In “Towards a Curatorial Activism”, the author writes, “After even a cursory glance at art world statistics … it is evident that sexism and racism have become so insidiously woven into the institutional fabric … that the inequities in representation often go undetected.” This emphasizes how bias in the art world is built into its structures in subtle ways, making it invisible to many. She also asks, “Don’t we have an ethical responsibility to ensure that … our present and future are more inclusive than exclusive?” Here she frames curatorial activism as a moral duty: it’s not optional but necessary if the art world is to change. Curatorial activism is about giving space to underrepresented artists, like women, artists of color, and LGBTQ+ voices. She believes curators have a duty to make the art world fairer and more diverse, especially moving forward.
In “What Is Curatorial Activism?”, the author defines the term: “‘Curatorial Activism’ is a term I use to designate the practice of organizing art exhibitions with the principle aim of ensuring that certain constituencies of artists are no longer ghettoized or excluded from the master narratives of art.” This lays out the core goal, to actively include artists who have been marginalized. She also argues that the art system “is a hegemony that privileges white male creativity to the exclusion of all Other artists,” and insists that the white Western male viewpoint “may, and does, prove to be inadequate not merely on moral and ethical grounds … but on purely intellectual ones.” In other words, exclusion of marginalized voices doesn’t just harm justice, it hurts the richness and depth of art itself. It’s a critique on how the art world mostly uplifts white male artists, leaving others out of the picture.
Proposal:
"Smile Studies" is a poster series inspired by Kerry James Marshall’s painting A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self. The painting shows a nearly invisible Black figure with exaggerated white teeth and eyes, pointing to how Black people have often been reduced to stereotypes. This project uses that idea to explore how marginalized communities are sometimes included in media, art, or institutions in shallow or performative ways, often expected to “smile” and be visible without being truly heard or empowered.
The posters will feature dark silhouettes with oversized, artificial smiles, some human, some distorted, and bold questions like “Who are you smiling for?” or “Visibility isn’t justice.” These will be placed around campus or public spaces to catch people’s attention and make them think about how we treat representation. A QR code on each poster will lead to a page with more information, including artist statements, historical context, and ways for viewers to respond or reflect.
This project connects to Maura Reilly’s idea of curatorial activism, which calls for deeper inclusion beyond surface-level diversity. By using bold visuals and public placement, Smile Studies would ask viewers to look critically at the way marginalized people are “included” in society and to consider whether those smiles are genuine or just for show. It turns everyday spaces into places for questioning, awareness, and change.
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