7 First-Rank Female Artists and 1 Simply Rank Critic

July8

If you are an avid follower of the art world, you’ve no doubt heard the recent talk about how women are looked at as being lesser artists than men. Female artists make up a very small percentage of the art in museums and galleries and, just like almost every other professional field, earn significantly less money than their male counterparts. This is an issue that many women and men in the art community are recognizing and trying to correct. However, at least one critic has opposing views on the topic.

From the Independent article “There’s Never Been A Great Woman Artist”

“The art market is not sexist,” Mr Sewell said. “The likes of Bridget Riley and Louise Bourgeois are of the second and third rank. There has never been a first-rank woman artist.

“Only men are capable of aesthetic greatness. Women make up 50 per cent or more of classes at art school. Yet they fade away in their late 20s or 30s. Maybe it’s something to do with bearing children.”

I don’t even know how one would come up with this conclusion, that only men are capable of aesthetic greatness. First you have to ask the question, what exactly constitutes aesthetic greatness and who gets to decide what these guidelines are? I’m sure Mr. Sewell would say that it’s critics like him who point out “greatness” to the rest of the world. But most people know that you can’t trust a critic’s opinion on whether they’re going to enjoy something. After all, no one can tell you your own opinion of something as diverse as art.

My second question is why does art need to be aesthetically pleasing? Some of my favorite works of art are actually quite disturbing to look at. Shouldn’t art first and foremost evoke emotion, make you think and feel, sometimes at a visceral level.

I had never heard of Brian Sewell so I did a quick google search and found that he’s pretty much a controversy whore, using it to gain attention for himself and make what he does seem more important. So you really have to take everything he says with a grain of salt. But I did think this was the perfect opportunity to spotlight some of my favorite female artist who I think have achieved first-rank status, whatever that’s supposed to mean.