As diversity, equity and inclusion has become increasingly important, many industries have begun examining past practices with new eyes. Asking themselves, how did we get here, and how can we do better?
We might think art to be exempt from that practice, after all artists have historically been cutting-edge figures advocating for progressive values. And while that might be true of individual creatives, the institutions that choose (or choose not) to fund, support, and recognize them hold no such promises.
Here are ten cold, hard, facts about diversity and inclusion in the art world.
1. In a survey done of 18 major museums in the United States, 85% of their work was created by white artists, 87% of whom were men
2. Only 9% of art belonging to these museums was created by Asian Artists
3. Only 2.8% of art belonging to these museums was created by Latino artists
4. Only 1.2% of art belonging to these museums was created by African American artists
5. Only 12% of artists in these collections were born outside of Europe & North America
6. The average art gallery still displays the work of twice as many male artists as they do female artists
7. Of the $196.6 billion spent at art auctions between 2008 and 2019, work produced by women accounted for only 2% of sales
8. The highest price ever paid for a work sold at auction was $450 million for Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi.” The most a work by a female artist has ever made was less than 10% of that, for Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1.”
9. The highest price for a work of a currently living artist is $91 million for Jeff Koons’ “Rabbit.” The highest price for a currently living woman artist was 14% of that, Jenny Saville’s “Propped.”
10. If a male artist signs one of his pieces, it increases in value, whereas if a woman signs her work it decreases in value
So yeah, the art world may have a long way to go, but every time you invest in an underrepresented artist, you chip away at these inequalities. By thinking critically about where you are buying from, and where your money is going, you can make the art world a more inclusive place; buy responsibly!
For more information visit:
Bishara, Hakim “Artists in 18 Major US Museums Are 85% White and 87% Male” Hyperallergic, June 3 2019
Boucher, Brian “It’s Not All In Your Head-The Art World Really is Unfair” Artnet, December 12 2019
Elsenner, Kim “The $192 Billion Gender Gap In Art”, Forbes, August 30 2022
Gorrill, Helen “Women Can’t Paint” Bloomsbury Publishing, February 6 2020
