Tate Modern’s Morris: Female Artists Still Pushing Against Institutional Inertia

The Tate Modern’s new director, Frances Morris, talks about the art world—and the art market’s—conservative tendencies. Speaking in Australia, the curator of major shows of Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin and Louise Bourgeois says too many male colleagues focus on institutional advancement over perfecting an exhibition.

As for the market, the lag in recognition for female artists is wrapped up in the slow pace of institutional change:

Morris says that conservatism extends to the art market, which values the work of male artists far higher than women.

“There are huge numbers of vested interests in the art world and I think that is delaying social change,” she says. “But the situation isn’t very different from other institutions if you look across the commercial sector.”

“I think bias is a big part of it, don’t you? Institutional bias, unconscious bias. It is still a boys’ club, no question in my mind.”

Tate Modern director Frances Morris on why the art world is still a boys’ club (Sydney Morning Herald)