September 4, 2024

5 Contemporary Female Artists who are Breaking the Glass Ceiling with Investment Art that Inspires

Amid persistent disparities in the art industry, these Contemporary female artists are defining their own value as they break through the glass ceiling. Here are the stories of five trailblazing women who are turning art into gold, by pushing boundaries and shaping a future rich in culture and investment art returns.

The Opportunity: Contemporary Female Artists to Invest In

The enormous $192 billion gender pay gap in the art world is a stark reminder of the systemic hurdles faced by female artists in the industry. Of the $196.6bn spent on art at auction between 2008 to 2019, just 2% was created by female artists. However, as the art landscape gradually begins to shift, so too are the financial prospects of modern female artists.

In 2022, a BBC documentary revealed that the value of art by female artists on the secondary market - which deals with the resale of works by reputable names - is rising 29% faster than that of their male counterparts. From instantly recognisable icons to up-and-coming artists, join us as we explore the trailblazing figures who are leading the charge for a more equitable future for women artists in the industry.

Yayoi Kusama

Contemporary female artist Yayoi Kusama wearing a red wig, stands in front of her yellow polka dotted painting of a pumpkin, a prime piece of investment art.

Yayoi Kusama’s legacy as a cultural icon extends far beyond her iconic polka dots. Educated at the Municipal School of Arts and Crafts in Kyoto, Japan, where she studied traditional Nihonga painting, her meteoric rise in the art world began with a nudge from the legendary Georgia O’Keeffe, who gave her the courage to move to New York and advised her on navigating the city’s art scene.

The year 1966 marked a pivotal moment for Kusama when she became the first woman to represent Japan at the 33rd Venice Biennale. There, she introduced her celebrated
Narcissus Garden, a poignant installation of countless mirrored spheres that she sold for a mere $2 each. But Kusama wasn’t just about installations - she was a powerful voice for change. Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, she protested the horrors of war and the pitfalls of capitalism by climbing the Brooklyn Bridge dressed in a polka-dot leotard.

Black and white photograph of Contemporary female artist Yayoi Kusama selling mirrored balls for $2, as part of her exhibition, ‘Narcissus Garden.’ // Black and white photograph of Contemporary female artist Yayoi Kusama climbing the Brooklyn Bridge in a polka dot leotard.

Beyond the canvas, Kusama dabbled as an art dealer, tried her hand at writing novels and became a confident filmmaker, releasing her well-received film Self-Obliteration in 1967. As a proponent of love and equality, she even performed a gay wedding ceremony in 1968 at her so-called Church of Self-Obliteration, long before same-sex marriage was legalised in New York.

More recently, she has ventured into the world of brand collaborations. Not one to do things by halves, in 2011 she teamed up with the beauty brand Lancôme before embarking on her first collab with Louis Vuitton in 2012. At the beginning of 2023, the second LV x Yayoi Kusama collection dropped, creating an unprecedented buzz all around the world.

A testament to her enduring appeal, in 2022 over 70% of Kusama’s artworks fetched prices above their estimates at auction. Commanding the highest auction prices for any living female artist, surpassing even those of her mentor O’Keeffe, Kusama is the poster girl for female empowerment in the arts, with her success in a male-dominated industry unparalleled.

WHY INVEST IN KUSAMA

Bridget Riley

Black and white photograph of Contemporary female artist Bridget Riley, smiling in front of a gradient polka dot background.

For more than half a century, Bridget Riley has been a trailblazing figure in the male-dominated art world. Born in 1931, her incredible journey to becoming one of Britain’s leading living artists began with her debut solo exhibition at Gallery One in London in 1962. Within less than a year, her ground-breaking work had earned her the prestigious AICA Critics Prize from the International Association of Art Critics.

Riley earned early acclaim for her monochromatic paintings. However, as her career evolved, she became deeply engrossed in colour, transitioning from iconic black-and-white pieces to bold compositions that reflected her deepening interest in the emotional resonance of different hues.

This piece of investment art by Contemporary female artist Bridget Riley shows a dizzying array of black and white patterned lines with colourful words ‘The Responsive Eye” superimposed on top in 4 different colours

The art world began to take notice. Her 1964 inclusion in ‘The Responsive Eye’ exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York catapulted her onto the international stage, marking her out as a force to be reckoned with. By 1968, representing Great Britain at the Venice Biennale, Riley achieved a monumental feat: she became the first woman to win the acclaimed International Painting Prize, joining the ranks of art legends such as Henri Matisse and Max Ernst.

Renowned for her audacious fighting spirit, in the 1980s Riley was a trustee of the National Gallery in London. When Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine proposed selling off the land next to the gallery, she blocked the plan, instead securing the space for the museum’s Sainsbury Wing expansion.

Contemporary female artist Bridget Riley created this classic investment art piece called ‘Untitled, Diagonal Curve,’ by painting many parallel curved black diagonal lines.

Financially, Riley’s works have proved to be a lucrative Contemporary art investment. In 2016, her piece Untitled, Diagonal Curve (1966) shattered records at auction, selling for £4.3 million, well beyond its estimated value. This was surpassed in 2022, with her artwork Gala fetching a staggering £4.4 million at Christie’s in London.

Her contributions to art haven’t gone unnoticed by the monarchy either. In 1974, Queen Elizabeth II honoured Rileywith a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and, in 1998, she was elevated to one of just 65 Companions of Honour in Britain. Her impact continues to resonate with the next generation of artists, with icons like Damien Hirst drawing inspiration from her.

The 2003 Tate Britain retrospective ‘Bridget Riley’ celebrated her vast legacy, from her black-and-white beginnings to her vibrant experiments with colour. In a world often dismissive of female artists, Riley’s enduring success, both critically and financially, stands as a testament to her exceptional talent and tenacity.

WHY INVEST IN RILEY

Tracey Emin

Colour portrait of Contemporary female artist Tracey Emin in front of her intimate sketches, now valuable investment art.

Tracey Emin, a torchbearer of feminist art, has shattered boundaries in an art world dominated by male perspectives. An iconic member of the Young British Artists group and champion of the female voice, Emin’s emotionally charged artworks oscillate between stark intimacy and universal relatability.

Emerging in the 1990s, Emin’s audacious pieces, such as Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995 and My Bed, sparked significant controversy. Addressing themes of identity, sexuality and mental health, they blended brutal honesty with artistic prowess. Displaying personal effects from a heart-wrenching breakup, My Bed exemplified her ability to transform personal anguish into a strong feminist narrative.

Despite facing backlash, particularly from male critics, Emin’s fearless approach pushed the feminist art agenda in previously unexplored directions as she challenged societal norms and urged a re-evaluation of women’s issues that, even today, are often stigmatised.

A photograph of the investment art piece by Contemporary female artist Tracey Emin, titled ‘My Bed,’ shows an installation of the artist’s bed, and surrounding clutter, after a breakup.

Emin’s impressive artistic journey led to her being shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1999 and representing Britain at the esteemed Venice Biennale in 2007, where she was only the second British female artist in history to host a solo exhibition of her art. Attracting art aficionados across the globe, her dynamic, uncompromising works, which encompass a myriad of different mediums, from neon letters to quilted tapestries, have also proven lucrative for collectors. In 2014, My Bed fetched an astounding £2.5 million at a Christie’s London auction, with other works regularly exceeding their estimated values.

Celebrities including Madonna, Elton John and the late George Michael have all owned Tracey Emin artwork, with major museums, including the Tate Modern in London, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, proudly displaying her art. The return of My Bed to Tate Britain 15 years after its debut is further proof of its lasting impact.

While Emin’s unapologetic narrative has divided critics, it is impossible to dismiss her pivotal role in evolving the feminist discourse. By spotlighting her raw emotions and personal struggles, she continues to shed light on women’s experiences that are universal, making her a beacon of female empowerment and success in the Contemporary art world.

EXPLORE WORKS

Ayako Rokkaku

A portrait of Contemporary female artist Ayako Rokkaku in front of one of her colourful paintings.

In the realm of Contemporary female artists who are breaking the glass ceiling with their investment-worthy art, Ayako Rokkaku stands out as a vibrant force. Born in 1982 in Chiba, Japan, Rokkaku has crafted a remarkable career built on female empowerment, intuitive artistic expression and astounding success in a competitive art market.

A completely self-taught artist, Rokkaku began painting in 2002. Her artistic style draws inspiration from kawaii culture, serving as a bridge that connects American abstract art with Japan’s obsession with cuteness. Through an intuitive, performative process, she uses her bare hands to apply acrylic paint onto the canvas. This distinctive technique allows her to transfer the energy and movement of her body directly into her art, resulting in a visual language that oscillates between intangible abstract formations and figurative elements.

Contemporary female artist Ayako Rokkaku performs her art, by painting with her hands, creating this vibrant and colourful investment art piece that bridges Kawaii with abstract art.

Rokkaku’s career trajectory has been swift, marked by solo exhibitions at prestigious international institutions, including the Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art in Japan and the Museum Jan van der Togt and the Kunsthal in the Netherlands. In 2015, she showcased her art at the Swatch Art Pavilion during the 56th Venice Biennale, and her works can be found in esteemed collections worldwide.

The artist’s auction performance is particularly noteworthy. In recent years, her paintings have set three auction records, with prices soaring above the $1 million mark. These figures have made her the best-selling Japanese painter of her generation and the sixth best-performing Japanese artist of all time.

The accessibility of Rokkaku’s editioned prints has also contributed to her increasing popularity and market demand, with the artist’s commitment to sharing positive energy through her art resonating with audiences worldwide. Her live painting performances offer a unique opportunity for viewers to witness the creative process first-hand, allowing collectors to connect with her investment art on a deeper level.

SPEAK TO AN ADVISOR

Daisy Dodd-Noble

Contemporary female artist Daisy Dodd-Noble smiles in front of one of her surrealist landscape paintings.

Captivating audiences worldwide with her surrealist landscapes, Daisy Dodd-Noble’s ascent in the art world has been remarkable. Visual poetry, her paintings capture the beauty and drama of the great outdoors in a way that is wholly unique to her. Drawing inspiration from the elegance of trees, she has become a powerful voice in the fight against ecological degradation, with her work a call to arms for environmental conservation.

This investment art piece by Contemporary female artist Daisy Dodd-Noble shows a surrealist landscape of four tall gray and green trees on a blue background.

Based in London, Dodd-Noble’s depictions of familiar landscapes transcend mere representation. Delving into the realms of surrealism, she invites viewers to step into alternate realities where nature and human consciousness intertwine, reflecting on the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world.

Her artistic journey has been marked by a series of prestigious exhibitions, with her first solo exhibition in London in 2020 representing a milestone moment in her career. With her work showcased in group exhibitions across the globe, including venues in the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom, two further solo exhibitions, ‘Grounded’ and ‘Origins’, followed in 2022.

One of the most striking aspects of Dodd-Noble’s career is her exceptional performance at auction. With an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000, in June 2023 her artwork Purple Forest, 2021 exceeded all expectations by selling for an astounding £69,300 at Christie’s London. Her auction success not only highlights the financial value of her art, it also underscores the resonance and impact of her artistic message.

SPEAK TO AN ADVISOR

While Contemporary female artists around the world continue to face obstacles and disparities, these five trailblazing women have succeeded in turning art into gold with their inspiring and investment-worthy works. They are also paving the way towards a more-inclusive future for females in the industry by forging a path for other women artists to follow.

Invest in art by female artists with Maddox Art Advisory. To discuss your potential capital growth with our investment art specialists, click here. To download the latest Maddox Investment Guide, click here.

DOWNLOAD GUIDE