Athena Shrugged” is a series of four solo exhibits by important emerging and established female artists. The exhibition series filled virtually all of the 2017 calendar at Long-Sharp Gallery’s New York Project Space, 24 West 57th St, New York, Suite 606. The final of four installments features works by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, and runs October 25- December 16.
In 1971, Linda Nochlin penned her groundbreaking essay "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" Her answer in part was that traditions and institutions were pragmatic in their representation of women. According to gallery owner Rhonda Long-Sharp, “It is the responsibility of galleries, museums and auction houses to demonstrate by word and deed that talented female artists have equal importance in the artworld.” She adds “[T]his responsibility could be no greater than it is today.” With great respect and solidarity, “Long-Sharp Gallery is honored to launch Athena Shrugged, a series of solo exhibits by four spectacularly talented female artists in one of the world’s greatest and innovative art cities.” Athena Shrugged is comprised of four solo exhibitions by outstanding female artists: Constance Edwards Scoplelitis (IN), Sabina Klein (NY), Jamea Richmond-Edwards (MD), and the artist whose works are currently on exhibit, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh (NY).
The artist, a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. She is a 2015 Forbes’ 30 Under 30 recipient. Fazlalizadeh is the creator of “Stop Telling Women to Smile”, an international street art series that tackles gender-based street harassment. The public art series can be found on walls across the globe, amassing international attention for tackling violence against women in public spaces. Fazlalizadeh has been profiled by the New York Times, NPR, and listed as one of Brooklyn’s most influential people by Brooklyn Magazine. She has lectured at the Brooklyn Museum, New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, and at several universities including Stanford, Brown, USC, and Pratt Institute. Works by this artist have been featured on TV networks BET and Oxygen as well as Spike Lee’s feature film “Da Sweet Blood of Jesus”, as well as exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States.