The inaugural Making Their Mark forum convened 350 art world professionals at the National Museum of Women in the Arts to address systemic gender inequity. Organized by collector Komal Shah and the Making Their Mark Foundation, the event featured panels with artists, curators, and public figures like Chelsea Clinton and Ava DuVernay. The forum served as a call to action to dismantle the male-dominated art historical canon and reform the systems governing visibility and valuation.
This gathering is significant as it highlights the persistent 'gender gap' in the art market and institutional collections, backed by data showing women account for only 11 percent of museum acquisitions. By bridging the gap between private collecting and public advocacy, the forum seeks to rectify the fact that works by female artists continue to sell at a significant discount compared to their male counterparts. It marks a concerted effort by major private patrons to influence museum policy and market perceptions through organized activism.