Call for Entries: The Female Gaze

The Female Gaze is an exhibition dedicated to self-portraits by women and femme artists  from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ages. It presents a compelling narrative that challenges traditional representations of women and redefines the concept of the gaze in art. By focusing on self-portraits, the exhibition highlights how female artists navigate, interrogate, and reclaim their identities through their own artistic perspectives.

The concept of the male gaze, articulated by Laura Mulvey in her 1975 essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," describes how women are often portrayed from a heterosexual male perspective, reducing them to objects of desire. Historically, this dynamic reflects societal roles where men were typically the artists, patrons, and critics, while women served as subjects. This perspective is evident across art forms—from classical paintings and sculptures to photography and film—where female figures are frequently depicted to emphasize beauty and sexuality, reinforcing gender power imbalances.

The female gaze, by contrast, subverts the dominance of the male gaze by presenting women as subjects with agency, complexity, and depth. The Female Gaze celebrates self-portraiture where women and femmes can portray themselves through their own experiences and perspectives. This shift allows for more nuanced and authentic depictions, emphasizing individuality, strength, and humanity.

In The Female Gaze, women are not merely objects to be viewed but active participants in the creation and interpretation of art. By spotlighting self-portraits, the exhibition breaks away from traditional, reductive portrayals imposed by the male gaze, challenging patriarchal norms and promoting gender equality in the art world.

All Categories

Me as I
Me as I
Odochi Akwani


If You See Something, Say Something
If You See Something, Say Something
Bethany Bash


Queen of Carrots
Queen of Carrots
Peg Belcastro


Period Pain
Period Pain
Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee


On the Prowl
On the Prowl
Claudia Bokulich


postpartum self portrait
postpartum self portrait
Tough Gossamer


Self Care 2
Self Care 2
Therese Brown


adonis
adonis
Jackie Conley


Nongrasping
Nongrasping
Shannon Cronin


Tub
Tub
Devyn Dais


Playing Dress Up: A Self-Portrait as My Grandmother
Playing Dress Up: A Self-Portrait as My Grandmother
Jess Danyi


Me as Me
Me as Me
Ciara DeMelo


Almost still.
Almost still.
Daria Denisenko


Sinking
Sinking
Temple Douglass


Fenced In
Fenced In
Mia Fabrizio


It's Mine, Not Yours
It's Mine, Not Yours
Jennifer Louise


Antiquity 1
Antiquity 1
Katelyn Knight


Headstand
Headstand
Stephanie Gartanutti


Bleach Burn (Unrecognizable to us both)
Bleach Burn (Unrecognizable to us both)
Sarah Goffney


Mirror Mirror
Mirror Mirror
Stephanie L Grant


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