The Galerie VAV Gallery’s Anti-Oppression Statement

Updated: September 7th 2023

Fine arts and academia have an ongoing history of oppression. The VAV exists at the intersection of their colonial legacies and is woven into the fabric of structural and systemic violence(s) that uphold such institutions.

This structural and systemic violence includes, and most often represents the prioritization of certain bodies and their interests based on race, ability, sex, gender, sexuality, nationality/status, class, education, culture, religion, and more.

For instance, in the history of fine arts, certain movements have mobilized racist aesthetics to depict and interpret the experiences of colonized peoples while using such depictions to justify colonial rule (and, subsequently, neo-colonialism/global capitalism).

The VAV gallery recognizes that everyone is capable of (re)producing systemic violence to ascend hierarchical structures. The VAV gallery repudiates discrimination in all its forms and strives to build inclusive structures that work against the reproduction of systemic racism, classism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.

The VAV gallery is committed to fostering a collegiate work environment where staff, artists, and community members can thrive in a safe atmosphere of mutual respect. In pursuit of this goal, there is no tolerance for any form of harassment, hostile or threatening communication, and any manifestations of violence.

The gallery invites all marginalized people to expand upon this statement as they see fit at any point in time by contacting this student organization.