Barriers for Women in Art ⚖️, Renaissance Technique for Modern Themes 🎨, Spring Opportunities Roundup 💼
And other stories from this week in the realism art movement
🌟 Mainstream
What’s Holding Women Back in the Arts—And How Can We Fix It?
A new survey by Artnet News and the Association of Women in the Arts reveals persistent gender inequities across the art industry, from pay gaps to limited advancement opportunities. With insights from over 2,000 respondents, the "Hardwiring Change" initiative highlights systemic barriers and calls for practical reforms. Industry leaders, including Sadie Coles and Clarrie Wallis, share strategies for fostering a more inclusive and equitable art world.
👩🎨 Artist Features
Mitch Griffiths: The Unsettling Realism of Flesh and Shadow
British artist Mitch Griffiths challenges contemporary art trends with his meticulous oil paintings that blend Renaissance techniques with modern themes of isolation and consumerism. His latest works, displayed in the exhibition "Sacred and Profane," explore deep emotional resonance through chiaroscuro, notably in "Destroy Me Again" (2024), which depicts a chaotic scene of power and pain.
Chasing Light: A Painter’s Journey from Land to Sea & Sky - Realism Today
The artist reflects on over 40 years of painting, transitioning from plein air work to focusing on seascapes and skies, particularly influenced by light and moments that cannot be repeated. After studying the techniques of Impressionists and admiring the works of Wilson Hurley, the artist emphasizes capturing the interplay of light and water in their "Sea&Skyscapes." Large, detailed paintings convey the spiritual significance of light, which the artist views as essential to both art and life.
🖼 Shows
A portrait of the Roman model Nanna, painted by Frederic Leighton, has resurfaced in the exhibition "The Edwardians: Age of Elegance" at Buckingham Palace, marking its first public display in the UK in 25 years. The painting became a point of contention in 1859 when a young Edward VII expressed a strong desire for it, leading the original purchaser, George de Monbrison, to graciously relinquish his claim. Recently conserved, the artwork now reveals vibrant colors and intricate details that had been obscured by decades of varnish.
Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine - Fine Art Connoisseur
The Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William & Mary is hosting “Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine,” featuring 38 works that explore the artist's process behind the Sistine Chapel ceiling. This exhibition includes nearly half of the surviving drawings for the ceiling, a debut of a long-overlooked sketch, and other unique items like self-portraits and a personal letter to Michelangelo.
🎨 Learn
Enjoy Summer Marathons in Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture at New York Studio School
The New York Studio School’s Summer Sculpture Marathon offers a two-week intensive program for artists to explore various techniques in drawing, painting, and sculpture. Participants engage in daily critiques and discussions, pushing their creative boundaries and enhancing their skills. The program is open to artists of all experience levels and emphasizes the importance of dedication and physical engagement in the artistic process.
📚 History
ART & ARTISTS: Théodore Géricault - part 1
Jean-Louis-André-Théodore Géricault is recognized as a pioneer of Romanticism in French painting, known for his dramatic portrayals of horses. He trained under Carle Vernet and later Pierre Guérin, drawing inspiration from military themes and the works of masters like Rubens. His most famous piece, "The Raft of the Medusa," exemplifies modern drama and was exhibited in 1819, while his later years included a series of portraits of asylum inmates.
Restoration of Caravaggio’s Final Work Reveals Shocking Hidden Details
A new restoration of Caravaggio’s The Martyrdom of St. Ursula (1610) has revealed hidden figures and details long obscured by damage and overpainting. Using x-ray imaging and 17th-century techniques, conservators uncovered faces, a soldier’s helmet, and clarified key elements of the dramatic scene. Now on view in the major “Caravaggio 2025” exhibition in Rome, the painting sheds new light on the artist’s final months and working process.
💼 Opportunities
Online Exhibitions, Art Publications, Art Contests and Grants
Dozens of opportunities are open this spring for realist and representational artists. Highlights include the high-prestige ARC Salon (deadline June 12, $130K+ in awards), the FiKVA Award (€5,000 prize pool, deadline April 15), and CollexArt Grand Prize ($9,500 in prizes, deadline April 30). Most are online exhibitions with modest fees and open media, though some—like the Hopper Prize (May 13)—focus on grant funding. There's also a mix of themed shows (“Yellow,” “Still Life,” “Figures & Faces”) and open calls offering visibility, awards, and publication.
Did an Artwork Save Your Life? Artist Ahmet Öğüt Wants Your Story
Artist Ahmet Öğüt has launched a public art project in London inviting people to share personal stories of how art saved their lives—physically or emotionally. The idea was sparked by a dramatic 2020 incident in the Netherlands, where a train was miraculously caught by a public sculpture shaped like whale tails. One winning story will be honored with a bronze “whale tail” trophy and displayed alongside Öğüt’s new work at Stratford station, as part of a hopeful, community-driven archive exploring the life-saving power of art.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of The Classical Realist.
Best regards,
Fletcher Graham
Biggest barrier for being a woman sculptor- being a woman. Nothing has changed in my 20 year career.