Artnet News has published a list of the ten most expensive female artists at auction, based on data from the Artnet Price Database. The article highlights recent record-breaking sales, including Frida Kahlo's *El Sueño (La Cama)* (1940), which sold for $54.7 million at Sotheby's, and Marlene Dumas's *Miss January* (1997), which realized $13.6 million at Christie's, making Dumas the most expensive living woman artist. The list features artists such as Rosemarie Trockel, Bridget Riley, Cindy Sherman, Vija Celmins, and Cady Noland, with auction records ranging from $4.9 million to $9.7 million.
This article matters because it underscores the persistent gender disparity in the art market while also documenting the significant progress female artists have made in achieving higher auction prices. By providing concrete data and examples, the piece highlights how collectors are increasingly valuing works by women, challenging historical biases. The list serves as a benchmark for tracking market trends and the growing recognition of female artists across different generations and movements, from conceptual and Op-Art to photography and contemporary sculpture.