Carolee Schneemann

Carolee Schneemann (1939–2019) was born in Fox Chase, Pennsylvania, and primarily lived and worked in New York City throughout her career. A pioneering figure in feminist art and performance, Schneemann is best known for her radical, body-centred works that challenged conventions of gender, sexuality, and the representation of the female form. Working across mediums including performance, film, installation, painting, and photography, she created provocative and influential pieces such as Meat Joy (1964) and Interior Scroll (1975), which cemented her status as a key voice in avant-garde art of the 20th century.

Her work is held in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Tate, and Centre Pompidou, reflecting her institutional recognition. Schneemann received numerous awards later in her career, notably the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Long under-recognised by the mainstream art market, her legacy and market visibility have grown significantly posthumously, with a rise in exhibitions, critical reassessments, and secondary market activity indicating increasing demand and liquidity in her market.