Womart was born as a response to an uncomfortable fact: more than 70% of Fine Arts students are women, yet their presence in the visual arts circuits is minimal. In Barcelona’s major art centres, between 2011 and 2015 only 14% of exhibitions were by women artists; and in the Wallspot database, of the more than 3,000 urban artists registered at the time, only 4% were women.
The project, curated by Rebobinart, aims to give visibility and recognition to women creators, foster their presence in urban art and support their professional careers. This post is a review of the stage so far, not a closure: Womart continues, and upcoming actions will be published as new projects within the Womart line.
Womart in figures
- 2018year of birth
- 10cities and 10 artists in the first action
- 5feminist JAMs at the Tres Xemeneies (2020–2024)
- 1travelling exhibition, with a stop in Brussels
- 19+documented projects
Timeline
2017 · The curatorship
Rebobinart wins the Xarxa Transversal Curatorship Competition with the Womart proposal, signed by Míriam Alarcón and Marc Garcia.
2018 · Ten cities, ten artists
In April, the Xarxa Transversal municipalities host ten simultaneous interventions —installation, performing arts, media art, illustration and muralism— by OVNI, Lula Goce, Paula Bonet, Btoy, Hyuro, Minuskula, Elbi Elem, Aïda Gómez, Mónika Rikic and PEDRA. In November, Womart Trinitat Vella. In October, the Womart Day within Ús Barcelona at La Model, with Paula Bonet, M. Àngels Cabré (Observatori Cultural de Gènere) and Míriam Alarcón.
2019
Womart by OVNI and Núria Toll.
2020–2023 · The JAMs
Womart JAM (2020), Womart JAM 8M (2021), Womart JAM 8M with Associació In Via (2022) and IV Womart JAM (2023): every 8 March, around ten artists paint at the Tres Xemeneies on a theme proposed by a social organisation. Also Wall Claim by Killa EK (2021).
2023 · The exhibition
“The other half of urban art: women and art in public space”, curated by Berta Rigau, opens at the Espai Catalunya Europa of the Government of Catalonia’s Delegation to the EU, in Brussels.
2024
Feminist JAM at the Tres Xemeneies: a collective mural by around ten artists against gender-based violence for 25N.
2025
Women in motion: the struggle goes on, an 8M mural by Núria Toll in Sant Martí, with a participatory process at the Farinera del Clot, and Waterwall by Alba Fabre in Finestrelles.
Recognition
- Xarxa Transversal Curatorship award (2017)
Statements
“It is a very male-dominated sector and we are here to say: enough gender-based violence, this is our space too, we can paint and be recognised as artists.”Haridian Donés, Rebobinart, at the 25N Feminist JAM in 2024 (betevé)
“Spaces must be created where we feel safe to paint.”Meritxell Saperes, participating artist (betevé, 2024)
“I think it is a very necessary initiative for all of us, and it is beautiful that we can come together on a day like this.”Ona Salvador, muralist (betevé, 2024)
Press coverage
- Bonart · 2018El Consorci Transversal presenta «Womart» a deu ciutats de Catalunya
- Bonart · 2018Womart, 10 dones talentoses
- Xarxa TransversalRebobinart, guanyadors del Concurs de Comissariat amb el projecte Womart
- Mataró Art ContemporaniWomart i Associació Rebobinart
- betevé · Nov 2024Una desena d’artistes alcen la veu contra la violència de gènere amb un mural col·lectiu
Where Womart goes next
Eight years on, the gap remains and so does Womart: the 8 March JAM and the 25N actions stay on the calendar, the exhibition “The other half of urban art” can travel to new venues, and the programme is open to councils, organisations and companies wishing to produce murals, jams or exhibitions with women artists. If you are an artist and want to join the project, write to us with your portfolio.
