Contemporary Art and Feminism

"This book is an exciting contribution to the history of contemporary art. Not simply giving an account of ‘feminist art’, Millner and Moore instead interrogate how feminist thinking and practice has impacted, influenced, and changed forever contemporary art. ‘Feminist art’ after all, is not a subsection of the art world, but a name describing how a set of politics has impacted art. That this book, with its internationalism viewed from Australia, decenters the dominant contemporary art world adds to the radical potential in its pages."

- Hilary Robinson, Professor of Feminism, Art, and Theory, Loughborough University, UK

"How refreshing to encounter provocative, grounded research from the flexible periphery of global feminisms operating in culturally complex, postcolonial Australia. Millner and Moore offer erudite, empathetic studies of contemporary art, mostly Australian, which accommodates Western and First Nations cultural perspectives. Practising feminist pedagogy, the authors listen respectfully to artists of many cultural groups and life experiences and discuss artmaking across genres. Guided by feminist politics and ethics, the authors demonstrate the myriad ways material images and performative actions move the imagination of artists and audiences. They affirm the affective, transformative power of feminist art in our turbulent century."

- Marion Arnold, Lecturer in Critical and Historical Studies, Loughborough University, UK

"A much-needed, and exciting study of feminist energies and inspirations in the shaping of contemporary art, intensely sensitive to places, histories and complexities and their entwinement and to the urgencies of our challenged world addressed by wide-ranging creative practices."

- Griselda Pollock, Professor emerita of Social and Critical Histories of Art, University of Leeds, UK

"With a primary focus on Australia, this book updates overall our knowledge of how feminist politics and ethics are implicated in the theory, practice, and radical enjoyment of art today. In their joint effort, Millner and Moore have addressed pedagogy, craftivism, the politics of acts (and not just representation), and the lessons of ecofeminism among other themes that rethink the scope of feminist intervention and interpretation in the arts of the twenty-first century, bringing us closer to a feminist theory of contemporary art. This is an important study that will encourage new ways of feminist engagement among students and researchers."

- Angela Dimitrakaki, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Theory, University of Edinburgh, UK