Style Ish: Androgynous Female Artists
If this is your first time reading, let me take a moment to tell you the absolute number one tenet here on Ribbon Around a Bomb: ALWAYS style over substance. I mean, why discuss an artist’s work when you can judge their sartorial choices, right?
In the spirit of that credo, here are some of my favorite women artists of the past century, who have been inspiring me lately with their no-fucking-frills androgynous style. Jesus, why do I wear stupid dresses?
[Valie Export, Identity Transfer 2, 1968.]
[Lynda Benglis, the woman responsible for this truly, um, “androgynous” situation. 1974.]
[Marisol Escobar, 1957. Photo by Walter Sanders.]
[Frida Kahlo, 1926. It doesn’t get more androgynous than this. Photo, I believe, by her father Guillermo Kahlo.]
[Diane Arbus, 1967. Photo by Roz Kelly.]
[Eva Hesse, 1965. Anyone know the photog?]
[Georgia O’Keeffe, 1918. Photo, of course, by Alfred Stieglitz.]
[Laurie Anderson, 1980. Photo by Lynn Goldsmith.]
[Nancy Graves, 1992. Photo by Barbara Yoshida.]
[Marina Abramovic, Rest Energy, 1980.]
More androgynous fashion! Oh, AND MORE.
Sorry about this shit. Ribbon Around a Bomb podcast coming soon, I swear.
Ribbon Around A Bomb 
Substantial style and stylised substance.
Female androgyny is more interesting than male androgyny in some ways. I think it’s easier to have a more subtle look, while even if a boy wore a very plain dress, it would come across as flamboyant. I love how simple and minimal all of these artists’ outfits are. They look stylish, but not over-the-top.
I like your stupid dresses.
“Jesus, why do I wear stupid dresses?”
A: I have consulted with Our Lord, and he hath proclaimed, “Because you look fuckin’ hawt in ’em!”
That pic of Marisol is beautiful… and there is a Diane Arbus show here in the city this month, we should go…
http://fraenkelgallery.com/exhibitions/1971-1956
AMEN! Thank you, Ferrara.
I would have loved to go to that Arbus show, but I’m out of town until January 3rd. Hope you have a delightful December 25th!