Maria Lassnig

Date of Birth: September 8, 1919

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: May 6, 2014

Biography

Maria Lassnig was an Austrian artist known for her pioneering work in body consciousness and self-portraiture. Born in the small town of Kappel am Krappfeld in Austria, Lassnig developed a distinctive style that focused on the internal sensations of her body, which she termed “body awareness.” Her artistic journey began with her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where she was influenced by figures such as Herbert Boeckl. Over the decades, Lassnig’s work evolved through various phases, from surrealism to abstract expressionism and ultimately to a unique form of figurative painting that often depicted her own body in striking, sometimes unsettling ways. Lassnig spent significant periods in Paris and New York, where she was exposed to and influenced by the avant-garde art movements of the time. Her work was not widely recognized until later in her life, but she eventually achieved international acclaim, including a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2014. Lassnig was also an accomplished filmmaker, creating several animated films that explored similar themes to her paintings. She was a professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where she mentored a new generation of artists. Maria Lassnig passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire contemporary artists.

5 Interesting Facts about Maria Lassnig

1. Maria Lassnig coined the term “body awareness” to describe her art, which focused on depicting her internal sensations rather than external appearances.

2. She was one of the first women to be appointed as a professor of painting in the German-speaking world.

3. Lassnig lived and worked in Paris and New York, where she was influenced by the avant-garde art scenes.

4. She was awarded the Grand Austrian State Prize in 1988, one of the highest honors for an artist in Austria.

5. An animated film created by Lassnig, titled “Selfportrait,” won the Austrian Short Film Prize in 1971.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Maria Lassnig

1. “To paint is to possess the world.”

2. “Body awareness is to know how it feels to be in a body, not just to look at it from outside.”

3. “Art is a form of living, not just a profession.”

4. “I have always been interested in the truth and not in beauty.”

5. “I paint the invisible.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Maria Lassnig’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, but her works have sold for significant amounts at auction, reflecting her esteemed status in the art world.