Linda Stein

Linda Stein (born September 13, 1943) is an American feminist artist whose work focuses on themes of protection and otherness. Her work is primarily abstract and figurative sculpture. She also has a history of nonfiction writing and art education.

Stein is a 9/11 survivor, who was displaced from her Tribeca home and studio following the attacks. This event had a notable impact on her art, inspiring her to move from abstract to figurative work and to address themes of protection, bravery, and sanctuary.

Stein is an active feminist who is on the Board of Directors for Veteran Feminists of America.

Stein came to international attention when British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen fooled her into an interview with his character Borat telling her he was a journalist for Belarus Television making a documentary about the United States, which was included in his 2006 film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. In the interview, Stein responded seriously and angrily to Cohen's character's ludicrously sexist attitudes toward women. She finally stormed off the interview set and kicked him out of her studio.

Early life and education Stein was born in the Bronx to a working-class, Jewish family. She attended the School of Visual Arts and Queens College, where she earned a B.A.. While working as an art teacher she earned an M.A. at the Pratt Institute. She also attended the art students league and Pratt Graphics Center.

Her career began with a calligraphy service that became the premier vendor in New York, used by Tiffany's and Cartier. The business was one of the pioneers in the art gentrification of TriBeCa. Calligraphic Knight 548 is a figurative form providing an example of her calligraphy work from various wedding invitations she had made for Tiffany's. Reference image right: Calligraphic Knight 548

Artistic career Stein's professional artistic career began in the 1960s, with her studies at Queens College (1961-1965).

Stein works in series, including:

Sexism and Masculinities/Femininities: Exploring, Exploding, Expanding (Gender) Expression Series

In 2015, Stein's work began to focus on Sexism in society and the art world. Her work discusses the representation and financial support given to men and the lack of support for women artists. This work references the #MeToo movement, and her non-profit is in the process of collecting stories from women sexually abused in the art world. Reference image right: Femininities Body Language 897

Displacement from Home - What to Leave, What to Take: Cabinets, Cupboards, Cases, and Closets Series

This series contains assemblage sculptures consisting of different furniture (cupboards, cases, etc.) with random house-hold items. Inspired by the displacement of people from war-torn countries, as well as her own experience on 9/11, Stein creates assemblages which bring to mind the interiors of homes abandoned by individuals forced to flee for safety. This body of work also contains her Spoon to Shell series, which consists of 20 assemblage sculptures which contemplate the sacrifice and bravery of Holocaust victims who were sexually abused. The exhibition also includes wall-hanging "protector" sculptures. Reference image right: Ten Heroes 859

The Fluidity of Gender Series Stein made larger-than-life wall sculptures as well as free-standing torsos with "skins" of black leather and mixed media that were intentionally androgynous. This series has been touring museums and universities since 2010 under the title The Fluidity of Gender. Reference image right: Defender 696

I Am the Environment Series In 2012, Stein began a series titled I Am the Environment: My Gender, My Nature, including larger-than-life torsos and wall sculptures created from natural materials: beans, shells, branches, seeds, and stones. They suggest the embeddedness of the body in ecological systems Reference image right: Knight at Ease 652

Knights of Protection Series Post 9/11, Stein was unable to return to her Tribeca studio or make sculpture for a year. When she returned to making art, her new sculptures were figurative and symbolized protection. Begun in 2002, The Knights of Protection series was her earliest shield-like forms made of mixed media and hung on the wall. Later Knights became more figurative and included images of Wonder Woman, Princess Mononoke, Lady Gaga, Lisbeth Salander, Storm, and Guanyin. Reference image right: Knight of Tomorrow 582

Blades & Ceremonial Scepters Series In the 1990s, Stein began the sculpture series, Blades. Stein fused machetes to other materials. The Ceremonial Scepters were objects that looked like ancient weapons and spoke of relationships of power and violence. Stein composed origin stories that undid these associations and offered alternatives, such as defense and empowerment for the user.