!W.A.R.: !Women Art Revolution

In the 1960s, women artists formed the coalition W.A.R. (Women Artists in Revolution) to combat the neglect and denigration of art created by women. This movement aimed to elevate women's voices and visibility within the art world, which was predominantly male-dominated and segregated. Their efforts laid the groundwork for feminist art activism.

During the 1968 Miss American Pageant, feminists staged a protest by spreading foul-smelling vapor at the foot of the runway. Lynn Hershman captured this event with her camera, highlighting the fusion of art and politics in feminist demonstration. This event marked one of the earliest feminist protests involving performance art.

A weeklong series of art events opposed to the Vietnam War took place, with artists like Hershman and others using their work to express dissent. Some artists, such as Robert Morris, closed their exhibitions in protest of the war, demonstrating how art was becoming a vehicle for political activism during this period.

White male artists dominated major art shows, prompting women artists like Judy Cohen-Gerowitz (Chicago) and others to voice their frustrations. Their protests included projecting images outside museums and placing painted eggs inside galleries to highlight gender disparities. These acts of civil disobedience drew attention to systemic exclusion.

In 1970, A.I.R. became the first women’s cooperative gallery in Soho, providing a dedicated space for women artists to exhibit their work and gain visibility. This marked a significant step toward institutional recognition and support for feminist artists nationwide.

Judy Chicago started the first feminist art program at Fresno State College, which led to a national and international surge in awareness. Conferences organized by artists like Miriam Schapiro shared women’s art across institutions, expanding exposure and fostering collaboration among female artists.

In 1972, twenty-one female art students transformed a Hollywood home into Womanhouse, a feminist artwork and performance space. This project symbolized feminist collective effort and inspired the creation of the Feminist Studio Workshop, shaping feminist art education.

Artists like Eleanor Antin, Ana Mendieta, and Marina Abramovic used the female body as a canvas and tool for activism, exploring identity, violence, and sexuality through provocative performance art. Their works challenged societal standards and expanded the boundaries of art to include corporeal and visceral experiences.

Judy Chicago’s iconic installation, The Dinner Party, celebrated women of achievement, but faced resistance from galleries and Congress, who criticized it as pornography. Meanwhile, feminist artists began using media and magazines to promote their visibility, challenging stereotypes and promoting women's history.

Artists like Suzanne Lacy and others used public art, protests, and murals to draw media attention to social issues such as rape and violence against women. These efforts aimed to shift cultural perceptions and empower women to resist societal fears and prejudices.

Feminist art faced setbacks with Reagan’s election and the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment. The Guerilla Girls emerged, employing humor and masks to protest gender inequities in the art world, spotlighting ongoing exclusion and bias.

Marcia Tucker became the first woman curator at the Whitney Museum, advocating for women artists. She took a stand on pay equality, threatened press exposure, and aimed to influence institutional policies, although she was later fired, reflecting ongoing struggles within major art institutions.

Exhibitions like ‘Bad Girls’ and ‘Sexual Politics’ challenged societal and artistic norms, employing humor and provocative content. Critics and institutions often reacted negatively, revealing the gendered tensions faced by feminist artists and movements.

The feminist art movement laid a foundation for greater inclusion and recognition, inspiring exhibitions like WACK! and institutions committed to feminist and minority perspectives. Artists’ work and activism continue to shape contemporary discussions on gender and race in art.