Kirsha Kaechele : Gender Conflict Erupts Over Women-only Fake Picassos at Australian Gallery

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The art world was recently rocked by revelations that paintings attributed to Pablo Picasso and other famous artists were actually created by the curator of an Australian art museum’s women-only exhibition.

Kirsha Kaechele, the curator of the exhibition at Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), admitted that she had painted the artworks herself after questions arose about their authenticity.

The controversy began when the artworks, displayed in a women’s restroom to exclude men, were brought into question by a reporter and the Picasso Administration in France.

The Ladies Lounge Exhibition

Kaechele created the women-only exhibition as a statement on the historical exclusion of women from male-dominated spaces. The exhibition featured fake paintings, antiquities, and jewelry, all created by Kaechele herself.

The controversy escalated when the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered MONA to allow men entry into the Ladies Lounge, citing discrimination against male visitors.

Legal Battle and Revelations

Despite attempts to exclude men from the exhibition, Kaechele installed a working toilet in the space to exploit a legal loophole. This move was met with criticism and controversy from both local and international media.

The revelation that the Picasso paintings were fake came as a shock to many, highlighting the blurred lines between art and deception in the contemporary art world.

Response from Authorities

The Picasso Administration has yet to respond to the revelations, while MONA has confirmed the authenticity of Kaechele’s admission regarding the fake artworks.

The art world continues to grapple with the implications of this scandal, raising questions about the boundaries of artistic expression and the responsibility of curators and institutions in preserving the integrity of art.