Give Me What You Ask For is the first exhibition to bring together the work of Victoria Cabezas (b. 1950) and Priscilla Monge (b. 1968), two Costa Rican artists from different generations. It explores how the two artists have challenged conventional art disciplines, including painting and sculpture, by drawing on their own lived experiences. Monge and Cabezas both use experimental artistic strategies to advocate for women and to critique established patriarchal structures.

“Pondering Cabezas and Monge’s paths helps us understand how the critical infrastructure in Central America has changed during the last four decades,” said Miguel A. López. “It also helps us recognize genealogies that show that women were, to a large extent, the catalysts for change in terms of the boundaries of the region’s contemporary art.” 

Victoria Cabezas.
 Sin título (Untitled), 1973. 
Polyptych, hand-colored gelatin silver prints,
 25 5⁄8 × 31 1/2 inches; 65 × 80 cm overall. 
Private Collection

Victoria Cabezas. Mujeres, gatos y televisores (Women, cats and televisions), 1983. Series of gum bichromate prints. Each 9 7⁄8 × 14 7⁄8 inches; 25 × 38 cm. Courtesy of the artist

Priscilla Monge. Dame lo que pides y pide lo que quieras (Give me what you ask for and ask for what you want), 1994. Oil on fabric,
 86 1/4 × 52 inches; 219 × 132.3 cm. Courtesy of the artist

Priscilla Monge. Pelota de fútbol (Soccer ball), 1999–2012. 
Sanitary napkins and black leather. 
Diameter 9 3/4 inches; 25 cm.
Courtesy of the artist

Victoria Cabezas and Priscilla Monge: Give Me What You Ask For is curated by Miguel A. López (Chief Curator of TEOR/éTica and Lado V, San José, Costa Rica).

Images courtesy Americas Society.