MoMA would describe feminist art as “Art that seeks to challenge the dominance of men in both art and society to gain recognition and equality for women artist, and to question assumptions about womanhood”.
It is no secret that a gender gap exists within the art industry across the world however, female artists in the Middle East are managing to close this gap. The art created is innovative and engaging in order to challenge certain stereotypes. This uprising of liberated female artists from the Middle East is being recognised and their work is being exhibited in museums in places all over such as New York and London.
“Art that seeks to challenge the dominance of men in both art and society to gain recognition and equality for women artist, and to question assumptions about womanhood”
Iranian born Maryam Takhtkeshian is a photographer, her specialty is cinema still photography and she has been successfully working in this field since 2005. Additionally, she shares her expertise working alongside several different newspapers and magazine companies as a documentary photographer. Maryam’s talent has been recognised by others as she has been nominated for many awards and won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Photo in the 35th and 38th Fajr Film Festivals.
Mojan Mozaffari is known for breaking cultural stereotypes of an Iranian woman getting married at an appropriate age and going off to study at art school. She obtained a Bachelors and Masters degree at Tehran University, has hosted several successful presentations and won many awards. Mozafari isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, it is for this reason she produces avant-garde, anti-war work as well as work which stands up for equal rights for women in Iran’s divorce laws. As she left Iran in 2011, she now resides in California.
Vishka Sabetazar was also born in Iran in 1987. She’s been in love with painting since she was a child but really started to express her creativity in 2014 in Southern Italy through an exhibition defending women’s rights. Soon, Vishka joined forces with notable art critics such as Italy's former Minister of Culture and Art Vittorio Sgarbi. Her art consists of women of different cultures and the difficulties and joys they face in their unique situations. Within the 3 years living in Italy, she has held 16 exhibitions based on the same subject in different places around Italy.
Here at Cista Arts, we are lucky enough to sell work from all female artists mentioned as well as more influential artists. Visit our website www.cistaarts.com/artworks to view all the art work we have to offer!