New women artist-only fair to launch in London during Frieze week

A brand new artwork honest focussing on girls artists will open in London this October, through the metropolis’s busy autumn artwork market season. The Girls in Artwork Honest (WIAF) is “devoted to redressing the gender imbalance within the artwork business” and can give girls and people figuring out as girls “a possibility to indicate their work, and contribute to the creating alternate of concepts round gender, sexuality and tradition”, in response to its web site.

The primary version will happen from 11 to 16 October, coinciding with Frieze London and Frieze Masters, and can be held on the Mall Galleries in Westminster.

“The [art] business must have an actual look within the mirror at its under-representation of ladies,” says Jacqueline Harvey, the honest’s director. “The gender imbalance is sector-wide: from industrial illustration for artists, gross sales at public sale and acquisitions in museums, in addition to pay and job alternatives.”

Harvey—who was previously the managing director of the Mayfair gallery Artwork Strategics and has labored at gala’s together with Begin, London Artwork Honest, Masterpiece, Artwork Basel and Artwork Bahrain—quotes many statistics to make her level, together with the Halperin-Burns 2019 report that claimed that solely 2% of the $196.6bn spent at auctions between 2008 and 2019 was on works by girls artists.

The WIAF honest can be break up into three sections: the West Gallery will host the 21-booth artwork honest providing “prime names and cutting-edge worldwide galleries” says Harvey. Charges for a sales space vary from £5,000 to £10,000. The total record of taking part galleries can be launched in September, however Harvey provides that they’re “working intently with Virginia Damsta, the co-founder of Riflemaker, and Cynthia Corbett”. Tickets for the honest can be launched on 1 September.

The East Gallery will host a “principally promoting” exhibition referred to as Unnatural Girls of “rising and established feminine artists whose work explores humankind’s ambivalent relationship with nature”, organised by the artist, author and curator Rowena Easton. One of many historic stars is Paula Rego whose works can be in dialog with the up to date rising star Marcelle Hanselaar,” says Harvey. Different featured up to date artists embrace Abigail Norris, Olivia Bullock and Angelina Might Davies.

Within the North Gallery can be a selling-exhibition of works by up to date girls artists alongside the theme of “The World is a Household”, chosen by means of an open name, which closes on 21 August.

The honest will host extra programming together with panel discussions with companions such because the Arts Membership, Quantity 22 and Younger Masters. “We’re additionally planning a brilliant massive opening reception and after occasion,” Harvey says. 

Evaluating WIAF to Frieze, Harvey argues that “Frieze is a good artwork honest and we actually loved the Highlight collection of feminine artists final 12 months. Nonetheless, their honest mannequin does not likely permit for honest girls artist participation”.

“Gender bias within the artwork market is actual. It’s endemic and structural,” agrees Sigrid Kirk, the co-founder of Awita, a not-for-profit organisation supporting girls who work within the artwork world, which is partnering with the honest. “I’m undecided displaying girls individually and divorcing them from a market place is the easiest way of shifting the needle, however it’s a highly effective name to motion and an indication that industrial galleries will not be altering or adapting quick sufficient.” She provides: “By 2025, it’s estimated that 60% of the UK’s wealth will belong to girls who will wish to purchase artwork by girls. When it comes to a marketplace for artwork by girls this presents an simple development space and one commercially savvy galleries are heeding.”

WIAF was arrange as a mission in 2018 and its first try as a good was deserted because of the pandemic. It has acquired improvement funding from the Arts Council by means of the British Library Enterprise and IP Centre and its sponsor is the posh British constructing firm Chartwell Group.