Tate admits need to buy more works by women artists

The trustees of Tate Modern have admitted that the collection fails to give adequate recognition to female artists and that they need to rectify the gender gap.

The gallery's trustees acknowledged the imbalance in the existing collection at a recent board meeting, and have resolved to acquire more works by female painters and sculptors, according to the next issue of The Art newspaper.

Of the 2,914 artists represented in the Tate's collection, only 348 - less than 12 per cent - are women, and only two of the 39 major works bought over the past two years were by female artists.

The initiative was inspired by the need to recognise female talent that had so far gone unacknowledged, the Tate said. "We examine our holdings on a regular basis to identify what may have been overlooked in the past and research what may be available to fill the gaps."

While some contemporary female artists are well represented in the collection - especially those who emerged in the 1990s Young British Artists movement, including Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Rachel Whiteread - those from previous generations are not.

Those who have been overlooked include the US painter Georgia O'Keeffe, the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who was the subject of the 2002 Hollywood film Frida, and the British painter Alison Lapper, who received an MBE for services to art in 2003 and was the subject of Marc Quinn's Fourth Plinth project in Trafalgar Square.

Dame Barbara Hepworth, the Cornish sculptor whose major works are displayed at Tate St Ives, is the best represented female artist, with 128 works. The collection holds 31 works by the German performance artist Rebecca Horn, 30 pieces by the Op Art painter Bridget Riley, and 21 and 19 by the Turner Prize winners Rachel Whiteread and Gillian Wearing. There are also 14 works by the early 20th-century Welsh artist Gwen John.

Sir Nicholas Serota, the director of the Tate, said: "It is striking that among the emerging contemporary artists, the gender balance is much more even. And that is pleasing."

A spokeswoman said: "The contemporary female artists are pretty well represented. Historically, it has been difficult prior to the 20th century."

The Tate said its drive to purchase more works by women was not part of a positive discrimination policy. "While we do not stipulate positive discrimination in relation to women artists, we are very concerned to address areas where, historically, women artists may have been neglected."

The two works by female artists acquired by the Tate in the past two years were by Emin, for less than £50,000, and the Spanish artist Christina Iglesias, which cost £115,000.

Tate Modern has staged several exhibitions by women artists including Kahlo and Riley.

The current programme includes displays of works by the Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gill while a show by the English painter Prunella Clough, opened at the weekend.

Tate artists

The best-represented women artists in the Tate are:

* Dame Barbara Hepworth - 128 works

* Rebecca Horn - 31

* Louise Bourgeois - 30

* Bridget Riley - 30

* Cindy Sherman - 29

* Rachel Whiteread - 21

* Gillian Wearing - 19