Making Her Mark: A History of Women Artists in Europe, 1400-1800

Art Gallery of Ontario

Toronto, ON

Making Her Mark brings together over 230 objects—royal portraits, metal work, ceramics, textiles, paintings, prints, scientific illustrations, sculpture and furniture—to demonstrate the many ways women contributed to European visual arts. The team wanted to have pattern connect the rooms and works in an effort to evoke the time period. They took the actual lace patterns in the show and enlarged them with light for a “lace-bombing” effect. The font chosen for panels, labels and title is Mrs. Eaves, designed by Zuzana Licko.

Mrs. Eaves is named after Sarah Eaves, the assistant and, later on, wife of the British type designer and printer, John Baskerville. Eaves continued managing Baskerville’s work after his death, uncredited. This font connected perfectly with the history and time period featured in the show. The final “lace-bombs” were projected with light onto walls, floors and pedestals—an experience that allowed visitors to be immersed in the lace light, giant “X” mural and exhibition for selfie moments and more. 

Credits

• Art Direction & Graphic Design: Evelina Petrauskas
• Curators: Dr. Alexa Greist, Dr. Andaleeb Banta
• Project Manager: Melissa Ramage
• Lighting: Paul Mathieson
• Interpretive Planning: Nadia Abrahmson
• Production: Malene Hjorngaard, Evelyn Quinn
• 3D Design: Marco Cheuk, Theodora Doulamis