9.2 Harmony Hammond and lesbian abstract art

Harmony Hammond pioneered lesbian abstract art in the 1970s, challenging male-dominated traditions. Her work explored female bodies, lesbian desire, and gender roles through innovative materials and techniques, subverting traditional art forms.

Hammond's art inspired a new generation of queer artists and contributed to the Feminist Art Movement. Her legacy continues to influence contemporary artists exploring intersectional identities and social justice through abstract art.

Harmony Hammond's artistic journey

• Hammond's artistic journey encompasses a rich exploration of identity, materiality, and the subversion of traditional art forms
• Her early influences and education laid the groundwork for her groundbreaking contributions to lesbian and feminist art
• Hammond's shift towards abstraction and her exploration of lesbian identity through her work challenged the male-dominated art world and inspired a new generation of queer artists

Early influences and education

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• Attended the University of Minnesota, where she studied studio art and art history
• Influenced by the civil rights movement and the women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s
• Studied with feminist art historian Patricia Mainardi, who introduced her to the idea of a female-centered art history

Shift towards abstraction

• Initially focused on figurative painting and drawing
• Began to incorporate abstract elements into her work in the 1970s
• Influenced by the Pattern and Decoration movement, which celebrated decorative art forms often associated with women's work
• Developed a unique style that combined abstraction with references to the female body and lesbian desire

Exploration of lesbian identity

• Came out as a lesbian in the early 1970s and began to incorporate her identity into her art
• Created works that celebrated lesbian desire and eroticism, such as the "Floorpieces" series (1973-1974)
• Used abstraction to subvert traditional gender roles and challenge the male gaze
• Collaborated with other lesbian artists, such as Louise Fishman and Patty Cronin, to create a community of support and shared artistic vision

Themes in Hammond's abstract art

• Hammond's abstract art explores a range of themes related to gender, sexuality, and identity
• Her work challenges traditional notions of the female body and celebrates lesbian desire and eroticism
• Through her use of unconventional materials and techniques, Hammond subverts the male-dominated tradition of abstract expressionism and creates a new language for expressing queer identity

Representations of the female body

• Uses abstract forms to evoke the curves and contours of the female body
• Incorporates materials such as hair, latex, and rubber to create tactile surfaces that invite touch and sensory engagement
• Challenges the objectification of the female body in traditional art by presenting it as a site of power and agency

Subverting traditional gender roles

• Uses traditionally feminine materials, such as fabric and thread, to create large-scale, monumental works that assert the value of women's labor
• Appropriates masculine techniques, such as welding and carpentry, to create works that challenge gender stereotypes
• Creates works that blur the boundaries between painting and sculpture, challenging the hierarchy of art forms

Celebrating lesbian desire and eroticism

• Creates works that celebrate the sensuality and eroticism of the lesbian body
• Uses abstract forms to evoke intimate encounters and moments of passion
• Challenges the invisibility of lesbian desire in mainstream art and culture
• Creates a visual language for expressing queer identity and experience

Pioneering techniques and materials

• Hammond is known for her innovative use of unconventional materials and techniques in her abstract art
• Her use of braided rag rugs as canvas, found objects, and layered textures creates a unique visual language that challenges traditional notions of painting and sculpture
• Through her experimentation with materials, Hammond creates works that are both visually striking and deeply meaningful

Braided rag rugs as canvas

• Uses braided rag rugs as a substrate for her paintings, challenging the traditional use of canvas
• The use of rag rugs references the history of women's labor and the undervalued status of "craft" in the art world
• The texture and pattern of the rugs add depth and complexity to Hammond's abstract compositions

Incorporating found objects

• Incorporates found objects, such as rubber, latex, and hair, into her paintings and sculptures
• The use of found objects adds a tactile and sensory dimension to her work, inviting the viewer to engage with the materiality of the piece
• The incorporation of personal and intimate objects, such as hair and clothing, adds a layer of emotional resonance to her work

Layering and texture in paintings

• Builds up layers of paint, fabric, and other materials to create complex, textured surfaces
• The use of layering and texture creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in her abstract compositions
• The tactile quality of her work invites the viewer to engage with the piece on a sensory level, evoking a range of emotional and physical responses

Impact on lesbian and feminist art

• Hammond's groundbreaking work has had a significant impact on the development of lesbian and feminist art
• Her challenge to the male-dominated tradition of abstract expressionism opened up new possibilities for women and queer artists
• Through her work and activism, Hammond has inspired a new generation of artists to explore issues of gender, sexuality, and identity in their work

Challenging male-dominated abstract expressionism

• Hammond's use of unconventional materials and techniques challenged the masculine ethos of abstract expressionism
• Her focus on the female body and lesbian desire subverted the male gaze and asserted the value of women's experiences and perspectives
• Hammond's work demonstrated that abstraction could be a powerful tool for exploring issues of gender and sexuality

Inspiring a new generation of queer artists

• Hammond's unapologetic exploration of lesbian identity and desire inspired a new generation of queer artists to express their own experiences through their work
• Her collaborations with other lesbian artists, such as Louise Fishman and Patty Cronin, created a community of support and shared artistic vision
• Hammond's work paved the way for the emergence of a distinct lesbian and queer aesthetic in contemporary art

Contributions to the Feminist Art Movement

• Hammond was a key figure in the Feminist Art Movement of the 1970s, which sought to challenge the male-dominated art world and assert the value of women's art and experiences
• Her work was included in groundbreaking exhibitions, such as "Women Artists: 1550-1950" (1976) and "Issue: Social Strategies by Women Artists" (1980), which helped to establish a canon of feminist art
• Hammond's activism and advocacy helped to create a network of support and resources for women artists, including the founding of the A.I.R. Gallery in New York City, the first women's cooperative gallery in the United States

Legacy and contemporary relevance

• Hammond's legacy continues to inspire and influence contemporary artists and scholars
• Her work has been the subject of major exhibitions and retrospectives, cementing her place in the canon of American art
• Hammond's exploration of intersectional identities and her commitment to social justice continue to resonate with contemporary audiences

Exhibitions and retrospectives

• Hammond's work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout her career
• Major retrospectives, such as "Harmony Hammond: Material Witness, Five Decades of Art" (2019) at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, have helped to introduce her work to new generations of viewers
• Her work is held in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art

Influence on intersectional art discourse

• Hammond's work has been a key reference point for scholars and artists exploring the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and class in contemporary art
• Her emphasis on the materiality of the body and the politics of identity has influenced a range of contemporary art practices, from performance art to social practice
• Hammond's work has helped to expand the boundaries of what is considered "political" art, demonstrating the power of abstraction to engage with social and political issues

Continued exploration of queer identity in art

• Hammond's legacy has inspired a new generation of queer artists to explore issues of identity, desire, and representation in their work
• Her use of unconventional materials and techniques has opened up new possibilities for expressing queer identity through art
• Hammond's commitment to creating a community of support and collaboration among queer artists continues to be a model for contemporary art practices
• Her work demonstrates the ongoing relevance and necessity of exploring queer identity and experience through art, as a means of asserting visibility, claiming space, and building solidarity