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Felipe Echevarria

The following artists are represented by:


 

S.W.E.A.T. Resurrection of Beauty Manifesto

When approached with the theme of “The Resurrection of Beauty” our group, the Society for Women in Erotic Art Today or “S.W.E.A.T.” had an interesting and spirited debate about what “beauty” is.  And while that debate is older and more varied in answers than most debates in history, there are some things that most of us agree are just undeniably beautiful.  We usually can’t define it, but we know it when we see it… 

Scientists, scholars, philosophers and artists have explored this theme for centuries and artists in particular have really explored this topic in every way possible.  In some cases, artists have even created art that they called beautiful, but was, in fact, intended to invoke more of an emotional response as the definition of beauty was challenged, rather just eliciting a sensory response. 

The way that S.W.E.A.T. interpreted the theme of “The Resurrection of Beauty,” is that it should be focused on beauty – not just eros (which, of course, we specialize in) – though we certainly believe that some of these pieces are erotic, too.  Besides erotica, many of us have very funny, cheeky, socio-political, and feminist art that we have produced; for this show we just took a step back and asked ourselves, “What are the most beautiful pieces that I have ever created?”  We told ourselves not to over think it, not to try to make any kind of political or social statements, and to just select the most incredible pieces of art we have ever produced… the types of pieces that just make you sort of gasp and stare for a long time.  We hope you enjoy them…

S.W.E.A.T.

The Society for Women in Erotic Art Today (S.W.E.A.T.) is a consortium of female erotic artists of all mediums who have joined together to promote women in the erotic art field.  S.W.E.A.T. brings together female visual and performing artists to provide an information network and a network of opportunities to promote women in erotic art.   S.W.E.A.T. is a network for photographers, fine artists, models, make up artists, wardrobe designers and performance artists in the erotic / boudoir / burlesque field. 

Everyone defines erotica in different ways and we accept that!   For purposes of our group, we define erotica as a spectrum from “Romantica” to artistic nudes to boudoir and suggestive eros to pornography.   Ooh... we know... pornography is such a dirty word to most - especially when it comes out of the mouth of a “lady.” However, we decided not to limit expression of eros and do have a few members who run the gamut with the type of work they do. 

A study performed in 2010 by S.W.E.A.T. founder Lisolette Gilcrest, demonstrated that the number of female artists on a popular art networking site that list “erotica” among their specialties was just over 6%, compared to more than 15% of male artists.  On the other hand, there were at least 20,000 more female models than male models, who said that they would be willing to pose nude and at least 8,000 more female models than male models who indicated that they would also pose in erotic-themed art.*   

“Women are traditionally expected to be the subject of erotica – or at least part of the scene – an expectation usually held by both men and women who view erotica,” Gilcrest says. “It’s an interesting phenomenon that we tend to be surprised when we hear that a woman has actually produced erotica and even more surprised when we see that many women portray erotic scenes in a much different way than men.”  Gilcrest went on to explain: “S.W.E.A.T. was designed to promote women in a field they’re generally underrepresented in and we are thrilled that Gallery Provocateur has offered us a venue to recognize our artists’ amazing erotic works.” 

From the United States to Russia to the United Kingdom to Cambodia to Israel, S.W.E.A.T. boasts that its members are some of the best and most talented international female erotic artists.  Having only been founded in July 2010, the group already has 160 members from around the world.  “We’re definitely still growing,” Gilcrest adds.  “That’s the whole point of S.W.E.A.T.  We want to promote that erotic art is not only a legitimate art form and alright for women to produce – but that it is encouraged for more ladies to voice what they want to see in erotica by producing it and making erotic art that appeals to both men and women.”  

* The study was performed using statistical analysis of membership on the popular art networking site Model Mayhem (http://www.modelmayhem.com/).