CORAL GABLES, FL.- The Lowe Art Museum is presenting the exhibition, She’s a Knockout: Sport, Gender, and the Body in Contemporary Art, which is on view until September 14, 2024 in the Green and Adams Galleries.
Featuring a diverse group of artists from around the globe—including Bianca Argimón, Libby Black, Zoe Buckman, Monica Garza, Riikka Hyvönen, Sophie Kirchner, Eddie Lanieri, Hazel Meyer, Fay Sanders, Sheena Rose, and Kawita Vatanajyankur—this exhibition explores themes of resilience, strength, labor, women’s rights, and queer aesthetics through various artistic mediums. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the conversation, contributing to a rich tapestry of artistic expression and social commentary. By incorporating portraits of female athletes, artworks with sports equipment as well as depictions of bodies in movement—ranging from bullfighting to performative gymnastics— these artists challenge conventional ideas of femininity, prompting viewers to consider the wide array of connections between sport, power, strength, and identity. Created between 2007 and 2023, the works in this exhibition are thoughtfully organized into thematic sections with titles inspired by sports terminology that, in their double meanings, offer another layer of context —After the Game; Resistance Training; A New Arena; Locker Room Talk; and Calling the Shots.
Guest curated by Caitlin Swindell, She’s a Knockout invites viewers to explore the multifaceted dimensions of femininity as portrayed in contemporary art. Through painting, sculpture, video, photography, and multimedia installations, the exhibition offers a thought-provoking journey into the evolving narratives surrounding gender and athleticism. Swindell, notes, “Through the lens of contemporary art, these works encourage us to reexamine our collective and individual perspectives on sport, agency, and gender in a fresh and innovate way, using athletic-related imagery as means to explore identity in all its complexities.”
The Lowe’s Director and Chief Curator, Dr. Jill Deupi, notes: “The timing of this exhibition could not be better; not only does it coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics, but it also occurs at a time when women’s rights, gender, identity, and intersectionality continue to be debated across the country and around the globe. We are proud to serve as a forum for the exchange of some of the most important ideas of our time, providing a safe space for individuals to engage with complex subjects and to draw their own conclusions. In doing so, we are supporting a plurality of people on their journeys of learning and through and with art.”
This groundbreaking exhibition, which challenges conventional understandings of gender in the realm of sports, is sure to ignite conversations and inspire new outlooks on the worlds of athleticism and art.
