Katy Deepwell is a
feminist art
The feminist art movement refers to the efforts and accomplishments of feminists internationally to produce feminist art, art that reflects women's lives and experiences, as well as to change the foundation for the production and perception of co ...
critic and academic, based in London. She is the founder and editor of ''
n.paradoxa: international feminist art journal'', published 1998–2017, in 40 volumes by KT press. She founded KT press as a feminist not-for-profit publishing company to publish the journal and books on
feminist art
The feminist art movement refers to the efforts and accomplishments of feminists internationally to produce feminist art, art that reflects women's lives and experiences, as well as to change the foundation for the production and perception of co ...
. KT press has published 8 e-books, supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. In Feb 2017, Katy Deepwell wrote and published a MOOC (a mass open online course) on feminism and contemporary art at. In May 2020, a second advanced course on feminist art manifestos was added to the site. The model for both MOOCs is
FemTechNet’s DOCC: Distributed Open Collaborative Course.
The journal was part of the
Documenta 12 Magazines
''Documenta 12 magazines'' (also ''the Magazine project'' or simply ''the magazines'') was a central project of the 12th edition (2007) of the documenta exhibition, similar in dimensions and world outreach to the "platforms" of the previous edi ...
Project in 2007. n.paradoxa is an
art magazine
An art magazine is a publication that focuses on the topic of art. They can be in printed form, found online or both and can be aimed at different audiences which includes galleries, art buyers, amateur or professional artists and the general publi ...
which publishes articles on
women artists
The absence of women from the canon of Western culture, Western Art history, art has been a subject of inquiry and reconsideration since the early 1970s. Linda Nochlin's influential 1971 essay, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?", e ...
from around the world. The journal released all articles as open access PDFs in 2018, and continued to produce The Feminist Art Observatory, listing information about contemporary women artists and feminism.
She was President of the British Section of AICA (
International Association of Art Critics
The International Association of Art Critics (French: ''Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art'', AICA) was founded in 1950 to revitalize critical discourse, which suffered under Fascism during World War II. Affiliated with UNESCO AICA wa ...
), 1997–2000. She was Chair of Trustees of Women's Art Library, London, 1989–1994, a national charity and library on women artists which closed in 2002, now housed at
Goldsmiths, University of London
Goldsmiths, University of London, formerly Goldsmiths College, University of London, is a constituent research university of the University of London. It was originally founded in 1891 as The Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute by ...
.
Her work has been centred on the promotion of feminism in relation to the
contemporary art
Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...
and
art criticism
Art criticism is the discussion or evaluation of visual art. Art critics usually criticize art in the context of aesthetics or the theory of beauty. A goal of art criticism is the pursuit of a rational basis for art appreciation but it is quest ...
.
Early life and education
Deepwell trained as an artist at
St Martins School of Art, 1982–1985. She then obtained a
M.A. Social History of Art from
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...
in 1986 and a PhD from
Birkbeck College, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London (formally Birkbeck College, University of London), is a public research university located in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. Established in 1823 as the London Mechanics' ...
in 1991.
Works
Academic work
Deepwell is a former Professor of Contemporary Art, Theory and Criticism at
Middlesex University
Middlesex University London (legally Middlesex University and abbreviated to MDX) is a public research university based in Hendon, northwest London, England. The university also has campuses in Dubai and Mauritius. The name of the university is ...
, 2013-Feb 2025. Katy Deepwell has taught since 1986 in different Universities in UK and Europe. Her last post was as Reader in Contemporary Art, Theory and Criticism and Head of Research Training at
University of the Arts London
The University of the Arts London is a public collegiate university in London, England, United Kingdom. It specialises in arts, design, fashion, and the performing arts. The university is a federation of six arts colleges: Camberwell College of ...
(2004–2010).
She has worked as a lecturer teaching art history and art theory in universities including Goldsmiths' College, Oxford Brookes University, Kent Institute of Art and Design and University of Copenhagen since 1986. She was a Leverhulme Research Fellow (
Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust () is a large national grant-making organisation in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1925 under the will of the 1st Viscount Leverhulme (1851–1925), with the instruction that its resources should be used to cover ...
) in 2008–2009. In 2021, she was awarded a Distinguished Feminist Scholar award as an art critic by
College Art Association
The College Art Association of America (CAA) is the principal organization in the United States for professionals in the visual arts, from students to art historians to emeritus faculty. Founded in 1911, it "promotes these arts and their understan ...
in USA.
Publications and editorial works
3 Sole Authored:
* ''Women Artists Between the Wars: ‘A Fair Field and No Favour’'' (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2010) .
* ''Dialogues: Women Artists from Ireland''. (London: IB Tauris, 2005).
* ''Ten Decades: The Careers of Ten Women Artists born 1897-1906'', Exhibition Catalogue of Arts Council Touring Exhibition, Norwich Gallery, NIAD, April 1992,
11 Edited volumes:
* ''Conversations on Art, artworks and feminism'' (London: KT press, 2025)
* ''De-/Anti-/Post-colonial Feminisms in Contemporary Art and Textile Crafts'' (London: KT press, 2023)
* ''50 Feminist Art Manifestos'' (London: KT press, 2022)
* ''Feminist Art Activisms and Artivisms'' (Netherlands: Valiz, published March 2020)
* ''All-Women Art Spaces in Europe in the Long 1970s'' (co-edited with Agata Jakubowska) (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2018)
* ''Feminist Art Manifestos: An Anthology'' (London: KT press, ebook, 2014) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PBBVLQU
* ''The Gender, Theory and Art Anthology: 1970-2000''
nglish title of Russian book(co-edited with Mila Bredikhina) (Moscow: Rosspen Publishing House, 2005)
* ''Women Artists and Modernism'' (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1998). .
* ''Art Criticism and Africa''(Saffron Books, July 1997)
* ''New Feminist Art Criticism: Critical Strategies'' (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1995) – also translated to Spanish: ''Nueva Critica Feminista de Arte'' (Universidad de Valencia, 1998).
Recent essays
* 'The Politics and Aesthetic Choices of Feminist Art Criticism' ''Arts'' (MDPI journal) Special Issue on ‘Beyond/Around Feminist Aesthetics’, March 2023.
* ‘Art Criticism and the State of Feminist Art Criticism’ ''Arts'' (MDPI journal) Special Issue on ‘State of Art Criticism’, Feb 2020.
* ‘Why 1989? Writing about feminism, art and “the global contemporary”’ in Elvan Zabunyan et al, ''Constellations Subjectivités. Pour une Histoire Féministes de L'Art'' (France: éditions iXe, 2020)
* ‘Postdigital Education, Feminism, Women’ ''Postdigital Education'' (Springer) (Jan 2020)
* ‘Art Criticism and Africa: AICA Conference at the Courtauld Institute, London, 1996’ in Jean-Marc Poinsot and Henry Meyric Hughes (eds) ''A Celebration of AICA’s 70th Anniversary / Une Célébration du 70ème anniversaire de l’AICA: 1949-50 – 2019-20. The Histories of AICA, continued'' (online publication on AICA International website, 25 September 2019).
* ‘n.paradoxa’s MOOC (mass open online course): A case study in feminist online pedagogies’ for Gail Crimmins (ed) ''Strategies for Resisting Sexism in the Academy : Higher Education, Gender and Neoliberalism'' (Series: Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education, 2019)
* Interview with Silvia Ziranek: ‘I enjoy appearance, colour, shape and form – and I love dressing up’ ''Studio International online'', September 2019.
* ‘On feminist art manifestos’ ''Cambridge Literary Review'', no. 11 (2018) pp. 121–132
* ‘Feminist contributions to artworks in Slide-Tape’ in Mo White (ed) ''Slide-Tape'' (UK: Vivid Projects, 2018)
* ‘Feminist Critique: Open and Critical Enquiry: A Conversation between Katy Deepwell and Suzana Milevska’ in ''Spaces for Criticism'' (eds. Pascal Gielen, Thijs Lijster, Suzana Milevska, Ruth Sonderegger) (Amsterdam: Valiz publishers, 2015) pp. 171–192.
* ‘Women Artists in/out of Vorticism’ in G. Berghaus (ed) ''International Yearbook of Futurism Studies'' (2015) pp. 21–43
* ‘We don’t need another heroine: Sanja Ivekovic’s Counter-Narratives’ in Helena Reckitt (ed) ''Sanja Ivekovic: Unknown Heroine - A Reader'' (London: Calvert 22 Foundation, 2013) pp. 110–133
* ‘Beatrice Cussol: Feminist, not feminine’ in Mia Sundberg (ed) ''Beatrice Cussol: Rude Girls'' (Stockholm: Art and Theory/Sprit Museum, 2013) pp. 35–45
* 'Questioning the gender order: feminist interventions in aesthetics and cultural politics' ''Artistic Production and the Feminist Theory of Art: New Debates 3'' (Vitoria-Gasteiz: Centro Cultural Montehermoso, 2011) Basque, pp. 30–42; Spanish pp. 150–164; English, pp. 270–282.
* 'Claims for a Feminist Politics in Painting' in Anne Ring Petersen (et al., eds.) ''Contemporary Painting in Context'' (University of Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk Foundation, 2009) pp. 139–160
* 'Cooling out on Post-Feminism' in Sabine Schaschl, Bettina Steinbrugge, and Rene Zechlin (eds) ''Cooling Out: On the Paradox of Feminism'' (Zurich: JRP Ringier, 2008) (English, pp. 74–83, German pp. 248–257)
* Mehr also sieben dringender Fragen zum Feminismusí in Gisela Weimann (ed.) ''Geteilte Zeit: Fragen und Antworten'' (Weimar, Edition Eselsweg, 2008). Text in German and English. pp. 237–243
** Republished as ''More than seven urgent questions for feminism'' online in English in ''n.paradoxa'' issue 20 online, April 2008
* 'Women War Artists in the First World War in Britain' in Karen Brown (ed) ''Agency and Mediation amongst Women Artists between the Wars'' (Ashgate Press, 2008) pp. 11–36
* 'Feminist Models: Now and in the Future' in ''It's Time for Action (There's No Option) About Feminism'' Migros Museum (Zurich/ JRP Ringier Kunstverlag, 2007) German pp. 43–63, English pp. 190–208
* 'Issues in Feminist Curation: Strategies and Practices' in Janet Marstine (ed) ''An Introduction to New Museum Theory'' (USA: Blackwells, 2006) pp. 64–84
* 'DÈfier l'indiffÈrence a la diffÈrence: les paradoxes de la critique d'art fÈministe' in Pierre-Henry Frangne & Jean-Marc Poinsot (eds) ''L'Invention de Critique D'Art'' (France: Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2002, text in French) pp. 191–205
* 'Women, Representation and Speculations on the End of History Painting' for N.Green and P.Seddon (ed) ''History Painting Reassessed'' (Manchester University Press, October 2000) pp. 131–148
* 'Text and Subtexts' in Binghui Huangfu (ed) ''Text and Subtext: Contemporary Art and Asian Women'' Earl-Lu Gallery, Lasalle-SIA College of Arts, Singapore. Book for International Touring Exhibition of Contemporary Asian Women Artists. Curator: Binghui Huangfu. (June 2000) pp. 33–41
* 'Curating Feminist Histories' in Power Ekroth, Tove Helander (eds) ''Expositioner: Antologi On Utstallningsmediet: The Exhibition as an Artistic Medium'' Stockholm: Konstfack, 2000 published for the Sollentuna Art Fair, Stockholm. (March 2000) pp. 88–96
References
Katy Deepwell's websiteKaty Deepwell ''Women Artists between the Wars''Katy Deepwell's curated selection on Axis 'Feminist Art practices: rewind, remix and pump up the volume!'''Twelve Step guide to feminist art, art history and criticism''Katy Deepwell and Judy Freya Sibayan in conversation ''Regendering Documenta'' at ''Documenta 12'' (Kassel, 2007) as part of the Documenta 12 Magazines Project, published in ''CtrlP''
External links
Katy Deepwell's own websiteKT press ''n.paradoxa: international feminist art journal'' n.paradoxa
''n.paradoxa's MOOCs'' n.paradoxa
Katy Deepwellat
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc., doing business as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company engaged in e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Bellevu ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deepwell, Katy
Living people
English feminists
English art critics
Academics of Middlesex University
Alumni of the University of Leeds
Alumni of Birkbeck, University of London
Writers from London
Year of birth missing (living people)