Girlgaze Artists Assert Female Power In New Art Collective

From October 22 through February 26, Los Angeles' The Annenberg Space for Photography (2000 Avenue of the Stars #10) is hosting #Girlgaze: A Frame of Mind, an exhibit showcasing the work of more than 150 emerging female photographers. Founded by TV host, women's advocate, and photographer Amanda de Cadenet, Girlgaze is a multimedia platform dedicated to supporting female artists not only by exhibiting their work, but also by providing them with funding and jobs.

It gets its name from a social media movement that asked aspiring female photographers to post their images on Instagram with the hashtag "girlgaze". More than 450,00 photographs were posted, and the project subsequently drew in the attention and support of fashion and media powerhouses such as Inez van Lamsweerde, Amber Valletta, Lynsey Addario, Sam Taylor-Johnson and Collier Schorr.

The exhibit at The Annenberg explores topics such as sexuality, mental illness, addiction, and the objectification of the female body, and displays photographs with remarkable breadth. Some images glimmer with the spontaneity of girls chomping on gum and running uninhibited through fields, while others revel in the manicured perfection so many girls work hard towards achieving. A woman posing in front of a pink background in purple lipstick that matches her turban is an ode to the hours spent in front of the mirror getting your look just right.

Cinny Kennard, Executive Director at the Annenberg Foundation says of the exhibit, "#girlgaze: a frame of mind will allow us to program vibrant discussions that look at the world from a different perspective, engaging with complicated themes of identity, beauty, sexuality and culture in a manner sure to resonate with audiences of all ages and from all walks of life."

Check out images from the exhibit below: