A Little about me...
Cara Cheng work focuses on how structural inequalities, from gender bias in the contemporary art market to issues of identity and race, shape who gets visibility and support in the arts. Through her research on women artists’ market disparities and her ongoing podcast documenting artist residency practices in Chicago, she aims to create conversations that connect artists, institutions, and communities. Her practice consistently asks how cultural ecosystems can become more equitable, and how storytelling, data, and community engagement can help reimagine who art is for and whose voices are centered.
Who Decides What’s “Important” Art? Spoiler: It’s Not You.
For centuries, Western art history has upheld a canon of “masters” and “classics” almost exclusively dominated by white male artists (Michelangelo, Picasso, Pollock…). This canon is not a neutral record of creativity but a selective narrative that reflects entrenched systems of power, colonial legacies, and market interests. To ask who decides what counts as “important art” is to expose these hierarchies—and to call for a more inclusive, democratic cultural narrative.
Shaping Legacies: 50 Years of Ragdale
Paul Sacaridiz is widely recognized for his contributions as an artist, educator, administrator, and leader across both the education and nonprofit sectors. His experience is extensive, having previously served as the Director of the Cranbrook Academy of Art and the Executive Director of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. He has also served on the boards of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.
Beyond his administrative and leadership roles, Paul is an accomplished sculptor whose work has been exhibited at institutions such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum, and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, among many others.
Ragdale, where Paul currently serves as Executive Director, is a nonprofit artist residency program located in Lake Forest, Illinois. Situated on the historic country estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and playwright Frances Wells Shaw, Ragdale hosts over 200 residencies each year, along with numerous fellowships and sabbaticals. Today, it stands as one of the largest interdisciplinary artist communities in the United States.
From the Margins to the Mainstream: A Case Study of Jadé Fadojutimi and the Rise of Gender Parity in the Ultra-Contemporary Art Market
This report uses Jadé Fadojutimi’s rapid rise in the auction market as a case study to show how the ultra-contemporary art sector signals a broader shift toward gender equity, cultural diversity, and generational inclusivity for women artists worldwide.
The Rise of Women Artists and Gender Distribution in the Global Art Market, 2023-2024
These charts reveal a shifting art market where gender equity is advancing. Although men still dominate overall inquiries, women artists are gaining auction value, generational visibility, and regional influence, signaling a steady transformation toward greater inclusivity and recognition in the global art economy.