La.dy.like Co-Founders

Ladylike Co-founders: Andrea Bagdon and Spencer Legendre-Gillespie

La.dy.like

Experimental Art Project

BIO

LadyLike is a collaborative art duo and experimental art project founded by St. Paul-based interdisciplinary artists and educators Andrea Bagdon (she/her) and Spencer Gillespie (she/they). Established in 2022, LadyLike debuted their collaborative work in a self-titled exhibit at the St. Paul LUA Gallery. With a mission to amplify the voices of female, femme, and queer-identifying artists, LadyLike fosters inclusive artistic dialogues through exhibitions, curatorial opportunities, and educational workshops.

In 2023, LadyLike received a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) for Arts Access to support programming that bypasses gendered gatekeeping in the arts. This grant enabled LadyLike to host two group exhibitions, providing platforms for Twin Cities artist and curators to showcase their work and engage broader audiences. By interrogating femininity and expanding critical discussions around gender, LadyLike’s work situates itself at the intersection of aesthetic theory, identity, and community engagement.

Andrea and Spencer’s interdisciplinary practice spans experimental video, painting, and performance, blending analog and digital processes to create immersive and provocative installations. Andrea and Spencer are both artists and dedicated educators based in the Twin Cities, where they continue to foster creative dialogue and innovation in their teaching and artistic practices.

Why is this project important to us?

This project is essential because it addresses the historical and ongoing marginalization of female, femme, and queer-identifying artists in the art world. The creation, evaluation, and access to art have long been influenced by gendered biases, which shape not only how artists are perceived but also the opportunities they receive to share their work. By foregrounding voices and perspectives that have often been excluded or undervalued, this project actively challenges those systemic inequities.

La.dy.like’s mission

As the collaborative duo behind LadyLike, we are deeply committed to advancing our mission of fostering inclusive spaces that encourage dialogue, collaboration, and discovery. LadyLike exists to dismantle barriers that have historically excluded female, femme, and queer-identifying artists from full participation in the artistic community. This project is not merely about exhibiting art; it is about creating a sustained and meaningful conversation around identity, representation, and the transformative power of collective creativity.

On a personal level, LadyLike reflects our own journeys as artists and educators navigating gendered expectations in the arts. It serves as a platform for interrogating femininity and amplifying the voices of others who share these experiences. By curating opportunities for underrepresented artists, we aim to build a more equitable and vibrant arts community within the Twin Cities and beyond.

LadyLike’s work is more than an artistic initiative—it is a vital effort to ensure that art continues to function as a tool for empowerment, connection, and transformation. Through this project, we strive to model inclusivity and foster a creative dialogue that celebrates diverse perspectives and reimagines the possibilities of community-driven art.