That women are gradually obtaining gender parity in a historically male-dominated art market was emphasised at Art Basel in June, where the fair’s biggest sale at $US40 million ($59 million)was a large steel spider by the late Louise Bourgeois.

In the auctions, female artists are increasingly gaining a toehold, arguably even a lead role. A glance through the list of contributors to last week’s £425 million ($747 million) London sales of modern and contemporary art shows women as the main barrier breakers in the 20th-century sections.

The Telegraph London