On Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, Kering, Phaidon, and Artspace partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) on the launch of Great Women Painters. A comprehensive survey, the new book tells the stories of over three hundred women artists born in sixty countries worldwide from the past five centuries. Conceived to reveal and champion a more diverse history of art, the collaboration brought together four artists featured in the book – Jordan Casteel, Loie Hollowell, Hilary Pecis, and Genesis Tramaine. The partnership also includes the launch of two newly-commissioned limited-edition prints, by Pecis and Marilyn Minter, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the MCA’s Women Artists Initiative.
“Great Women Painters is an illuminating text that calls attention to a history of women painters who were overwritten, and urges us all to re-examine what we know about one of the most celebrated mediums in art. We are honored to be partnering with Phaidon for a third time on such an impactful project – one that not only highlights the talent, stories, and voices of women painters, but champions a future where their contributions to arts and culture cannot be overlooked.” – Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas
“At Phaidon, we pride ourselves on shining a light on underrepresented areas of the creative world. Following the breakout success of Great Women Artists in 2019 and Woman Made in 2021, we are delighted to again partner with Kering, to reveal a richer and more varied telling of the story of painting — and inspire the next generation of great women artists.”
– Keith Fox, CEO of Phaidon
On Thursday November 3, the MCA hosted a public program for 275 attendees featuring Casteel, Hollowell, Pecis, and Tramaine. In conversation with the MCA’s Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn, the artists discussed their own practices, as well as other great women painters who inspired and mentored them.
A private dinner honoring the four artists was attended by key patrons, collectors, and members of Chicago’s arts, design, and fashion community, including Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue; Chirag Badlani, Alphawood Foundation Executive Director; Kimberly Bares, Magnificent Mile Association President and CEO; Julius Few, MD, Board of Trustees MCA; Jamillah James, Manilow Senior Curator MCA; Enuma Okoro, Financial Times; Tina Trott, philanthropist. Guests enjoyed an autumnal meal prepared by Culinaire. Set in the MCA’s Kovler Atrium and elegantly styled by HMR Designs, the dinner included toasts to the artists by Phaidon CEO Keith Fox, Kering Vice President of Communications and Community Engagement Kate Shone, and MCA Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn.
“It’s been an honor to partner with Phaidon and provide a platform for this celebration of women and painting. The MCA is committed to women’s empowerment in the arts and initiating the discourse surrounding women’s experiences in the historically male-dominated sphere of painting is just the beginning of a journey of education and accessibility.”
– Madeleine Grynsztejn, Pritzker Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
In an exclusive preview, Pecis’ first limited-edition, “Untitled Interior” (2019/2022) and Marilyn Minter’s forthcoming photographic edition, were presented at the dinner. Commissioned by Artspace, the new works will release on November 4 and November 28, 2022, respectively. Also on view was Great Women Painters featured artist Loie Hollowell’s recently-released edition Yellow Brain. Proceeds again benefitted the MCA Chicago.
Finally, on Friday November 4, all four artists participated in a private mentoring session at MCA for a group of local students and educators as attendees.
To learn more about the Great Women Painters series of charitable editions visit: www.artspace.com/greatwomenpainters.
