Becoming Judy Chicago: A Biography of the Artist - Softcover

Levin, Gail

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520300068 ISBN 13: 9780520300064

Publisher: University of California Press, 2019

Synopsis

Born to Jewish radical parents in Chicago in 1939, Judy Cohen grew up to be Judy Chicago-one of the most daring and controversial artists of her generation. Her works, once disparaged and misunderstood by the critics, have become icons of the feminist movement, earning her a place among the most influential artists of her time. In Becoming Judy Chicago, Gail Levin gives us a biography of uncommon intimacy and depth, revealing the artist as a person and a woman of extraordinary energy and purpose. Drawing upon Chicago's personal letters and diaries, her published and unpublished writings, and more than 250 interviews with her friends, family, admirers, and critics, Levin presents a richly detailed and moving chronicle of the artist's unique journey from obscurity to fame, including the story of how she found her audience outside of the art establishment. Chicago revolutionized the way we view art made by and for women and fundamentally changed our understanding of women's contributions to art and to society. Influential and bold, The Dinner Party has become a cultural monument. Becoming Judy Chicago tells the story of a great artist, a leader of the women's movement, a tireless crusader for equal rights, and a complicated, vital woman who dared to express her own sexuality in her art and demand recognition from a male-dominated culture.

About this title

Review:

"The sections of the book covering Chicago's artistic feminist awakening. . .are the best kind of biography--both juicy and educational, full of social and historical context, but also just a dash of gossip (open marriages, feuds with other artists, affairs)."--Hyperallergic

About the Author:

Gail Levin is a biographer, art historian, and curator of landmark exhibitions. She is Distinguished Professor of Art History, American Studies, and Women's Studies at the City University of New York. She is the author of many books, including Edward Hopper: A Catalogue Raisonne, Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography, Lee Krasner: A Biography, and Theresa Bernstein: A Century in Art.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0520300068
• ISBN 13: 9780520300064
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 488