What is it about?
This article examines how gender bias shapes the perception of Abstract Expressionist painting. In three experiments with 800 participants and 160 paintings, we found that viewers were more likely to assume a painting was made by a man, especially when it contained more black paint and angular lines. While aesthetic judgments were influenced by style, not by the artist’s gender, the results highlight persistent gender bias in how artworks are attributed and recognized.
Featured Image
Photo by Huebert World on Unsplash
Why is it important?
These findings show how unconscious biases still shape the way we see and value art. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for reassessing the art historical canon and ensuring that women artists receive fairer recognition.
Perspectives
As both an art historian and a conservator, I am struck by how strongly perception continues to be shaped by cultural bias. For me, this study is not only about Abstract Expressionism, but also about how we, as a society, continue to see art through inherited assumptions. I believe addressing these biases is essential for creating a more accurate and inclusive art history.
Stefanie De Winter
Associatie KU Leuven
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Art has no gender, only gender bias., Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts, September 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/aca0000799.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
