Best Art Instagrams to Follow
Instagram was practically made for artists! It’s a visual platform and attracts many inspiring artists as well as people who both love and collect art. If you’re looking for the best art Instagram accounts to follow, then check these accounts out and make sure you follow them to keep up with their content!
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: on average, only 30% of artists represented in commercial galleries in the US, are women. In Australia, it’s approximately 40%, in China; 25%, in Hong Kong; 22%, and in Germany; less than 20%.
Art Girl Rising is working to change the numbers! And, working to shine a spotlight on the women that have come before us but have not been acknowledged.
Every time you visit a museum or gallery you have the power to help change the status quo - ask questions; ask WHERE ARE THE WOMEN? We are the generation to change these numbers. Together we can do it!
Also, we are super excited to have collaborated with Art Girl Rising to create a T-shirt featuring Canadian female artists!
#2 @peopleofcraftsmanship
Artists featured by @peopleofcraftsmanship: @bygracelynne @rinnyriot @myeshaevon @katchulaa @gicatam @ceci_dcd @shawnax @ninachanel @nataliaagatte
People of Craft is a growing showcase of creatives of color and their craft in design, advertising, tech, illustration, lettering, art, and more. This project by Amélie Lamont and Timothy Goodman was created because as they say “It’s time to redefine what a creative looks like.”
If you’re looking to add the work of more inspiring creatives into your Instagram feed this account is a must follow!
#3 @womeninthearts
Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., the National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only museum in the world that exclusively features the achievements of women artists.
Can you name #5womenartists?
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major museum in the world that exclusively champions women through the arts.
The museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. Advocating for better representation of women artists, the NMWA serves as a crucial centre for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. The museum highlights the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while also featuring great women artists working today.
If you’re looking to educate yourself further about the issue and take action, you can read more about what you can do here!
#4 @thejealouscurator
Danielle Krysa, the artist behind the Jealous Curator and Art For Your Ear Podcast is all about turning jealousy into get-your-ass-back-in-the-studio inspiration!
Danielle thrives by celebrating artists from all over the world and exposing their artwork on her Instagram. She’s also interviewed many of them—in fact, over 150 of them—on her podcast! But, we want to take this space and also celebrate Danielle for being the fabulous artist that she is. You can check out her work here.
Apart form featuring the work of talented contemporary artists through her daily posts, Danielle is also “…absolutely fascinated with the self-doubt part – the insecurities, inner-critics, creative blocks, and of course the jealousy that all of us have to deal with at some point.” She believes that if the art community shares openly about the vulnerability that comes with being creative, all of us will benefit. Wow.
To learn more about Danielle, you can listen to our two podcast episodes with her here and here! Make sure to check out her latest book, A Big Important Art Book (Now with Women).
#5 @arthistorywomen
Svanen (The Swan), No. 17, Group IX, Series SUW. Hilma af Klint, 1915.
So much of history is explained from the male point of view. The winners are the ones that get to tell history as they see fit—with bias, distortion and all.
Unfortunately, it’s the same with art and art history. So many of the artwork we’re told of and taught about, even in school—whether it’s a BFA or MFA—feature mostly male artists and their work. This is all, of course, shifting thanks to the changing climate around fair representation 💫💫💫
Art History Women posts artwork created by the talented women in art history who we should all take a minute (or more) to acknowledge and celebrate.
Gosh, if only we knew who is the mastermind behind this fabulous account is then we can give them a personal shoutout. But, for now, we’ll just have to continue to support their initiative of representing female artists in history!
#6 @repaint.history
Here’s another frustrating fact—did you know that only 11% of all museum acquisitions over the past decade have been of work created by women? Sigh.
Repaint History aims to raise the profiles of women artists, both past and present, through fashion, events, and a global community.
Fashion? Yes, fashion. They make blouses and t-shirts dedicated to important women in art history. Their blouse, in particular, is tastefully embroidered with asymmetrical collars, long sleeves, and front button closure. Check it out!
5% of any purchase made is contributed to SKETCH Toronto, an organization supporting homeless youths through art and art education.
Their wonderful website also includes a ‘facts you should know’ page featuring important articles about the current status of female representation in the arts.
#7 @womenartists
Tricia Gilbride and Carly Knowles are a fun dynamic duo who release an ‘annual-ish’ publication profiling women working in the visual arts. Oh, and they also ‘make stuff’ available for purchase!
The shop and zine are part of a very part-time project for the two of them so be patient and expect slower than usual orders. However, that shouldn’t stop you from getting one of these amazing shirts!
#8 @museummammy
Photo of Kimberly Drew in Essence
“It’s my sincere hope we think more expansively about who the arts can be for and who can participate in the arts” Kimberly Drew the curator and writer behind the Instagram account @museummammy recently shared in a post.
Kimberly grew up in a family of artists and art lovers and began championing African American art at an early age. While studying art history at Smith College, she started a Tumblr blog call Black Contemporary Art as "a place for art by and about people of African descent."
Another must follow account for sure!
#9 @thegreatwomenartists
Katy Hessel, the woman behind the Instagram account, is an art historian and curator who loves shining the light on historical and contemporary female artists.
Her podcast series The Great Women Artists was recently featured in British Vogue’s December 2019 issue as one of the most popular podcast series in the United Kingdom. Woah.
The podcast interviews artists on their career, or curators, writers, or general art lovers, on the female artist who means the most to them.
Katy’s access to the art world, for instance, allows her to invite renowned curators such as Tate Modern Director Frances Morris for an interview on the fabulous Agnes Martin. What?!
#10 @arthistorybabespodcast
Corry, Nat, Ginny and Jen are basically the Spice Girls of the art world. Well, not exactly, but the picture will have you thinking otherwise.
In reality, they are a group of fabulous women that get together to drink wine and discuss all things visual culture in a podcast.
Here’s an actual fun fact from their bio—each of them represent one of the four natural elements: water, air, earth, and fire.
Bonus @Thrivetogethernetwork
And last but not least, us!
Our goal since 2015 has been to create a community where artists come together with an open mind to be generous with their knowledge, experiences, stories and kindness. Now, with over 200 members in THRIVE, we are so lucky to have such a collective to learn from. If you’re looking to tap into our community of fabulous female artists, you can learn more about membership here.
You can also follow THRIVE’s cofounders Jamie Smith and Kaylan Buteyn artist accounts too if you’d like!
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All of this material comes from the TTN Resource Library! Learn more about the library and the Thrive Together Network here.