A Rising Tide

Collector's Focus: Women Artists

Introduction by Sarah Gianelli

For centuries women have faced significant obstacles within a male-centric art world, struggling to have their voices heard or to be taken seriously. Against the odds, some female artists managed to find a way to have their creative voices heard and find great professional success during their lifetimes. Today, more and more female artists are joining their ranks—as historic women artists veiled in obscurity during their lifetimes are finally being recognized for their significance and talent and, for contemporary women artists, as galleries, collectors, museums and foundations make them the sole focus of exhibitions, endowments and collections.

Ayana Ross, Writing in the Sand, oil on canvas, 48 x 36”. Courtesy the Bennett Prize In the historic art market, gone are the days where only artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Mary Cassatt are commanding six-figures and beyond. More works by women artists—Gertrude Abercrombie, Agnes Pelton, Isabel Bishop, Fern Coppedge, Dorothy Eaton and Blanche Lazzell to name just a few—are now achieving unprecedented price points at art fairs and auctions.

One of the most jaw-dropping examples was when a 1963 piece by the largely disenfranchised abstract expressionist Lynne Mapp Drexler (1928-1999) soared past its $60,000 high estimate to achieve $1.2 million in a spring 2022 auction at Christie’s. Christie’s broke that record just two months later when Herbert’s Garden, a 1960 painting valued at $100,000, rocketed to $1.5 million.

Shiqing Deng, How Much?, oil on linen, 66 x 44”. Courtesy the Bennett Prize.According to a market report published in March 2023 on Artsy.net, 2022 “was a record for late women artists at auction. There has been a 109 percent rise in the total value of works sold at auction by late women artists between 2012 and 2022, from $228 million to $477 million.”

Megan Bongiovanni, research associate at Hawthorne Fine Art, a champion of historic women artists long before other fine art galleries began following suit, notes, “Women artists are finally getting the recognition they deserve through increased scholarship, research and exhibitions. People are finally beginning to take notice of their lives and artistic contributions in a large way.”

This trend is also transforming the contemporary art world, evident in this very issue with the many female and feminist-focused exhibitions, and features on three trailblazing women artists at various points in their lives and careers.

33 Contemporary, Green Altar I, oil on canvas, 30 x 40”, by Ellen Starr Lyon. Designed to propel the careers of women artists working in figurative realism, the Bennett Prize awards $50,000 to allow the recipient to devote two years to creating a new body of work that culminates in a solo exhibition at Michigan’s Muskegon Museum of Art and a national tour.

“The gift of time it has given has been extraordinary,” says Ayana Ross, who received the bi-annual award in 2021. “To see what I’m able to do without the constraints I was operating under before…to stretch out and grow. It’s had a huge impact on my life and practice. I have had the time to delve in and go deeper in myself and make greater connections, which gives more meaning and depth to the work.”

The 2023 Bennett Prize winner, Shiqing Deng plans to use the funds to help with rent for her Brooklyn studio, art supplies and realize her desire to make more ambitious work. It will also assist with the expensive process—and her credibility as an applicant—of securing a Visa.

Top: Lynne Mapp Drexler (1928-1999), San Pablo Bay, 1964, oil on canvas, 30 x 40", Courtesy J. Kenneth Fine Art; Agnes Pelton (1881-1961), The Fountains, 1926, oil on canvas, 36 1/8 x 32”, signed and dated lower right: ‘Agnes Pelton 1926; signed again and titled twice on the stretcher. Courtesy Christie’s. Bottom: 33 Contemporary, I, Me, My, oil on wood panel, 16 x 20”, by Amanda Greive; Beth Cole, Behind the Veil, oil on linen, 20 x 20”With works by historic women artists seeing a swell in demand; foundations providing resources and recognition to contemporary women artists; institutions like the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) hosting dozens of exhibitions a year; galleries and museums featuring all-women shows; and collectors who have put works by female artists at the center of their private collections, greater opportunities open up for all women artists working today.

Like the saying goes, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Beth Cole, Arioso, oil on linen, 8 x 8”; 33 Contemporary, Take Me Higher, oil on ACM panel, 20¾ x 15¾ ”, by Narelle Zeller. In the following pages we celebrate some of the top women artists working in the genre of contemporary realism and the galleries that showcase their work. Enjoy the wide variety of styles, genres, mediums—and voices—throughout the remainder of the section.

“We are surrounded by a veil of atmosphere of which most of us are unaware,” says landscape artist Beth Cole. “As an artist, my role is to see, interpret and elevate the atmosphere—the beauty of creation in all its forms. If, through my work, you see the good, the true and the beautiful, my mission has been accomplished. It is my privilege to accompany those who are searching for the same.” For collectors of landscapes, Cole advises, “If a painting catches you from across the room or holds your attention as you flip or scroll, stop for a minute. If your mind holds it, even hours later, go back. Stare for a while. Trust your instincts. I believe this is how all art finds its way home.”

Vanessa Rothe, Fields of France, oil on canvas, 18 x 24” “The grandeur and beauty of France has long been a favorite subject of mine,” says artist and gallerist Vanessa Rothe. “In the work, Notre Dame de Paris, I wanted to capture the subtle variety of grays that can been found in the Notre Dame, contrasting with the fall leaves of the giant chestnut trees. I added some of the large birds that were ‘flying’ to the left of the famous ‘flying buttresses’ in the back of the alluring cathedral for added interest.” This larger studio work was painted from an original on location study.

Priya Gore, Country Girl, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30”Artist Priya Gore crafts art that elicits profound emotions, a testament to her rebellion against the ordinary and her commitment to stirring the soul with every stroke. Her portrayal of a sulphur-crested cockatoo celebrates the introverted city girls who defy expectations with their quiet strength, caring personalities and determination to make the world a more peaceful place. Conversely, Gore’s depiction of a red-tailed black cockatoo exudes confidence and strength, challenging the conventional image of innocence often associated with country girls. Inspired by real-life tales of courageous rural women, this painting becomes a symbol of empowerment and legacy, echoing the artist’s own breakthrough from societal norms. Her portrayal of carmine bee-eaters breaks artistic norms and highlights the resilience found in self-belief.

Priya Gore, Out of Norm, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 40 ; Bailey Miller, Temple Crag, oil, 40 x 30” “It all begins with an adventure,” says artist Bailey Miller.“Traveling to remote alpine lakes, traversing mountain peaks, snowshoeing through a secluded winter wonderland or beach combing along the coastline, there is no limit to where I’ll venture to find inspiration.” Back at her easel, the oil paints come out and she dives into the memories of her latest adventure, using photos and plein air watercolor studies as reference for a larger painting. “I would not simply say that I am a landscape painter,” she says. “Each painting aims to encompass an experience. I am an adventure painter.”Elena Von Kohn, Age of Diversity, oil on canvas, 48 x 60”

Sue Kryzston, Out of the Shadows, oil, 36 x 24”

Cindy Kopenhafer, JuliAnne Jonker and Cher Pruys are among the 80 member artists showcased in the American Artists Professional League’s (AAPL) annual Realism on the Hudson exhibition which takes place March 2 through April 14, at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, New York. Speaking about the inspiration for her show piece Tree Trunk 1, Kopenhafer says, “I am captivated by trees because they remind me of humans; each one a unique individual struggling at times to survive—resilient and beautiful.” Jonker’s portrait Voodoo Chile is the first in a new series inspired by gestures. “I have always been intrigued by brief, natural moments of movement…that convey a story, especially when combined with beautiful lighting,” she says. Pruys found her inspiration for Autumn Reflectionswhile wandering around an airfield in Tullahoma, Tennessee. “I was stopped in my tracks by the incredible beauty of this particular Beech 17 as the sun danced across its fabric body and over its wings with their spectacular reverse stagger,” says Pruys. After getting the perfect photo, “I found myself looking forward to returning home to my studio where I could begin the process of preserving this moment by way of brush, so more people could enjoy this treasure.”

Top: American Artists Professional League, Tree Trunk I, graphite, 10 x 8”, by Cindy Kopenhafer; Barbara Meikle, Lady Grizz, oil on canvas, 40 x 40” Bottom: American Artists Professional League, Autumn Reflections, acrylic, 9¼ x 5¾”, by Cher Pruys; Barbara Meikle, Hi There Bear, bronze, 23 x 14 x 14”

“My heroes/heroines as a child were Pablo Picasso and Georgia O’Keeffe,” says Barbara Meikle. “Picasso because he could really draw, paint and sculpt anything, in any style; O’Keeffe because she took herself out of the whirlwind of the New York art scene and out into the high desert, where she found a wonderful life. I want to do both, to be an expert in my own styles and have the time and space to create the works I need to create…hard to do when you own your own gallery, but I’m making it work.”

Grace DeVito, Summer Cat Tails, oil on linen, 22 x 16”; Elena Von Kohn, The Balance of Confidence, oil on canvas, 58 x 90”

Lisa Sprietsma, The Auguries of Time, oil on canvas, 51 x 56”

“At 33 Contemporary Gallery, we hold in high esteem the profound influence of female artists throughout history,” notes curator Didi Menendez. Featured here are three artists in the gallery’s Feminismshow, which will be viewable on Artsy.net for the duration of March. “[This exhibition] stands as a tribute to Women’s History Month, paying homage to the pivotal role women artists have played in our vibrant art community and beyond,” Menendez continues. “Their contributions, like threads woven into the very fabric of society, transcend eras and genres. Their creative ingenuity serves as an unwavering wellspring of inspiration, enriching the ever-evolving tapestry of the art world. We proudly champion the enduring impact of these visionary women, whose artistic legacy continues to shape our cultural landscape.”

Barbara Meikle, Streaming in Blue, oil on canvas , 40 x 60”

Elena Von Kohn, The Eyes of the River, oil on canvas, 58 x 80”

Sue Kryzston, Cherished Memories, oil, 30 x 24”

Elena Von Kohn’s art emerges from the interplay of reality and imagination, where each stroke on the canvas is a step into a world of surreal encounters and profound emotions. “In creating pieces like those in the Dancing with Gravityseries, I aim to offer a space where viewers can explore the subtle dance between the conscious and the subconscious,” she says. Her advice for collectors is “to engage with the artwork beyond its surface beauty. Let the art resonate with you, evoke thoughts or stir emotions. True appreciation comes when you find a personal connection with the piece, making it more than just art—it becomes a part of your life’s narrative.”

American Artists Professional League, Voodoo Chile, oil on canvas, 12 x 10”, by JuliAnne Jonker.

Painting in the representational realist style Grace DeVitois equally adept in the genres of portraiture, figurative, still life and landscape. “The love of light and its effect on the form are my pursuit whether I’m painting a distinguished person or a humble plant,” says DeVito, whose painting of summer cattails is featured here. “My desire is to cause the viewer to stop and reflect on the subject and see its beauty and significance.”

Top: Vanessa Rothe, Notre Dame de Paris, oil on canvas, 24 x 30” ; Priya Gore, City Girl, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30” Bottom: Vanessa Rothe, Le Petit Bateau, oil on Raymar panel, 16 x 12”; Bailey Miller, Summer Dreams, oil, 30 x 40”When Sue Krzyston purchased her first piece of Native American pottery, little did she know it would influence her life and career. As her collection of artifacts grew, she also began to paint as a hobby and made these pieces the subjects of her compositions. “I consider my paintings an artform within an artform,” says Krzyston. “I so admire the beauty and artistry that these talented potters and weavers have created.” Her goal is to show how using light and shadow can make objects relate to each other and to the viewer. Kryzston’s skillful use of light in her paintings creates a three-dimensional effect that brings each object to life.

Lisa Sprietsma, Teacup Triptych, oil on canvas, 12 x 28”

The inspiration behind Lisa Sprietsma’s work is a combination of her love for stormy Arizona skies and the genre of still life. “I love to paint glass bowls of fruit and observe the way light travels across and through them,” she says. “When I’m painting, I am thinking of ways that we are connected—to our dreams, to each other, to nature and to our spiritual selves. I really want my work to reflect the balance that we all must strike to live a fulfilling life.” —