Saatchi Gallery and V&A Mount Joint Exhibition Addressing the Historical Erasure of Female Artists

Saatchi Gallery, in a notable collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), has announced the second edition of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants II: A Unique Dialogue Between Past and Present. Realized in partnership with the SMAG Foundation, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom, and the Mondriaan Fund, this exhibition facilitates a critical dialogue between contemporary Dutch practitioners and the V&A’s historical holdings.

Addressing Institutional Disparity

The curatorial framework is predicated on confronting the systemic underrepresentation of women in art institutions. Referencing data from the Guerrilla Girls, the organizers highlight a stark disparity wherein female artists constitute less than 5% of museum collections, contrasting with their representation in 85% of depicted nudes. While the first edition focused on the visibility of Dutch female artists, this iteration investigates the “historical invisibility” of female creators in museum collections, questioning the artistic lineage upon which contemporary practice rests.

A Curatorial Dialogue with the Archives

This initiative marks an unprecedented partnership between Saatchi Gallery and the V&A, aiming to elevate female voices across centuries. Ten Dutch female artists were invited to engage directly with the V&A’s collection, specifically focusing on paintings and drawings by women. Under the guidance of artist-curator Louise te Poele and V&A curators Dr. Rosalind McKever and Damiët Schneeweisz, the participating artists immersed themselves in the archives to select historical works that would serve as the catalyst for new commissions.

Damiët Schneeweisz, Assistant Curator of Paintings and Drawings at the V&A, characterizes the museum’s role as a “creative sourcebook,” emphasizing the visual conversations emerging between the collection’s historic works on paper and modern artistic output. Louise te Poele notes that these contemporary responses serve to echo and challenge the voices of predecessors, describing the resulting continuum of legacy as both “intimate and radical.”

Participating Artists

The exhibition presents a cross-generational selection of artists working across diverse media. The roster includes painters Lily de Bont (1958), Anya Janssen (1962), and Bobbi Essers (2000) alongside sculptors Femmy Otten (1981), Bregje Sliepenbeek (1986), Margriet van Breevoort (1990), and Larissa Esvelt (1998). The showcase is further diversified by Audrey Large (1994) in digital sculpture and object design, and Louise te Poele (1984) in photography and installation.

Contextual Programming

To augment the exhibition, a documentary component will capture the creative genesis of the new works, illustrating how the historical pieces informed the contemporary responses. Furthermore, the V&A will orchestrate a specific programme of lectures and tours designed to provide multiple entry points into the complex narratives of female artistic heritage.