Women in Art Fair Debuts in London Alongside Frieze Week

The Women in Art Fair (WIAF) will debut from October 11 to 14, 2023, at Mall Galleries in central London, timed to coincide with the 20th edition of Frieze London. Founded by Jacqueline Harvey, former CEO of Art Strategics gallery in Mayfair and a journalist for Women's Radio, the fair aims to address gender imbalance in the art market. Only works by women artists will be sold, referencing the Halperin-Burns 2019 report showing that just 2% of $196.6 billion spent at auction between 2008 and 2019 went to works by women. The fair is structured in three sections: a main fair with 21 gallery booths in the West Gallery, an exhibition titled "Unnatural Women" curated by Rowena Easton in the East Gallery featuring artists such as Paula Rego, Marcella Hanselaar, and Abigail Norris, and a North Gallery showcasing contemporary artists selected via open call. Concurrently, Frieze Masters will expand its focus on women artists with the Modern Women section curated by Camille Morineau, featuring solo booths for women artists active between 1880 and 1980, including Italians Lisetta Carmi (presented by Ciaccia Levi and Martini&Ronchetti) and Maria Lai (by M77). A new section focused on artist studios, curated by Sheena Wagstaff, will debut with a female lineup including Mona Hatoum and Maggi Hambling. The Other Art Fair in London had already set a precedent in March 2023 with 61% female representation. The initiative follows the trajectory set by Cecilia Alemani's 2022 Venice Biennale.