This is a woman's world.
Well, maybe not yet. But if the pussy-hat-wearers and #metoo whistleblowers and #timesup advocates and Hollywood starlets and badass female chefs have anything to say about it (and you know they do!), it will be soon. But did you know that the art world is already at the cutting edge?
According to a study by The National Center for Arts Research, women are already conquering the art world. Ladies have leading roles at 48 percent of American museums, and 54 percent of our small and midsize galleries are female-owned. In fact, some of the country's most prestigious art institutions are directed by women—including Lisa Phillips, of New Museum in New York; Anne Pasternak, of Brooklyn Museum, and Martha Tedeschi, of Harvard Art Museums—who pioneer innovative new programs and promote up-and-coming artists and burgeoning communities.
The Bay Area, unsurprisingly, is in step with this revolution, with fearless women of power at every major museum and dominating our gallery scene. Meet the local ladies who are changing the rules and shaping a supportive environment to bolster both local artists and our city's reputation as an international leader in art.
(Courtesy of OMCA)
Lori Fogarty, director and CEO of the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)
The basics. "I've been steeped in the arts my whole life, especially music and theater in my early days and then art history in college. I landed right out of school at The Music Center in Los Angeles in fundraising and development—who knew that you could have a career raising money for the arts? I began working at SFMOMA in 1988 and have now been part of three wonderful museums, including the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the Oakland Museum of California. I've been lucky to combine my passion for the arts and culture with the opportunity to help transform institutions over my 30 years in the field."
In the works. "We are in the throes right now of preparing for the opening of Respect: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, opening March 24th. This is an exhibition that celebrates one of the most important cultural movements of the past 50 years through art works, historical artifacts, and the creative expression and empowerment of hip-hop, including live performances and programming within the gallery. These are my favorite moments—helping bring together the institution around an endeavor that not only will have a powerful impact on the community, but is of, with, and about that community."
The Bay Area can do better. "We should think of cultural expression beyond the art industry, and recognize that creativity and cultural participation happens everywhere and can include everyone. It may not be that people create art, produce art, or present art for a living, but everyone can and should have a way to express themselves or to be part of cultural celebration. By recognizing that culture comes in many forms and that arts and cultural participation can have incredible benefits—from personal healing to community connection—we can recognize that the arts aren't separate and certainly aren't a luxury. The arts are core to who we are as human beings. These are values we're grounded in as we start thinking about celebrating the Oakland Museum of California's 50th anniversary in 2019."
