Dakota Nako

Female artists, historically, have been at a disadvantage compared to male artists in the institutionalized art spaces of Europe and North America. In Europe, they were prohibited from painting nudity until the late 19th century, while nude pieces made by male artists date back to the 15th century or further. Denial of such a fundamental art practice is only a fragment of gatekeeping against female artists in the West. When art institutions began to form in the United States, their founders brought European standards into practice. Today, artworks by female artists included in encyclopedic museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, make up less than 10% of all works. While more female artists are recognized now—through social media, independent researchers, and progressive art courses—the efforts made by museums are not yet enough.
For her BFA Thesis Exhibition, Dakota exhibited intricate diptych embroidery pieces paired with performance art. In this work, she investigates the prevalent issues of inequalities and flaws in the foundation of institutionalized art space and simultaneously takes action to empower herself as a means to defy the curse of male dominance and patriarchy in the Western art world.
Credits
Videography - B. Wells Douglas