Women Artists in Revolution (WAR) was aNew York City-based collective of American women artists and activists that formed in 1969.[1] They seceded from the male-dominatedArt Workers' Coalition (AWC), prompted by theWhitney Museum of American Art's 1969 Annual (later theWhitney Biennial), which included only eight women out of the 143 featured artists shown.[2]
In 1970, WAR members sent letters to the Whitney Museum, as well as theMuseum of Modern Art, demanding both museums change their policies to be more inclusive of women artists.[3] That same year, theAd Hoc Committee of Women Artists formed and also concentrated on the discrimination of women in the Whitney Museum's annual survey exhibitions.[2] These protest efforts led to an increase of women artists at the next Whitney Annual, rising from an average of 5–10% before 1969 to 22% in 1970.[2][4]
In 1971, some members of WAR, along with a group called Feminists in the Arts, created theWomen's Interart Center, the first alternative feminist space, where they established a graphics and silk-screen workshop taught by the artistJacqueline Skiles.[2] By 1972, WAR abandoned their efforts to change museum policies and focused more onconsciousness-raising that concerned the struggles of women artists.[2] In 1973, two former members of WAR—Mary Ann Gillies and Joan Glueckman—co-foundedSOHO 20 Gallery.[5]
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