Guerrilla Girls
Guerrilla Girls is a pioneering feminist activist group formed in 1985 with the mission of challenging sexism and racism in the art world. Known for their gorilla masks and anonymous identities, the collective produces provocative posters, billboards, books, and public interventions that expose discrimination in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. By using humor and bold visuals, they draw attention to disparities in art representation, advocating for greater inclusivity and systemic change.
Beyond the art world, Guerrilla Girls extend their activism to issues of gender and racial inequality in film, politics, and pop culture. For over 40 years, through international exhibitions, speaking engagements, and educational initiatives, they continue to inspire new generations of artists and activists and fight for mainstream inclusion for women in the arts. Their work remains a critical voice in the fight for equity, using creative resistance to hold powerful institutions accountable.
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Resources
“Guerrilla Girls Archive 1979–2003.” The Getty Research Institute. https://www.getty.edu/research/special_collections/notable/guerrilla_girls.html
“Guerrilla Girls.” National Museum of Women in the Arts, https://nmwa.org/art/artists/guerrilla-girls/.
Articles:
Sayej, Nada. “The Guerrilla Girls: ‘We upend the art world’s notion of what’s good and what’s right’.” The Guardian, 19 Oct. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/oct/19/the-guerrilla-girls-interview-art-world-rebels.
Sharp, Sarah Rose. “30 Years of the Guerrilla Girls’ Art and Advocacy.” Hyperallergic, 30 Nov. 2020, https://hyperallergic.com/602766/guerrilla-girls-art-of-behaving-badly-chronicle-books/.
Vora, Shivani. “The Return of the Guerrilla Girls, Who Never Really Left.” The New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/arts/design/museums-women-arts-guerrilla-girls.html.
Audio/Visual Interviews:
Friedman, Ann and Aminatou Sow. “ART OF RESISTANCE: GUERILLA GIRLS.” Call Your Girlfriend, 30 Oct. 2020, https://www.callyourgirlfriend.com/episodes/2020/10/30/art-of-resistance-guerrilla-girls.
Hessel, Katy. “Guerrilla Girls.” The Great Women Artists Podcast. Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-great-women-artists/id1480259187?i=1000496299626.
Nourani, Sophia. “Format Festival 2023: Interview with the Guerrilla Girls.” KUAF, 22 Sep. 2023, https://www.kuaf.com/kuaf-music-and-culture/2023-09-22/format-festival-2023-interview-with-the-guerrilla-girls.
Tate. “Guerrilla Girls, ‘You Have to Question What You See’ (interview).” Smarthistory, 5 Oct. 2015, https://smarthistory.org/guerrilla-girls-you-have-to-question-what-you-see-interview.
Written Interviews:
Brown, Naomi. “Art Night 2021: An interview with the Guerrilla Girls.” Glasgow Women’s Library, 11 Jun. 2021, https://womenslibrary.org.uk/2021/06/11/art-night-2021-an-interview-with-the-guerrilla-girls/.
Stephens, Kim. “Laugh, Cry, Fight… with the Guerrilla Girls.” Juxtapoz, https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/features/laugh-cry-fight-with-the-guerrilla-girls/.
More Information
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