PRESS RELEASE 
UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS
MAJOR EXHIBITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS REDISCOVERS LOST LEGACY OF WOMEN POP ARTISTS
22 January – 15 March 2010
Rosenwald-Wolf, Hamilton Hall, and Borowsky Galleries
“Seductive Subversion: Women Pop Artists 1958–1968,” the first major exhibition of female Pop artists, takes aim at more accurately reflecting the depth of women’s contributions to Pop Art.
“Traditionally, Pop Art has been defined and dominated by a small group of Anglo-American male artists,” said curator Sid Sachs, who has been developing the exhibition for five years. “This show expands this narrow definition and re-evaluates the critical reception of Pop Art. Many of these artworks have not been shown in four decades.
“Seductive Subversion” features paintings and sculptures by Evelyne Axell, Pauline Boty, Vija Celmins, Chryssa, Niki de Saint Phalle, Rosalyn Drexler, Dorothy Grebenak, Kay Kurt, Yayoi Kusama, Lee Lozano, Marisol, Mara McAfee, Barbro Östlihn, Faith Ringgold, Martha Rosler, Marjorie Strider, Alina Szapocznikow, Idelle Weber, Joyce Wieland and May Wilson.
The University has secured loans of artwork from the National Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington, D.C.), Neuberger Museum (Purchase, New York) and major private collectors.
“Green Triptych,” by Marjorie Strider
1963, acrylic paint, laminated pine on masonite panels, 105 x 72 inches
Courtesy of the Artist/Collection of Michael T. Chutko
Photography: Randal Bye
The show’s main staging will be at the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery (333 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia), with the Hamilton Hall Galleries (320 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia) and Borowsky Gallery (401 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia) hosting the balance of the art work. The Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday, noon-5pm. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For information, call 215-717-6480.
“Seductive Subversion: Women Pop Artists 1958-1968” was organized by the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery at the University of the Arts. This project, along with a documentary film by Glenn Holsten, has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative, with additional support from the Marketing Innovation Program. Additional funding for the film is generously provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation and the Quaker Chemical Foundation.
IMAGES:
“With Love to Jean Paul Belmondo,” by Pauline Boty
1962, oil on canvas (detail), 48 x 59 7/8 inches
“Ampersand IV,” by Chryssa
1965, neon, glass and plastic, 30 x 11 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches
The Harry N. Abrams Family Collection, NY
Photography: Ivory Serra
“Hall of Fame (Babe Ruth Baseball Cards),” by Dorothy Grebenak
c. 1964, wool (detail), 65 x 50 inches
Photograph courtesy Allan Stone Gallery
Collection of Allan and Clare Stone
“Marvelous Modern Mechanical Men,” by Mara McAfee
1963, oil on canvas (detail), 60 x 47 1/2 inches
“Black Rosy or My Heart Belongs to Rosy,” by Niki de Saint Phalle
1965, material, wool, paint and wire mesh, 89 x 59 x 33 1/2 inches
© 2010 Niki Charitable Art Foundation. All rights reserved.
Photography: © Laurent Condominas
“Young Woman’s Blues,” by Joyce Wieland
1964, mixed media, 17 1/2 x 13 x 9 inches
University of Lethbridge Art Gallery
The University of Lethbridge Art Collection
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada