Cultural Council Invokes the Lived Experiences of Women with Free Contemporary Art Exhibition
Posted by: Linnea Bailey
January 16, 2024
An innovative exhibition of artwork focused on the lived experiences of women will soon be on display at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County’s main gallery in downtown Lake Worth Beach.
The free public exhibition She. Her. Hers. will take place January 26 through April 6 and features the work of 10 Palm Beach County-based professional artists, all of whom are women. The exhibition will feature a diverse range of contemporary works by Olivia Rachel Austin, Amy S. Broderick, Heather Couch, Nazaré Feliciano, Laura Tanner, Sarah E. Huang, Autumn Kioti Horne, Lisa MacNamara, Quimetta Perle and Lisa Zukowski.
“While women artists are beginning to achieve recognition for their work, they remain under-represented in galleries and museums,” said Jessica Ransom, the Cultural Council’s director of artist services. “This exhibition focuses exclusively on the work of women artists and their responses to perceived requirements of domesticity, the many waves of feminism, and their own lived experiences.”
The exhibition is curated by Véronique Chagnon-Burke, Ph. D., an art historian, researcher, art advisor, art market specialist and co-founder of the Women Art Dealers Digital Archives (WADDA). Based in New York City, Dr. Chagnon-Burke served as a director at Christie’s Education for 20 years and is a co-chair for The International Art Market Studies Association and was a section editor for Bloomsbury Art Market, an online digital resource published by Bloomsbury Publishing in London.
Dr. Chagnon-Burke said the collection of works showcased in the exhibition are particularly inspired by the legacy of pioneering feminist artist Judy Chicago, as well as the works of art legends such as Hannah Hoch, Eva Hesse, Louise Bourgeois, Laurie Simmons and Marta Rosler.
“The ten artists of She. Her. Hers. continue to build a multifaceted artistic narrative to make more visible the diversity of women’s experiences,” she said. “These artists’ work is empowering and celebrates a long tradition of female agency. Led by strong, engaging aesthetic qualities, their art can contribute to the difficult conversations we need to have if we are to move toward a more inclusive society.”
Encompassing a diverse range of mediums and materials such as natural fibers, ceramics, discarded domestic objects and sequins, the materials used by the artists during the creation process are meant to spark a personal connection with each visitor.
“My hope is that people feel uplifted by these works,” Dr. Chagnon-Burke said. “She. Her. Hers. is meant to be energizing and inspiring, and something that people can draw from their own memories to fully experience.”
The Cultural Council’s mission is to nurture, promote and support a healthy, diverse and inclusive cultural sector. By focusing on the shared experiences of women and work by female artists, this exhibition is aligned with that, said Dave Lawrence, the Cultural Council’s president and CEO.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the work of talented Palm Beach County-based female artists,” he said. “As we continue our work to nurture, promote and support a healthy, diverse and inclusive cultural community, exhibitions such as She. Her. Hers. help to amplify voices and highlight the enormous impact women artists have in the arts.”
The exhibition will take place in the Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building at 601 Lake Avenue in Lake Worth Beach. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The council will host an opening reception on Thursday, January 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Artists from the exhibition will be present to answer questions and discuss their work. Reception is free for members; $20 for non-members. Visit palmbeachculture.com/whimsy for more information or to register for the opening reception.
On Friday, January 26, artist Autumn Kioti Horne will present their performance art piece red hen (impossible standard) at 11:45 a.m. at the Cultural Council. On Saturday, January 27, a panel discussion will be held at 2 p.m. in the gallery, featuring Dr. Chagnon-Burke and artists Heather Couch, Quimetta Perle, and Laura Tanner.
She. Her. Hers. is sponsored by Ellen Liman, Palm Beach Media Group, Florida Weekly, WLRN and The ArtsPaper (The Coastal Star) and Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. Habitat for Humanity is the exhibition’s community partner.
About the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Cultural Capital®. Headquartered in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building in Downtown Lake Worth Beach, the Council presents exciting year-round exhibitions and performances featuring artists who live or work in Palm Beach County. The Council features spectacular work by Palm Beach County-based professional artisans in its Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store and offers complimentary resources for visitors in its Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center. The Council is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and a comprehensive calendar of cultural events in The Palm Beaches, visit palmbeachculture.com.
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Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
pr@palmbeachculture.com