Overlooked Mexican Women Artists of the 1970s-80s Gain Recognition
An investigation led by a British curator has uncovered that female artists from Mexico during the 1970s and 1980s are still not adequately represented. Maris Bustamante, who has been active since 1979 and is a co-founder of No-Grupo, produced 'La Patente del Taco' in 1979. She worked alongside Mónica Mayer as part of Polvo de Gallina Negra on the 1987 project ¡MADRES!, which redefined maternity through a feminist lens. Mayer also created 'El Tendedero' (1978) at Mexico City's Modern Art Museum. Beginning in 1977, Pola Weiss made experimental videos, including 'Flor Cósmica,' displayed at the Carrillo Gil Museum. Sarah Minter directed the 1987 docudrama 'Nadie es inocente.' Other prominent artists mentioned are Helen Escobedo, Martha Hellion, and Silvia Gruner. The article advocates for a survey exhibition in Mexico and was originally published in January & February 2015.
Key facts
- A British curator sought recommendations for Mexican female artists, revealing a lack of gallery representation for a generation from the 1970s-80s.
- Maris Bustamante was a member of No-Grupo from 1979 to 1985, creating performance art like 'La Patente del Taco' (1979).
- Bustamante collaborated with Mónica Mayer as Polvo de Gallina Negra, producing the feminist art project ¡MADRES! in 1987.
- Mónica Mayer created 'El Tendedero' in 1978 at the Modern Art Museum in Mexico City and participated in the Feminist Studio Workshop in Los Angeles from 1978 to 1980.
- Pola Weiss made her first video, 'Flor Cósmica,' in 1977, exhibited at the Carrillo Gil Museum in Mexico City.
- Weiss had international exhibitions in Venice and Paris in 1979 and was shown at the Pompidou Centre in 1980.
- Sarah Minter directed the 1987 docudrama 'Nadie es inocente,' focusing on youth in Ciudad Neza.
- The article advocates for a survey exhibition of Mexican female artists, referencing MOCA's 2007 'WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution.'
Entities
Artists
- Maris Bustamante
- Mónica Mayer
- Pola Weiss
- Sarah Minter
- Helen Escobedo
- Martha Hellion
- Magali Lara
- Lourdes Grobet
- Perla Krauze
- Silvia Gruner
- Frida Kahlo
- Tina Modotti
- Leonora Carrington
- Nam June Paik
- Pipilotti Rist
- Kristin Lucas
- Víctor Lerma
- Guillermo Ochoa
- Isao Tomita
- Jean-Paul Fargier
Institutions
- No-Grupo
- Polvo de Gallina Negra
- Modern Art Museum in Mexico City
- Carrillo Gil Museum
- Pompidou Centre
- MUAC
- MOCA
- Feminist Studio Workshop
- Pinto Mi Raya
- Cahiers du Cinéma
- ArtReview
Locations
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Venice
- Italy
- Paris
- France
- Ciudad Neza
- New York