feminine protagonisms | seminar

Auditorium of FAU-UFBA – Faculty of Architecture, Federal University of Bahia

January 24–26, 2024

The production of contemporary visual culture owes much of its diversity, thematic depth, visual excellence, and subversive force to the contributions of women. As women have intensified their presence in artistic practice, new paradigms have emerged, shaped by the range of worlds, languages, and perspectives introduced through their work—similarly impacting fields such as architecture, photography, and design.

However, despite advances in recent years, women remain strikingly underrepresented and under-recognised in the art world, even though their presence is often significant, if not predominant, when compared to male participation and authorship. When considering the entire artistic ecosystem—including art educators, historians, curators, critics, cultural managers, gallerists, and other professionals—it becomes clear that there is a growing female protagonism. Yet this is still insufficiently reflected in recognition or in the power to transform structures that remain deeply rooted in patriarchal foundations.