Exhibition Showcase: Paula Rego's Unwavering Crusade for Women's Rights
Exhibition Showcasing Women's Rights Advocate - Folkwang Unveils Paula Rego Display - Advocate for Female Empowerment - Folkwang Highlights Paula Rego's Crusade for Women's Liberation
Paula Rego, a bloody crusader in the art world, has spent over seven decades unveiling the grim repercussions of oppressive abortion laws and combating the invisibility of women in art. The Museum Folkwang is hosting a retrospective of 130 pieces by this pioneering Portuguese-British painter from May 16 to September 7, 2025.
Museum Director, Peter Gorschlueter, hailed Rego as one of the most significant modern artists, not only in Portugal and the UK but also globally[K1].
Rego's aggressive war against strict abortion laws in Portugal, as demonstrated by her harrowing "Abortion" series in 1998, is highlighted by five monumental pastel paintings that will be displayed[K2]. The exhibition is titled "The Personal and the Political."
Her works revolve around women's rights and the atrocities of sexualized violence, tackling complex themes like political and sexualized brutality, misuse of power, and pervasive social injustices[K3]. In essence, her core focus lies in the protection of women and children.
Rego created her robust and frequently symbolic artistry in England since the '50s, continuously reflecting the political climate of her homeland, Portugal, which was under the iron fist of a dictatorship until 1974[K4].
Women
Rego fearlessly takes on the representation of women as complex individuals, shattering traditional perceptions of femininity by portraying them as empowered and forceful figures who shoulder the weight of societal burdens[K5].
Portugal
Born in Lisbon, Rego's desperate pleas for justice echo the struggles of countless women in her war-torn nation[K6].
Museum Folkwang
The intimate connection between Rego's art and the political reality of her past is brought to life by the thought-provoking exhibition at Museum Folkwang, demonstrating the artist's powerful influence on social changemaking.
The community policy at Museum Folkwang includes a focus on promoting vocational training for art students, aligning with Paula Rego's legacy in shaping the future of art. In her health-and-wellness focused works, such as those dedicated to women's rights, Rego develops a strong educational emphasis on the importance of science in understanding the complexities of societal issues, particularly those related to women's health.
