Carolee Schneemann

Carolee Schneemann is an artist with many talents who is known for incorporating themes of sexuality, gender, and nudity into her work. As a woman working in a primarily male-dominated field, Schneeman often pushed boundaries and created pieces that would leave a lasting impression on her viewers. She is also known for including herself in her work which allowed her to fully express her ideas with no limitations. One prime example of this is can be observed in Self-Portrait (1954-1955) [pictured above, left], an oil on canvas in which Schneemann depicts herself in neutral tones. Her posture and bold stare make her appear as a confident, powerful women which directly related to her lifestyle as she was often labeled a feminist. Her work is not limited to simple painting, in fact Pin Wheel (1957) [pictured above, right] is a direct representation of how she went beyond the expectation. Pin Wheel is an abstract painting that spun, allowing the viewer to see the painting from many different perspectives. This was also Schneemann's way of expanding space and thinking beyond the canvas.