Statues For Equality is a project from internationally renowned artists and equality activists Gillie and Marc, aiming to balance gender representation in public art worldwide.
With gender inequality being one of the most critical issues in the world today, the artists decided they wanted to balance worldwide gender representation through their Statues For Equality public art project. They will start by creating 10 larger than life statues of inspirational women which will be unveiled at RXR Realty (1285 Avenue of the Americas, NYC) in August. These powerful women were voted for by the public and include: Cate Blanchett, Gabby Douglas, Tracy Dyson, Jane Goodall, Nicole Kidman, Janet Mock, P!nk, Cheryl Strayed, Tererai Trent, and Oprah Winfrey.
This project came about after Gillie and Marc realized that out of the hundreds of statues they had been commissioned to create, only one was female. They then looked into the worldwide statistics and found that they were equally as shocking. In New York City, less than 3% of statues are female, with Sydney and London following suit with 4% and 3% respectively. In fact, there are more statues called John in the UK than there are of historical women.
Gillie and Marc want this to be only the beginning. They have also started a social media movement (#statuesforequality), asking the public to keep the project going by nominating a woman they think deserves to be honored with a bronze statue.
To learn all about this project and this movement, head over www.statuesforequality.com/ and follow the project on social media @statues.for.equality.
We ask you to join us and nominate a woman that you admire. Help us tell the story of all the women who deserve to be immortalized in a statue. It’s super easy to get involved!
1. Write your nominee on a piece of paper and take a photo 2. Post the photo on social media using the hashtag #statuesforequality 3. Tag three friends to do the same!
You can also nominate on our website: www.statuesforequality.com
About the Artists
Gillie and Marc have been called “the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s History” by the New York Times. Creating some of the world’s most innovative public sculptures, Gillie and Marc are re-defining what public art should be, spreading messages of love, equality, and conservation around the world. Their highly coveted sculptures and paintings can be seen in art galleries and public sites in over 250 cities. They’re Archibald Prize Finalists and have won the Chianciano Biennale in Italy, together with winning two years in a row the People’s Choice Award in Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea, among other notable awards and accolades.
The husband-and-wife artists are passionate equal rights activists. After realizing that, from the 100-plus bronze sculptures they have been commissioned to create, only one was of a female, they decided to dedicate their work to balancing gender representation in public art. Now, Gillie and Marc actively promote the creation of female sculptures across the globe to further honor the incredible contributions women have made and continue to make in society.
Among the most renowned artistic duos working today, and being such passionate activists, Gillie and Marc use their work to raise critical awareness for the causes and charities they support.
For more information, visit www.gillieandmarc.com.
