Guerrilla Girls to take part in Malta Biennale

The internationally acclaimed anonymous feminist art collective, the Guerrilla Girls will take part in the second edition of the Malta Art Biennale 2026.

The Guerrilla Girls are an anonymous feminist group whose work challenges sexism, racism and corruption in the art world. Known for punchy headlines, bold statistics and striking visuals, they expose discrimination and biases across the cultural sphere.

In a statement, the Malta Biennale team noted, “The Guerrilla Girls are joining the list of internationally acclaimed artists who will be taking part in the Malta Biennale, which will open its doors in just a few days. Like Maurizio Cattelan, the Guerrilla Girls are considered among the world’s leading contemporary artists.”

The collective was formed in 1985 in New York City after members protested against the Museum of Modern Art, where only 13 of the 169 participating artists in a major exhibition were women.

Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum? by the Guerrilla Girls Photo: Guerrilla Girls

Among their most recognised works is the 1989 piece “Do Women Have To Be Naked To Get Into the Met. Museum?”, featuring the figure from the 1814 painting Grande Odalisque by Ingres with a gorilla head. The work highlights gender disparity and the representation of women in artistic institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The collective is also known for its guerrilla tactics, a play on the word “gorilla”, using art as a form of protest. Members have described themselves as the “conscience of the art world”. Their motto states: “Do one thing. If it works, do another. If it doesn’t, do another anyway. Creative complaining works!”

Their work has been exhibited on major international platforms, including the Venice Biennale, São Paulo, Amsterdam and Art Basel Hong Kong, among others. It was also featured in the publication Guerrilla Girls: The Art of Behaving Badly, which was listed among the best art books of 2020 by The New York Times.

The Malta Biennale statement said that more than half of the participating artists in the Malta Biennale 2026 are women.

“In total, the second edition will feature over 130 artists from more than 40 different countries. “

The Malta Biennale will officially open on March 10 and welcome the public from March 14. It will run until May 29.

The Guerrilla Girls are not the only major name featuring in this year’s biennale.

 Italian sculptor Maurizio Cattelan is among the headliners. Cattelan is known for his satirical and hyperrealistic sculptures and installations. His best-known works include La Nona Ora, a sculpture depicting Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, and America, a fully functioning golden toilet.

The biennale is curated by Rosa Martínez, a respected Spanish curator who has organised her own biennales and served as director of the 51st Venice Biennale.

Events will be held across 11 Heritage Malta venues, with a particular focus on Valletta and Vittoriosa in Malta, as well as Xagħra and Victoria in Gozo.