Judy Chicago: In the Making

Judy Chicago was a pioneering artist in the feminist art movement of the 1970s, known for her installation "The Dinner Party" that celebrated women's contributions to history. Her career was overlooked by critics, but her work is now being celebrated in a new exhibition that traces her unique working process and the origins of her formal and conceptual strategies. The exhibition includes 225 illustrations in color.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 26 August 2021
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Judy Chicago, a prominent figure in the feminist art movement of the 1970s, gained widespread recognition for her iconic installation, The Dinner Party. This groundbreaking piece challenged the traditional notion of women's roles in the household by creating a feast for thirty-nine remarkable women, ranging from Hildegarde of Bingen to Emily Dickinson. The installation, concluded in 1979, was presented in San Francisco to great success and later toured internationally, captivating over one million viewers through a grassroots effort. While art critics celebrated the piece for its celebration of vaginal imagery and embrace of feminine craft, it faced criticism for its perceived celebration of female stereotypes.

Throughout her career, Judy Chicago operated on the margins of the art world, with her work often shunned by critics and institutions. Despite this, her artistic evolution was overshadowed by the fame of The Dinner Party. In her lifetime, Chicago produced numerous significant works that explored themes of gender, sexuality, and power. Her art often incorporated traditional craft techniques, such as embroidery and quilting, alongside more contemporary mediums such as sculpture and installation.

The exhibition Judy Chicago: In the Making accompanies the first comprehensive retrospective of Chicago's career. It delves into the artist's early years, tracing her unique working process and the influences that shaped her artistic approach. The exhibition showcases a selection of works drawn from every major series of Chicago's work, providing a comprehensive view of her artistic development. Additionally, the exhibition includes reproductions of sketchbooks, journals, and preparatory drawings, offering insight into the extensive research and development process that underpins Chicago's creations.

With 225 illustrations in color, the exhibition showcases Chicago's bold and expressive style, which has made her a pioneering figure in feminist art. Her work has inspired generations of artists and continues to be a powerful testament to the contributions of women to art history. Through her work, Chicago has challenged societal norms and pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, leaving a lasting impact on the field of art.

Weight: 1652g
Dimension: 242 x 271 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500094327