Ree Morton: Emotional Space 1971–77

Abstract

This thesis will address the life, work, and legacy of the 20th-century artist Ree Morton. The themes that Morton deals with, such as the ambivalence of motherhood, the gestural nature of femininity, and the search for self, are universal, and her unique treatment of these themes keeps her body of work rich and rewarding for further study. Her dialogue with feminism is much different than many of her peers, but what her work contains speaks to a complex and beautifully rich personal understanding of what feminism is and could be. This paper will establish Morton’s legacy and influence on contemporary artists who have succeeded her and place her within the canon of feminist artists working in the 1970s, from which she has thus far been excluded. It traces a network of artists who have been inspired by Morton, and acknowledges her influence on contemporary art trends