What Happens When We Take the Male Gaze Out of Art?

Who Gets to Define “Normal”? Rethinking the Male Gaze

Whether it is movies, television shows, books, or visual art, much of the cultural landscape has developed within patriarchal systems to appeal to the male gaze. As a result, the world around us has often been shaped by what makes men comfortable, satisfied, and entertained.

This does not translate on an individual level, and it is rather those who hold power that collectively shape cultural norms in ways that prioritize male perspectives. Women often appear in these spaces, but they are presented as objects of desire or disdain and relegated to secondary roles, rather than fully realized participants of the narrative. The roles women are expected to fill are typically sexual in nature, and lack depth beyond the objectification of the female body.

Film critic Laura Mulvey explored this idea in 1975 when she introduced the concept of the male gaze. She argued that many visual media systems depict the world from the perspective of a heterosexual male, thus reducing women to passive spectacles existing solely for the consumption of male viewers. Women’s personalities, ambitions, and individuality become secondary, and significantly undervalued in comparison to how their bodies are perceived.

A striking example of the male gaze in action appeared in an article on BBC from 2025 about the bronze statue of Molly Malone in Dublin, Ireland. Over the years, visitors have repeatedly groped the statue’s breasts for luck. The touching became so frequent that the bronze surface visibly discoloured. A campaigner eventually called for protective measures to stop the ongoing harassment of the statue.

This example may seem flippant in nature, but it highlights a broader issue within what’s normal and acceptable behaviour towards women in general. Even iconic female figures—whether historical, artistic, or fictional—are often reduced to their physical attributes. Breasts, buttocks, body shape, and perceived attractiveness become the defining focus.

This power structure places men in positions of control and authority, while solidifying the idea that the value of women is dependent on their sexual and visually erotic benefit to men.

Yoni Mudra Art Gallery’s displays seek to challenge this perspective. The pieces held in the gallery re-frame the vulva as an expressive and complex part of the body that holds meaning beyond its sexual functions. The disembodied nature of the pieces exhibit the diverse forms of the vulva and the countless shapes, textures, and colours it can be represented as.

Art Through the Lens of Men: Pablo Picasso as an Example

Picasso is famously known for co-founding the avant-garde art movement now known as Cubism. His fame also extended to his numerous romantic relationships and affairs, the subjects of whom frequently influenced his work. 

The work and muses of Pablo Picasso serve as a prime example of how male artists have historically portrayed women. This article is not meant to condemn the work of Picasso, but rather to open a dialogue about broader cultural patterns surrounding women. 

Throughout his career, Picasso painted many of his romantic partners and muses and these depictions often portrayed them nude or partially nude. A well-known example of this is Le Rêve (1932), which displays one of his lovers, Marie-Thérèse Walter, reclining with one breast exposed.

Picasso had a daughter with Walter, but it was not long before he moved on to another

relationship. Despite their personal estrangement, Picasso continued to paint her frequently as a sensual muse. 

His daughter, Maya Ruiz-Picasso, once explained:

“Through the image of a still life, my father depicted my mother’s curves, especially her breasts as fruit, as well as her straight blond hair. Those elements translate my father’s feelings toward her.”

Throughout history, some believe that Picasso viewed many of his partners through the “male gaze” and thus moved quickly from one relationship to another as a result. 

While sensual depictions of women have their place in their art community, the perpetuation of only using women to fulfill sexual desire through an objectifying lens extends beyond just the art community. 

The pattern of portraying women through their sexual value alone has persisted throughout culture and society, with strong roots in media depictions of how women should exist.

These examples in both historical and modern media reinforce the idea that a woman’s value lies primarily in their service to men. 

So how can this dynamic change?

One framework that may assist is known as critical spectatorship. This concept encourages audiences to question the assumptions they hold behind what they see rather than accepting visual narratives at face value.

Challenging the phallocentric gaze creates space for alternative artistic perspectives. Within that space, the female gaze can emerge—not as a single unified perspective but as a range of complex viewpoints that move beyond the default narrative.

The Psychological Impact and Healing Potential of Yoni Art

Beyond its cultural and political impact and purposes, Yoni art can also offer a deeply healing experience. Many women grow up experiencing constant sexualization, beginning in adolescence and continuing into adulthood.

Research suggests that viewing art can improve psychological well-being, with studies showing that engaging with visual art may reduce stress levels, lower salivary cortisol, and activate reward networks in the brain.

For women, viewing anatomical art in a respectful  and disembodied context can be particularly powerful. When the female body is represented through its natural beauty, without regard for its sexuality, it allows women to distance themselves from the narrative that their body is purely for display. 

When artists remove the male gaze from their work and center the Yoni as a symbol of inherent feminine beauty, the human body is reimagined as something autonomous and sacred, no longer existing solely for display. Instead, it becomes a vessel for expression, meaning, and inner awareness.

Rather than reinforcing voyeuristic traditions of sexualized art, contemporary Yoni artists explore a visual language that celebrates subjectivity, multiplicity, and personal agency. The Yoni, once treated as a hidden or taboo subject, becomes a symbol of creativity, spiritual power, and feminine cosmology. Whether through ancient spiritual traditions such as Tantra or through modern artistic experimentation, women can move from passive subjects to active participants in shaping the narrative of feminine art.

When the Yoni sits at the center of artistic expression, it represents a return to something more grounded and authentic—an understanding of the body that is not shaped by judgment or external expectations.

Ultimately, this movement is not just about aesthetics. It is about healing, self-compassion, and restoring balance to how gender has been understood and valued in society.

Healing and Sisterhood in Sacred Spaces

The Yoni Mudra Art Gallery exists as a community space dedicated to celebrating diversity and the feminine form. Visitors can attend workshops, explore Yoni-centered art, and participate in discussions that celebrate the divine feminine and anyone who connects with the feminine experience.

Here are a few reflections from individuals connected to the gallery:

“Every morning when I walk past the piece of Hanne’s art, I am reminded of the beauty and mysticism of a woman’s intelligence. The way Hanne sees each woman is expansive and infinite, drawing you in so that you too can get lost in the infinite cosmology of a woman.” — Laura, founder of the Wake Collective

“Midwifery is an art of life too. It shows respect for the infinite sacred place of womanhood in many ways. Through these beautiful drawings and empowering poems, you have revived awareness around this. These Yoni artworks make you feel safe and at peace with yourself. They awaken the sacred feminine.” — Katharina, 32, midwife

“My Yoni Art is a beautiful and life-affirming reminder to appreciate my precious sex.” — Katja, 53, writer

Taking control of feminine depictions in art also opens the door for new storytelling possibilities within media and abroad. For example, the film Portrait of a Lady on Fire creates a narrative space largely free from male characters. This allows women to observe each other with depth and autonomy, giving focus to their diverse lived experiences, as opposed to their sexuality alone. 

Without the dominance of the male gaze, the film creates a quieter emotional landscape built on mutual recognition, collaboration, and the subtleties of human connection. These moments contrast sharply with the more overtly sexualized portrayals of women often seen in male-centred narratives.

Visit the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery and explore a space where art, healing, and feminine empowerment come together.