Suzanne Lacy

Artist, educator, writer, and civil servant Suzanne Lacy has brought together each of her skill sets into an art practice that examines, exposes and ultimately seeks to rectify urban social issues. The Crystal Quilt (1987) brought together 430 women over the age of 60 to perform live on public television in an hour-long tableau during which they exchanged thoughts on aging. The collaborative aspect of The Crystal Quilt, combined with the breadth of its scale, is a common thread throughout Lacy’s diverse oeuvre of work. This year, Lacy reprised her seminal project Three Weeks in May (1977) in the form of Three Weeks in January as part of an effort to reassess violence against women 40 years after the anti-rape movement in Los Angeles first began. The recent incarnation of the project was installed at the Deaton Auditorium, across from the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters. On a large city map in the auditorium, Lacy marked reported instances of rape in large, red letters following the receipt of each day’s police report. The project was revolutionary for employing social media platforms, which enabled residents from all corners of the city to participate. Lacy continues her work as a leading artist and activist with co-presenter Jodie Evans in the One Billion Women Rising movement (See “Jodie Evans.”) Lacy has published more than forty articles, and her work has been referenced in art anthologies and international news broadcasts worldwide.

Lives and works in Los Angeles