Women have been creating public art for centuries, but their contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued. For example, during the Renaissance period, female artists were often relegated to the role of assistants or copyists, and their work was rarely recognized as being equal in quality to that of their male peers.
Despite these challenges, women have made significant contributions to the field of public art over the years. Some of the most famous public artworks in the world were created by women, including the Statue of Liberty (designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and sculpted by Camille Claudel) and the Vietnam Women's Memorial (created by Glenna Goodacre).
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of promoting gender equity in public art. Many cities and organizations are now launching initiatives to commission more female artists' work and ensure that public art reflects a more diverse range of perspectives.
From large-scale installations to intimate street art pieces, women are using their creativity and vision to shape public spaces and challenge societal norms.
To talk about this we spoke to Cece Carpio and Meredith Bergmann, 2 amazing women making their impact in art, history, and telling important stories in a public forum.
Enjoy!