has left women in art as silent figures, serving more as inspiration than as participants. Can you think of any other artworks that reinforce stereotypes about women? How do you think they affect our view of women today?

  

  (A close up of…) The Venus of Urbino, painted by Titian (1538)

• The Rise of Feminist Art: In the 1970s, feminist artists like Cindy Sherman and Judy Chicago began challenging these portrayals. They were part of the "Feminist Avant-Garde", a movement that rejected traditional depictions and instead represented women with complexity and independence. Their work provided a different narrative, moving away from the classic nude ideal, like Botticelli’s Venus, and aiming to capture women’s real identities. Although these artists paved the way for change, their work was often a minority voice, showing the art world’s resistance to moving beyond old stereotypes.

  

  Work by Cindy Sherman

• Where Are We Now?: Today, some galleries are working to correct this imbalance by showcasing more varied representations of women. Many female artists are reclaiming nudity as a symbol of empowerment rather than passive display. But even with this progress, statistics from The Art Basel/UBS show that in 2018, nearly half of galleries still represented fewer than 25% women, with many representing none at all. Feminist artists like Sherman continue to push boundaries, yet women in art still face significant barriers to recognition.

  

  While there has been progress, feminist artists still struggle with slow-moving changes. As long as traditional, male-centred perspectives dominate, the fight for equal representation in art remains ongoing. The feminist art movement has made strides, but the question “Do women have to be naked to get into art galleries?” remains a powerful reminder of the work yet to be done.

🔎 Find out more

• Video: Guerrilla Girls – 'You Have to Question What You See' (Artist Interview)

• Women Outnumber Men at Art School – Why Do More Men Make it Into Galleries?

• Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists

🍒 The cherry on top

• ⏰ Time Travel: Time travel is possible. In fact, you’ve been doing it since the day you were born. But what if we told you there’s a way to hack the universe and manipulate time itself? Find out more in this video if you’re into Physics.

• 😴 The Science of Sleep: Ever wondered what actually happens when you’re asleep? This article dives into the science behind sleep, explaining the different stages and why it’s so important for our brains and bodies. This is great if you’re into Biology or Psychology!

• ⛪️ The Reformation: This podcast episode takes you back in time to explore the dramatic events of the Reformation. Was it all about one angry monk, Martin Luther? Find out what sparked this religious revolution and how it changed Christianity forever. This is a great listen for anyone interested in History or Religious Studies!

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• 20th January

  • Oxford Women and Non-Binary People in STEM Launch Event

• 21st January

  • Oxford Women and Non-Binary People in STEM (Biochemistry) Online Event

  • Oxford Chemistry Webinar

  • UEA Business Taster Webinar

• 22nd January

  • Goldsmiths University of London Sociology Taster Webinar

  • Murray Edwards College Cambridge Classics Webinar

  • Oxford Women and Non-Binary People in STEM (Biology) Online Event

  • UEA Criminology Taster Webinar

  • UEA History Taster Webinar

• 23rd January

  • Oxford Women and Non-Binary People in STEM (Biomedical Sciences) Online Event

  • UEA International Relations Taster Webinar

  • UEA Law Taster Webinar

  • UEA Religious Studies Taster Webinar

• 26th January

  • Cambridge Women in Computer Science Programme Application Deadline

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