Women in Art

When we talk about women in the history of art, we most often recall muses — those who inspired great masters but rarely became the “main protagonists” of artistic culture themselves. Yet women have been engaged in creative work since ancient times. Why, then, are there so few women artists’ names in museums, textbooks, and the canon?

In this lecture, we will examine the reasons for this “invisibility”: social roles, restrictions on professional education, closed academies and workshops, limitations on exhibiting and working in “serious” genres. Until the 19th century, it was nearly impossible for women in many countries to build an artistic career — social expectations were largely confined to marriage, family, and “respectable” pursuits.

We will discuss how women artists were perceived in different periods, what obstacles stood in their way, which strategies helped them survive and continue working — and who managed to gain recognition despite stereotypes, and who was broken by the pressure of their environment. This lecture explores how art history is constructed — and whom it overlooked for a very long time.

The lecture is organized in collaboration with the women’s community “По душам” and is intended exclusively for a female audience. Thank you for your understanding.

The lecture will be given by Liana Lashkhia, art historian and independent researcher.

Start time: Friday, February 13, at 6:00 PM, Art cinema.
Duration: approximately 2 hours.
Price: 60 GEL. The price includes the lecture and a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage.