Business Women Collecting Women Artists

One of the strange things I've encountered in collecting data about women is the odd parallels in representation and statistics that I find across industries. 

For example, ⅓ seems to be the ratio of women to men that the world can tolerate—studies have shown that if a woman speaks for ⅓ of the time a man speaks, she will be perceived as having had the same airtime. 

⅓ also happens to be the representation of women in many group shows, and it's the upper end of average representation of women artists in art galleries. 

 When it's institutions we're talking about, however, 15% is the golden ratio: 15% of work in the collections of the top 18 American institutions is by women artists, and 15% of the wealth managers in the nation's banks are women. 

 But, most disappointing (as if 15% weren't bad enough), when it comes to getting money into women's pockets, only 2% goes to women—whether that be 2% of venture capital funding or 2% of auction sales. 

Willem van Haecht, Cornelis van der Geest's Kunstkammer in Antwerp during the visit of the Archdukes Albrecht and Isabella in 1615, 1628, oil on panel

 Whatever is going on here, clearly our lot as women is intertwined. 

 But while these statistics are disheartening, I see hope. Women are increasingly successful in the world of business: the number of female Fortune 500 CEOs has almost quadrupled in the past 10 years. 

 The key, then, is to make sure these gains are felt across all industries, including art. 

If you're reading this and are a professional woman not in the arts (but interested in art!) prove that we can use our interconnectedness to better the lives of women artists and start collecting art by women with Less Than Half. 

 If you’re wondering how to help women, start collecting! The best way to take the first step is by signing up for the LTH collecting newsletter here. 

After all, a rising tide lifts all boats!