Horror on the National Mall!
- Artist: Guerrilla Girls
- Date: 2007
- Medium: Digital print on paper
- Dimensions: support: 610 x 458 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Horror on the National Mall!” by Guerrilla Girls. The Guerrilla Girls are an anonymous collective of women artists and art professionals who emerged in 1985 to expose the stark gender imbalance in the art world. Their signature style combines bold pop‑pink and yellow backgrounds with striking statistics, razor‑sharp wit, and a tongue‑in‑cheek challenge to institutional norms. In this 2007 digital print, they confront the National Mall—a symbol of American civic life—by asking whether the spectacle of democracy masks hidden inequities. The piece uses simple, factual data and rhetorical questions to force viewers to confront the uncomfortable truth that many institutions still reflect outdated power structures. Their use of gorilla masks and pseudonyms of deceased female icons underscores their commitment to anonymity and solidarity. The poster’s dry humor cuts through the harsh reality, making a compelling statement about racism, sexism, and homophobia that still pervades the art world.
See it in person
Horror on the National Mall! is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
