Karen Finley

For the journalist and political consultant, see Karen Finney.
Karen Finley
Finley in 2014
Born1956 (age 67–68)
Chicago, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
Alma materSan Francisco Art Institute
Occupation(s)Performance artist, musician, poet, educator
EmployerNYU Tisch School of the Arts
Known forPerformance art
Spouse
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(m. 1981; div. 1987)​

Karen Finley (born 1956) is an American performance artist, musician, poet, and educator.[1] The case, National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley (1998), argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, was decided against Finley and the other artists.[2] Her performance art, recordings, and books are used as forms of activism.[3][4] Her work frequently uses nudity and profanity.[5] Finley incorporates depictions of sexuality, abuse, and disenfranchisement in her work.[6] She is a professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.[7]

Karen Finley has written various books that focus on controversial topics.[8] She wrote Shock Treatment, Enough Is Enough: Weekly Meditations for Living Dysfunctionally, the Martha Stewart satire Living It Up: Humorous Adventures in Hyperdomesticity, Pooh Unplugged (detailing the eating and psychological disorders of Winnie the Pooh and his friends),[9] and A Different Kind of Intimacy - a later collection of her works. Her poem "The Black Sheep" is among her best-known works; it was displayed as public art in New York City for one month.[10] Finley's poetry is included in The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry.

  1. ^ "Karen Finley". karenfinley.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  2. ^ Halperin, Julia (December 6, 2023). "Conservatives Called Her Artwork 'Obscene.' She's Back for More". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Pinsky, Mark I. (15 February 1991). "Karen Finley Projects Outrage Without Props: Activist: Performance artist is scathing and scatological at Cal State Fullerton". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ^ Pellegrini, Ann (2007-11-01). "Art, Activism and Social Change". Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory. 17 (3): 331–337. doi:10.1080/07407700701621558. ISSN 0740-770X. S2CID 142881904.
  5. ^ Brenson, Michael (21 May 1990). "Review/Art; Effects of Men's Desires On the Lives of Women". The New York Times. pp. C.13. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  6. ^ Kolson, Ann (20 January 1989). "The Wild Ways Of Karen Finley Her Art Is Her 'Calling.' Some Call It Obscene". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Karen Finley - Arts Professor". New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  8. ^ Breslauer, Jan (8 November 1991). "Karen Finley Brings Her Controversial 'Victims' to L.A.". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  9. ^ Pooh also informed her decision to use large amounts of honey in Shut Up and Love Me.
  10. ^ "CREATIVE TIME". creativetime.org.