This piece originally appeared at Curationist. Across time and place, political rulers have patronized the arts as a means of glorifying divinities and themselves. Women artists have often worked in these systems. In some contexts, they occupied marginal roles, earning renown despite gender restrictions. In others, women were at the heart of imperial creative production.…

This article originally appeared at Curationist. Religious stories in many societies ascribe potent creative powers, both reproductive and artistic, to goddesses and everyday women. Across cultures, women creatives, from nuns to calligraphers, have also made works revering the divine. Introduction Religious and magical traditions have often ascribed special creative powers to women, feminine people, and…

This article originally appeared at Curationist. Most of the artists named in Curationist’s partner collections are men, part of a broader exclusion of women from art history. Feminist, queer, and anti-colonial movements have challenged this underrepresentation. In this seven-part series, Curationist highlights women artists from our partner museum collections. Introducing Curationist’s Series on Women Artists…

Originally published at Curationist. Elite courtesans, called oiran, embodied artistic refinement in Edo-era Japan. Artists created block prints depicting these sex workers as part of a thriving popular culture. These prints honored oiran as talented artists and potent symbols of Buddhist ideals. Introduction Edo-era Japan witnessed a kaleidoscope of popular culture known as ukiyo, or…

Originally published at Curationist. The story of one sword can span thousands of miles and hundreds of years. From the Mughals to the Mamluks, medieval and early modern empires traded and plundered these valuable weapons. Swords traveled between Asian and European empires, picking up valuable decorations and powerful inscriptions along the way. Introduction From the…

A surge of public interest in mushrooms is challenging mycology’s colonial legacy—and reclaiming its traditional relationships. On a sunny, early-July morning, a small crowd gathered at the edge of the New York Botanical Garden’s reflecting pool. The previous night’s heavy rain rose as mist from the wet earth, lingering with the traces of smoke from Canadian…

As conservatives increasingly question queer families’ right to exist, the children of LGBTQ+ people have found community—and safety—with one another. This is part two in a series. You can read part one here. “It’s hard to say what safety would feel like, because we’ve never got to taste it,” Adien Lyford said of their queer…

Originally published at Curationist. Throughout human history, war has largely been a male pursuit. Yet women have also donned armor and charged onto the battlefield. Images of women in armor, from gender rebels to anticolonial icons, reveal cultural views about femininity, the human body, and armed conflict. Introduction If you watch superhero movies, you’ve likely…