Women Artists in Midcentury America: A History in Ten Exhibitions

(Hardback)

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In Women Artists in Midcentury America, readers embark on a journey spanning two decades, delving into the evolving social and artistic landscapes through the lens of all-women exhibitions. These groundbreaking projects courageously confronted issues of sexual and racial discrimination, igniting profound discussions about women's roles within modernism and democracy. Looking closely at the inception and reception of these exhibitions by curators, artists, critics and the public, the book sheds light on the remarkable contributions of numerous artists, from Ruth Asawa to Marguerite Zorach. By foregrounding the accomplishments of women artists during a conservative period overshadowed by the feminist movement of the 1970s, Belasco provides a fresh perspective on the complex history of women's art in America and its significance in the broader art world.

Reviews

"An impeccably researched and illuminating history of the all-woman exhibition in the United States, prior to the emergence of the Women's Movement. Belasco provides a compelling, richly textured account of the vital role institutions, artists, critics, and curators played in mounting groundbreaking exhibitions of work by women artists in an era marked by conservative values and sexual and racial discrimination."--Jo Applin, professor in the history of art, Courtauld Institute of Art
"Belasco reveals a wealth of new information in this well-researched, captivating study. Interweaving stories of lesser-known and more celebrated exhibitions and artists, he significantly amplifies our understanding of women and the art world at midcentury."--Elizabeth Smith, Executive Director, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation
"Belasco's book offers detailed research that scholars will make use of for years to come, following the threads of individual artists, curators, dealers, and other figures. But it's the stories themselves that will stay with you: surprising, infuriating, inspiring."--Katy Siegel, Distinguished Professor, Stony Brook University, Research Director, SFMOMA

Author Bio

Daniel Belasco is an art historian, curator and Executive Director of the Al Held Foundation, New York. He has written widely on midcentury American women artists.