/Museums
New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century
About
New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century is a major survey exploring recent feminist practices in contemporary art. In 1980 Lucy Lippard argued that feminist art is “neither a style nor a movement” but rather “a value system, a revolutionary strategy, a way of life.” Taking Lippard’s statement as a point of departure, the exhibition examines the values, strategies, and ways of life reflected in current feminist art. In keeping with Griselda Pollock’s observation that “feminism is a historical project and thus is itself constantly shaped and remodelled in relation to the living process of women’s struggles,” New Time aims to demonstrate that feminism in the twenty-first century is multifaceted, encompassing many complex issues and perspectives, and therefore cannot be reduced to a single subject, style, or agenda. Although artworks made since 2000 are the primary focus, the objects and installations on view span several generations, mediums, geographies, and political sensibilities. In this way the project seeks to convey the heterogeneous, intergenerational, and gender-fluid nature of feminist practices today.
SF/Arts Curator Insight
BAMFA makes it clear that feminism is always timely in "New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century.” A sweeping review of feminist artists over a century which saw challenges and redefinitions, reimagining what feminism is and could be. Though there are many wonderful pieces on display, my personal favorite was “Umbilical” (2000) by Janine Antoni, a contemporary work that evokes the material tensions of child rearing as a mother. Catch it before it closes January 30.
Luke Williams
Contributing Writer

As the visual arts center at one of the world’s leading public research universities, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) brings the rich artistic resources of the UC Berkeley campus to the broader public. BAMPFA’s mission is to inspire the imagination, ignite critical dialog, and activate community engagement through art, film, and other forms of creative expression.
As the visual arts center at one of the world’s leading public research universities, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) brings the rich artistic resources of the UC Berkeley campus to the broader public. BAMPFA’s mission is to inspire the imagination, ignite critical dialog, and activate community engagement through art, film, and other forms of creative expression.