Celebrating the female artists of contemporary Latin America

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, ‘Female Voices of Latin América’ marks the largest presentation of work from Latin American female artists

Image of Momo Magallón, Interiores
Momo Magallón, Interiores 04, 2020.
(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

‘Female voices of Latin América’ is more of a festival than an exhibition. Involving more than 60 international galleries and institutions, 150 living artists and 19 represented countries, the momentous digital show marks the biggest ever presentation of work from Latin American female artists.

Presented by extended reality (XR) platform Vortic and coinciding with International Women’s Day, the cross-generational initiative offers the floor to artists at various stages of their careers, with work that spans from 1968 to the present day. Exhibiting artists include Liliana Porter, Beatriz Milhazes, Adriana Varejão, Ad Minoliti, Sol Calero and Valeska Soares. 

Mom and child are sleeping

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Rolf Art Gallery.)

Image of Clemencia Labin, Fruit stitching

Above: From the series Madres adolescentes by Adriana Lestido, 1988 - 1990. Courtesy of the artist and Rolf Art Gallery. Below: Clemencia Labin, Fruit stitching, 2020. Courtesy of the artist

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

The show seeks to remedy the lack of historical representation of women from the region in the global art sphere. It also draws timely attention to the tendency for Latin American female artists to be overlooked until the latter parts of their careers. Notably, Cuban-American minimalist pioneer Carmen Herrera sold her first painting aged 89 and received her first retrospective museum show at 101.

‘We have grown tired of not seeing female artists from Latin America receive the recognition they deserve in their own lifetime, says Elena Saraceni, Curatorial Director, Voices of Latin América and Special Projects Consultant at Vortic. ‘As a platform, “Voices of Latin America” plays a well-deserved tribute to those with a remarkable artistic trajectory as well as promoting the current and next generation of artists.’ 

‘Female Voices of Latin América’ marks the first iteration in a series of thematic shows which aim to amplify art from the region.

Image of The Riddle (Black Mickey)

(Image credit: Liliana Porter, Courtesy of the artist)

Valeska Soares, Doubleface (Quadricone Magenta/Earth Green)

Above: Liliana Porter, The Riddle (Black Mickey), 2021. Courtesy of the artist. Below: Valeska Soares, Doubleface (Quadricone Magenta/Earth Green), 2019. Courtesy Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro

(Image credit: Courtesy Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro)

INFORMATION

’Female Voices of Latin América’ will be live on Vortic from 8 March – 2 May 2021. vortic.art

Harriet Lloyd-Smith was the Arts Editor of Wallpaper*, responsible for the art pages across digital and print, including profiles, exhibition reviews, and contemporary art collaborations. She started at Wallpaper* in 2017 and has written for leading contemporary art publications, auction houses and arts charities, and lectured on review writing and art journalism. When she’s not writing about art, she’s making her own.