Anita Steckel

Giant Woman On Empire State .1970–1972

brooklyn museum

"Anita Steckel's influence upon significant developments in art of the past twenty years is immense.Steckel pioneered the use of the painted photo in montages, and techniques of appropriation, in a completely original way, which are now a major part of the visual vocabulary of many of today's artists. Also, she was one of the first artists to explore themes of racism, sexism, and contemporary socio-political issues in her art, long before they became subjects of popular movements."
-- J. Taylor-Basker, art historian, Kingsboro College
Anita Steckel's often witty and irreverent style has produced some of the most interesting and ground-breaking work of the last four decades. Her self portraits as a giant woman hanging from the Empire State Building may be tongue-and-cheek, yet they also speak to some of the main tenants of Steckel’s work where the phallic urban skyline is controlled, claimed, and made personal. She fearlessly investigates ideas of feminism, urbanism, sexism, racism and history.
brooklyn museum