6.3 The Guerrilla Girls and their activist art

The Guerrilla Girls emerged in 1985 as feminist activists challenging gender inequality in the art world. Wearing gorilla masks and using pseudonyms, they created provocative posters and public art exposing discrimination against women artists in museums and galleries.

Their bold, humorous approach combined statistics with satire to critique institutions and raise awareness. The Guerrilla Girls' activism sparked important conversations about representation and diversity in art that continue to resonate today.

Origins of the Guerrilla Girls

• The Guerrilla Girls emerged as a response to the underrepresentation and marginalization of women artists in the art world during the 1980s
• The group was founded in New York City, a major hub for the art world, where gender and racial inequalities were particularly evident
• The Guerrilla Girls' formation in 1985 coincided with the rise of the feminist art movement and increasing activism around issues of diversity and inclusion in the arts

Formation in 1985

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• In 1985, a group of women artists, art historians, and activists came together to form the Guerrilla Girls after attending a protest at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City
• The protest was in response to MoMA's "An International Survey of Recent Painting and Sculpture" exhibition, which featured only 13 women artists out of 169 total artists
• The founding members of the Guerrilla Girls were motivated by the realization that women artists were systematically excluded and undervalued in the art world

Anonymity through gorilla masks

• The Guerrilla Girls adopted the tactic of wearing gorilla masks during public appearances to maintain their anonymity and focus attention on their message rather than their individual identities
• The use of gorilla masks also served as a playful and ironic reference to the group's name, which was a deliberate misspelling of "guerrilla" to evoke the idea of a powerful, primate-like force for change
• By concealing their identities, the Guerrilla Girls were able to speak more freely and critically about the art world without fear of personal or professional repercussions

Pseudonyms of famous women artists

• In addition to wearing gorilla masks, the members of the Guerrilla Girls adopted pseudonyms of deceased women artists, such as Frida Kahlo, Käthe Kollwitz, and Gertrude Stein
• The use of these pseudonyms was a way of honoring the legacies of historically significant women artists while also highlighting their ongoing underrepresentation in the art historical canon
• By taking on the names of famous women artists, the Guerrilla Girls also sought to create a sense of continuity and solidarity with earlier generations of women artists who had faced similar challenges and inequalities

Activism through art

• The Guerrilla Girls utilized various forms of artistic expression to convey their activist message and raise awareness about gender and racial inequality in the art world
• Their art-based activism was characterized by a bold, eye-catching visual style and the use of humor and satire to critique and subvert the conventions of the art establishment
• Through their art, the Guerrilla Girls sought to provoke critical thinking, spark dialogue, and inspire action toward creating a more equitable and inclusive art world

Posters, billboards, and stickers

• One of the primary mediums employed by the Guerrilla Girls was the creation of posters, billboards, and stickers featuring provocative statements and statistics about the underrepresentation of women and artists of color
• These works often combined bold text, striking visuals, and the iconic gorilla mask motif to grab attention and communicate their message in a clear and memorable way
• The Guerrilla Girls strategically placed their posters, billboards, and stickers in high-traffic public spaces, such as bus shelters, subway stations, and city streets, to reach a wide audience beyond the confines of the art world

Books and printed projects

• In addition to their street art campaigns, the Guerrilla Girls produced numerous books and printed projects that expanded upon their critique of the art world and provided more in-depth analysis and commentary
• Notable books by the Guerrilla Girls include "Confessions of the Guerrilla Girls" (1995), "The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art" (1998), and "Bitches, Bimbos, and Ballbreakers: The Guerrilla Girls' Illustrated Guide to Female Stereotypes" (2003)
• These publications often combined text, illustrations, and humor to educate readers about the history of women artists, critique the male-dominated art historical canon, and expose the persistent inequalities and biases within the art world

Public appearances and performances

• The Guerrilla Girls also engaged in public appearances and performances to further their activist agenda and generate media attention for their cause
• Dressed in their signature gorilla masks, the group members would participate in panel discussions, lectures, and interviews to discuss issues of gender and racial inequality in the art world and beyond
• The Guerrilla Girls also staged guerrilla-style performances and interventions at art museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions to directly confront and challenge the practices and policies that perpetuated discrimination and exclusion

Challenging gender and racial inequality

• At the core of the Guerrilla Girls' activism was a commitment to challenging and dismantling the systemic gender and racial inequalities that pervaded the art world
• The group sought to expose and critique the ways in which women artists and artists of color were marginalized, underrepresented, and undervalued within the art establishment
• By bringing attention to these inequalities through their art and activism, the Guerrilla Girls aimed to pressure art institutions, collectors, and the public to recognize and rectify the longstanding disparities in the art world

Underrepresentation of women artists

• One of the primary focuses of the Guerrilla Girls' activism was the persistent underrepresentation of women artists in museums, galleries, and art historical narratives
• The group compiled and publicized statistics revealing the stark gender disparities in the art world, such as the low percentage of women artists featured in major museum collections and exhibitions
• Through their posters, billboards, and other projects, the Guerrilla Girls highlighted the ongoing exclusion and marginalization of women artists, despite their significant contributions to art history

Discrimination in art world

• The Guerrilla Girls also addressed the various forms of discrimination and bias that women artists faced within the art world, including unequal access to opportunities, resources, and recognition
• The group exposed the gender-based disparities in art market prices, gallery representation, and media coverage, which consistently favored male artists over their female counterparts
• By shedding light on these discriminatory practices, the Guerrilla Girls sought to challenge the art world's entrenched gender hierarchies and advocate for greater equity and inclusion

Intersectional approach to feminism

• The Guerrilla Girls adopted an intersectional approach to their feminist activism, recognizing that gender inequality in the art world was inextricably linked to other forms of oppression, such as racism, classism, and heterosexism
• The group emphasized the importance of considering the diverse experiences and identities of women artists, particularly those from marginalized communities, who faced compounded forms of discrimination and underrepresentation
• By taking an intersectional stance, the Guerrilla Girls aimed to create a more inclusive and nuanced critique of the art world that accounted for the multiple, overlapping systems of power and privilege that shaped artists' lives and careers

Critique of art institutions

• The Guerrilla Girls directed their activism not only at individual artists and collectors but also at the institutional structures and practices that perpetuated gender and racial inequality in the art world
• The group's critique extended to museums, galleries, art schools, and other cultural institutions that played a central role in shaping the canon of art history and determining which artists and artworks were valued and celebrated
• By targeting these institutions, the Guerrilla Girls sought to expose and challenge the systemic biases and power imbalances that underpinned the art establishment and limited opportunities for women artists and artists of color

Museums and galleries

• The Guerrilla Girls frequently called out major museums and galleries for their lack of gender and racial diversity in their collections, exhibitions, and leadership positions
• The group's posters and billboards often featured statistics and comparisons highlighting the stark underrepresentation of women artists and artists of color in prominent art institutions
• By publicly criticizing museums and galleries, the Guerrilla Girls aimed to pressure these institutions to re-evaluate their practices, diversify their programs, and take concrete steps toward greater equity and inclusion

Collectors and art market

• The Guerrilla Girls also targeted the role of collectors and the art market in perpetuating gender and racial inequalities within the art world
• The group exposed the gender disparities in art market prices, with works by male artists consistently selling for significantly higher amounts than those by women artists of comparable stature and quality
• By drawing attention to these market inequalities, the Guerrilla Girls sought to challenge the biases and assumptions that influenced collectors' decisions and to advocate for greater recognition and valuation of women artists' contributions

Canon of Western art history

• The Guerrilla Girls' critique extended to the very foundations of the Western art historical canon, which they argued was shaped by centuries of gender and racial exclusion and hierarchy
• The group challenged the male-dominated narrative of art history, which privileged the contributions of white male artists while marginalizing or erasing the achievements of women artists and artists of color
• Through their art and activism, the Guerrilla Girls sought to expand and redefine the canon of art history to include a more diverse range of voices, perspectives, and artistic practices that had been historically overlooked or undervalued

Use of humor and satire

• One of the defining characteristics of the Guerrilla Girls' activism was their use of humor, irony, and satire to critique the art world and convey their feminist message
• The group employed a range of comedic strategies, from clever wordplay and puns to biting sarcasm and parody, to expose the absurdities and contradictions of the art establishment
• By infusing their art and activism with humor, the Guerrilla Girls sought to make their critique more accessible, engaging, and memorable to a broad audience, while also disarming potential defensiveness or resistance to their message

Provocative and ironic tone

• The Guerrilla Girls adopted a provocative and ironic tone in their posters, billboards, and other projects, often using bold, attention-grabbing headlines and statements to challenge the status quo
• The group's works frequently featured satirical questions or declarations that highlighted the absurdity of the art world's gender and racial inequalities, such as "Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?" or "The Advantages of Being a Woman Artist"
• By employing irony and provocation, the Guerrilla Girls sought to spark critical reflection and dialogue about the underlying assumptions and biases that shaped the art world and to encourage viewers to question the established norms and hierarchies

Parody of art world conventions

• The Guerrilla Girls also used parody and pastiche to critique and subvert the conventions and tropes of the art world, from the language of art criticism to the format of exhibition catalogs and artist statements
• The group's works often mimicked the style and tone of art world discourse while injecting feminist critique and humor, exposing the inherent biases and limitations of these conventions
• By parodying the art establishment's practices and rhetoric, the Guerrilla Girls sought to reveal the ways in which these conventions reinforced gender and racial hierarchies and to imagine alternative, more inclusive approaches to art-making and art history

Appropriation of advertising strategies

• The Guerrilla Girls frequently appropriated the visual language and strategies of advertising to create eye-catching, memorable works that communicated their feminist message to a wide audience
• The group's posters and billboards often featured bold typography, striking images, and catchy slogans that mimicked the style of commercial advertising, subverting these techniques to raise awareness about gender and racial inequality in the art world
• By adopting the tools and tactics of advertising, the Guerrilla Girls sought to infiltrate public space and popular culture with their critique, reaching beyond the confines of the art world to engage a broader public in conversations about equity, diversity, and social justice

Impact and legacy

• Over the course of their more than three decades of activism, the Guerrilla Girls have had a significant impact on the art world and beyond, influencing the discourse and practice of feminist art and activism
• The group's bold, provocative, and humorous approach to critiquing gender and racial inequality has inspired countless artists, activists, and cultural workers to challenge the status quo and advocate for greater equity and inclusion in their respective fields
• The Guerrilla Girls' legacy continues to resonate in the ongoing struggles for diversity, representation, and social justice in the arts and beyond, as new generations of activists build upon and expand their groundbreaking work

Influence on feminist art movement

• The Guerrilla Girls played a pivotal role in shaping the feminist art movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, providing a powerful model of art-based activism that combined critique, humor, and public engagement
• The group's work helped to broaden the scope and impact of feminist art beyond the confines of the gallery or museum, demonstrating the potential of art to intervene in public space and spark critical conversations about gender, power, and representation
• The Guerrilla Girls' influence can be seen in the work of numerous contemporary feminist artists and collectives who have adopted similar strategies of humor, irony, and media intervention to challenge the art world's persistent inequalities and biases

Empowerment of women artists

• Through their activism and art, the Guerrilla Girls have contributed to the empowerment of women artists by providing a platform for their voices, experiences, and contributions to be seen, heard, and valued
• The group's efforts to expose and critique the art world's gender disparities have helped to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by women artists and to advocate for greater recognition, support, and opportunities for their work
• By adopting the names of historical women artists as their pseudonyms, the Guerrilla Girls have also helped to reclaim and celebrate the legacies of these often overlooked or marginalized figures, inspiring new generations of women artists to pursue their creative visions and challenge the art establishment

Ongoing relevance of their message

• Despite the progress made in recent decades, the issues of gender and racial inequality in the art world that the Guerrilla Girls have been addressing since the 1980s remain relevant and urgent today
• The group's critique of the persistent underrepresentation and undervaluation of women artists and artists of color continues to resonate in the face of ongoing disparities in museum collections, exhibitions, and leadership positions
• The Guerrilla Girls' intersectional approach to feminism and activism has also taken on new significance in the context of contemporary movements for social justice, which recognize the need to address the multiple, overlapping forms of oppression and marginalization that shape artists' lives and careers

Controversies and criticisms

• While the Guerrilla Girls have been widely celebrated for their groundbreaking feminist activism and art, their work has also been subject to various controversies and criticisms over the years
• Some critics have questioned the effectiveness of the group's strategies, arguing that their reliance on humor and irony may undermine the seriousness of their message or limit their ability to effect concrete change in the art world
• Others have raised concerns about the Guerrilla Girls' own practices of inclusion and representation, suggesting that the group has not always lived up to its own ideals of diversity and intersectionality

Questions of effectiveness

• One line of criticism directed at the Guerrilla Girls has focused on the question of whether their art-based activism has been effective in actually transforming the gender and racial inequalities they critique
• Some critics have argued that the group's reliance on humor, irony, and media spectacle may generate attention and discussion but fail to translate into substantive changes in the policies, practices, and power structures of the art world
• Others have suggested that the Guerrilla Girls' critique may have been co-opted or neutralized by the very institutions they seek to challenge, as their work has been collected and exhibited by major museums and galleries that continue to perpetuate inequalities

Issues of inclusivity

• Another area of controversy surrounding the Guerrilla Girls has centered on questions of inclusivity and representation within the group itself and in its activism
• Some critics have pointed out that the Guerrilla Girls, despite their commitment to intersectionality, have historically been predominantly white and have not always adequately addressed the specific experiences and perspectives of women artists of color
• Others have argued that the group's focus on gender inequality in the art world has sometimes overshadowed or marginalized the equally pressing issues of racial, class, and other forms of discrimination that shape artists' opportunities and experiences

Commodification of their work

• As the Guerrilla Girls have gained international recognition and acclaim for their art and activism, some critics have raised concerns about the potential commodification or institutionalization of their work
• The group's posters, books, and other projects have been collected by major museums, galleries, and private collectors, leading some to question whether their critique has been absorbed into the very art market and establishment they seek to challenge
• Others have suggested that the Guerrilla Girls' own success and visibility within the art world may have complicated their ability to maintain a critical, outsider stance and to continue pushing for radical change in the face of their own increasing institutionalization

Notable projects and campaigns

• Over the course of their more than three decades of activism, the Guerrilla Girls have produced a wide range of influential and memorable projects and campaigns that have left a lasting mark on the art world and beyond
• These projects have employed a variety of media, tactics, and strategies to raise awareness about gender and racial inequality in the arts and to pressure cultural institutions to take action toward greater equity and inclusion
• Some of the Guerrilla Girls' most notable works have become iconic examples of feminist art activism, sparking critical conversations and inspiring new generations of artists and activists to continue the fight for social justice in the arts

"Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?"

• One of the Guerrilla Girls' most famous and influential projects is their 1989 poster "Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?", which critiqued the gender disparities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and exhibition practices
• The poster featured a provocative image of a nude female figure wearing a gorilla mask, accompanied by the statement "Less than 5% of the artists in the Modern Art Sections are women, but 85%