The work of Hilma’s Ghost, a feminist artist collective founded by Dannielle Tegeder and Professor Sharmistha Ray, was discussed by Amy Smith-Steward, Chief Curator of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, as part of her predictions for art trends in 2024. Smith-Steward is one of 15 leading curators chosen by Artsy to discuss their predictions for the year.
Smith-Steward predicts a growing interest in “mystical and spiritualist abstraction from female artists” and cites Hilma’s Ghost as one example of this trend.
Internationally-recognized artist Pablo Helguera also published a lengthy essay on the work of Hilma’s Ghost for his art column “Beautiful Eccentrics.” He writes, “Hilma’s Ghost started operating during the pandemic, and the immediate and strong embracing of its activities offered proof of how needed such a project was in that moment.”
Image: Hilma’s Ghost (Sharmistha Ray + Dannielle Tegeder), “You are finally sitting on your throne you have a wand that is your symbol of life and creativity. This work deals with permanence and satisfaction. everything you have put your efforts into for a long time will pay off in the future. It suggests that everything will work out well in the end – for you have always kept the longterm picture in view, choosing to take no shortcuts. Your legacy is sure to stand for quite a long time to come. This is a relief, for the path to get here has been filled with setbacks and challenges, making this point of the journey even sweeter.” Acrylic and flashe on canvas, 72 x 84 inches, 2023. Courtesy of Hilma’s Ghost