Five museums across the globe are opening exhibitions this month that celebrate women who have shaped art and culture. The shows include Björk's multidisciplinary "Echolalia" at the National Gallery of Iceland in Reykjavík, Iris van Herpen's New York exhibition, Marina Abramović's historic showing at Venice's Gallerie dell'Accademia, the Tate Modern's first major Frida Kahlo retrospective, and centenary tributes to Marilyn Monroe. The article notes that despite women making up 51% of visual artists worldwide, their work remains underrepresented in public institutions, with 78% of London galleries showing more male than female artists.
These exhibitions matter because they directly challenge the historical marginalization of women in the art world, a problem identified by Linda Nochlin in her landmark 1971 essay. By spotlighting both established figures like Marina Abramović and Frida Kahlo alongside multidisciplinary artists like Björk, the shows broaden the canon and address persistent structural inequities. The timing also underscores ongoing debates about gender parity in museums and galleries, making these exhibitions culturally significant beyond their artistic merit.