A Companion to Feminist Art
Edited by Hilary Robinson and
Maria Elena Buszek
From the Blackwell Companions to Art History series
The term “feminist art” is often misused when viewed as a codification within the discipline of art history—a codification that includes restrictive definitions of geography, chronology, style, materials, influence, and other definitions inherent to art historical and museological classifications. Employing a different approach, A Companion to Feminist Art defines “art” as a dynamic set of material and theoretical practices in the realm of culture, and “feminism” as an equally dynamic set of activist and theoretical practices in the realm of politics. Feminist art, therefore, is not a simple classification of a type of art, but rather the space where feminist politics and the domain of art-making intersect. The Companion provides readers with an overview of the developments, concepts, trends, influences, and activities within the space of contemporary feminist art—in different locations, ways of making, and ways of thinking.
Newly-commissioned essays focus on the recent history of and current discussions within feminist art. Diverse in scope and style, these contributions range from essays on the questions and challenges of large sectors of artists, such as configurations of feminism and gender in post-Cold War Europe, to more focused conversations with women artists on Afropean decoloniality. Ranging from discussions of essentialism and feminist aesthetics to examinations of political activism and curatorial practice, the Companion informs and questions readers, introduces new concepts and fresh perspectives, and illustrates just how much more there is to discover within the realm of feminist art.
- Addresses the intersection between feminist thinking and major theories that have influenced art theory
- Incorporates diverse voices from around the world to offer viewpoints on global feminisms from scholars who live and work in the regions about which they write
- Examines how feminist art intersects with considerations of collectivity, war, maternal relationships, desire, men, and relational aesthetics
- Explores the myriad ways in which the experience of inhabiting and perceiving aged, raced, and gendered bodies relates to feminist politics in the art world
- Discusses a range practices in feminism such as activism, language, education, and different ways of making art
The intersection of feminist art-making and feminist politics are not merely components of a unified whole, they sometimes diverge and divide. A Companion to Feminist Art is an indispensable resource for artists, critics, scholars, curators, and anyone seeking greater strength on the subject through informed critique and debate.
Contributors: Felicity Allen, Tanya Augsburg, Jill Bennett, Susan Best, Day + Gluckman, Angela Dimitrakaki, Julie Ewington, Maria Fernandez, Lubaina Himid, Amelia Jones, Alexandra Kokoli, Tirza Latimer, Alanna Lockward, Natalie Loveless, Jaleh Mansoor, Michelle Meagher, Marsha Meskimmon, Richard Meyer, Martina Pachmanova, Griselda Pollock, Harriet Riches, Hilary Robinson, Maria Laura Rosa, Mira Schor, Gayatri Sinha, Eliza Steinbock, Amy Tobin, Karen Von Veh, Siona Wilson, Ebru Yetiskin
Cover: Mira Schor, Artist Statement, 2015