Sara M. Zak (b. 1976)

In her blog, “Unlock Art: Where are the Women?” posted on February 16, 2014, Sara M. Zak discusses her observations of feminist issues about the achievements, and lack of historical recognition, of women artists. It began during the 1970s, when feminists raised questions about the patriarchal orientation to art history. Linda Nochlin, a professor of art history at Vassar College, led the way with her groundbreaking essay, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” that was first published in 1971 in the anthology Woman in Sexist Society: Studies in Power and Powerlessness.  A shorter version was published in 1971/73 in a collection of essays titled Art and Sexual Politics. She also presents stills and video documentation of her 2012 installation Re-Model from Show-Offs: Hallwalls Artists and Models. Please view these at http://saramzak.blogspot.com/ to gain a sense of her aesthetic philosophy as it applies to this painting produced a year later.