A remarkable development in the history of Japanese erotic art during the 20th century was the emergence of female artists. Though shunga throughout the previous three centuries frequently dealt with issues of gender equality and social justice, it was produced almost exclusively by men. In the modern era, however, women finally began to speak for themselves.

One reason for this change was the popularization of manga or graphic novels. The artistic sophistication and art historical importance of this relatively new medium was largely overlooked throughout much of the 20th century. After the end of the Pacific War, a wave of women established their careers as illustrators and began to produce work that frankly discussed issues of gender and sexuality. The gender demographics of manga is more balanced now than ever before; eight of the eleven manga artists represented in this exhibition are women.

Some Japanese female artists outside of the manga industry, such as Mayumi Oda and Yumiko Glover, have chosen to leave their home country and participate in the international art scene, where they have dedicated themselves to addressing gender politics. In works displayed here, both Oda and Glover confront the topic of sexual exploitation, one of the most pressing civil rights issues of the modern era.