Exhibition List
1980s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
PESTS were anonymous protest/pressure group of artists operating in New York in the 1980s. Like the better-known Guerrilla Girls who protested against discrimination, exclusion and tokenism directed towards women artists by commercial galleries and major museums and art institutions, PESTS aimed to expose the similar problems facing ‘artists of color’. Taking as their logo a wasp-like insect with serrated pincers and a sting in its tail, they produced a whole range of ephemera promoting their cause, from brochures listing the New York galleries which represented no black artists, flyers protesting against tokenism by art institutions, and stickers showing just the logo.
This rare material has been donated by a former member of PESTS, who wishes to remain anonymous in relation to this gift. None of the other former members have identified themselves, and the history of their activities remains obscure. According to records in the Smithsonian’s oral history archive, PESTS was established by a black female member of the Guerrilla Girls, around 1986.
This rare material has been donated by a former member of PESTS, who wishes to remain anonymous in relation to this gift. None of the other former members have identified themselves, and the history of their activities remains obscure. According to records in the Smithsonian’s oral history archive, PESTS was established by a black female member of the Guerrilla Girls, around 1986.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | printed paper |
| Brief description | List of exhibitions of work by black artists and artists of color. Item of printed ephemera, produced by anonymous artists' collective PESTS, USA, 1980s |
| Physical description | Detials of exhibitions of work by black artists and 'artists of color' in New York, printed in strips and decorated with the PESTS' logo. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given anonymously |
| Summary | PESTS were anonymous protest/pressure group of artists operating in New York in the 1980s. Like the better-known Guerrilla Girls who protested against discrimination, exclusion and tokenism directed towards women artists by commercial galleries and major museums and art institutions, PESTS aimed to expose the similar problems facing ‘artists of color’. Taking as their logo a wasp-like insect with serrated pincers and a sting in its tail, they produced a whole range of ephemera promoting their cause, from brochures listing the New York galleries which represented no black artists, flyers protesting against tokenism by art institutions, and stickers showing just the logo. This rare material has been donated by a former member of PESTS, who wishes to remain anonymous in relation to this gift. None of the other former members have identified themselves, and the history of their activities remains obscure. According to records in the Smithsonian’s oral history archive, PESTS was established by a black female member of the Guerrilla Girls, around 1986. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1193-2012 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 11, 2013 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
