Why Is the Feminist Art of Hannah Wilke So Special?
Stefanie Graf, The Collector
May 2023
Hannah Wilke’s art focuses on feminist issues, but she also received criticism from some feminists. Wilke’s own attractiveness, which is very much visible in her work, was seen as problematic. The well-known art critic, activist, and feminist Lucy Lippard described Wilke as a glamor girl who confused her roles as a flirt and feminist and a beautiful woman and artist. Lippard accused Wilke of flaunting her body in a supposedly parodic way even though Wilke plays the role of a glamorous and attractive woman in real life. According to Lippard, this led to politically ambiguous manifestations.