Vienna, Austria — May 12, 2026
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Valie Export, the groundbreaking Austrian artist known for her feminist and avant-garde works, has died at 83. Her provocative performances and multimedia installations challenged societal norms and left a lasting impact on contemporary art.
Vienna, Austria — May 12, 2026
Valie Export, the influential Austrian artist whose radical feminist works reshaped contemporary art, died on May 12, 2026, at the age of 83.
Valie Export, born Waltraud Lehner in Linz, Austria, in 1940, became a central figure in the feminist avant-garde movement of the 20th century. Her work, spanning performance art, film, and multimedia installations, often confronted themes of gender, power, and the body.
Export’s art was known for its unflinching critique of societal norms. One of her most famous works, "Tapp- und Tast-Kino" (Tap and Touch Cinema), involved a small box strapped to her chest, allowing strangers to touch her breasts through curtains—a direct challenge to the objectification of women.
Her influence extended beyond Austria, with exhibitions in major cities like Vienna, Klagenfurt, and Graz. The Arbeiterkammer, an Austrian labor organization, once noted her ability to "merge art and activism seamlessly."
Even in later years, Export’s work resonated with younger generations, particularly through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. A recent trend highlighted how her ideas about body autonomy and performance art found new life online.
"Das sind die beliebtesten Nebenjobs bei Jungen Besonders beliebt sind Tätigkeiten, die sich online oder zeitlich flexibel erledigen lassen: Trend auch im Netz angekommen Vor allem TikTok und Instagram tragen dazu bei, dass sogenannte 'Side Hustles' beinahe zum Lifestyle geworden sind," noted one cultural analysis, underscoring the enduring relevance of her themes.
Tributes poured in from across the art world, with institutions like the APA (Austria Press Agency) and the Arbeiterkammer acknowledging her contributions. Lena, a fellow artist, described Export as "a trailblazer who never compromised her vision."
Her work will be celebrated in a posthumous exhibition at the Flughafens Wien later this year, ensuring her legacy continues to inspire.