Katy Hessel

“If you haven’t encountered Katy Hessel, the feminist dynamo who’s on a mission to grant female artists their rightful place in history, now’s your moment.” —The LA Times

Katy Hessel is a formidable figure in the art world whose achievements have landed her on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list. Known for her passion for championing women artists and marginalized communities both from the past and the present.  In 2015, she founded her Instagram page “The Great Women Artists,” a platform dedicated to showcasing and celebrating women artists throughout history. This was her first step in reshaping the art narrative, and she has been an unstoppable force since. In her podcast of the same name and dynamic talks, Katy connects art with broader, timely cultural conversations, candidly delving into the intersectionality of gender, race, and identity. Through her work, Katy sheds light on the experiences of artists who have historically been overlooked. She invites audiences to explore art through a different lens, revealing narratives that resonate deeply with diverse communities. 

Her book, The Story of Art Without Men, has taken the world by storm. An instant New York Times bestseller and winner of the Waterstone Book of the Year award, it earned widespread acclaim and recognition. The title of her book plays on the name of Gombrich’s The Story of Art, the iconic “introductory Bible to art history,” which didn’t mention a single woman until its 16th edition. “If he was going to leave out women, I was going to leave out men,” she decided. The first of its kind, the book focuses on the often-neglected contributions of women artists throughout history, offering a more comprehensive and inclusive perspective on art. In this Kirkus Best Nonfiction Book, she delves into the works of renowned women artists from all over the world, highlighting their achievements and impact on the art world, while also shedding light on the broader experience of marginalized communities. Through meticulous research and captivating storytelling, Katy unveils a rich tapestry of art history that challenges traditional narratives and expands our understanding of artistic brilliance. “The Story of Art Without Men should be on the reading list of every A-level and university art history course and on the front table of every museum and gallery shop” (The Times). 

Katy writes and presents arts documentaries for the BBC, such as Artemisia Gentileschi (2020) and Art on the BBC: Monet (2022). In 2021, she was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list, in 2022, she was appointed as the Curatorial Trustee of Charleston, and in 2023, she became a Visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge. She writes extensively on the subject of women artists and frequently lectures at institutions such as The National Gallery, Courtauld, Tate, and Cambridge University. She maintains her fortnightly column for The Guardian, “The Great Women’s Art Bulletin.” In her podcast, The Great Women Artists Podcast, she has interviewed groundbreaking artists such as Marina Abramović and Lubaina Himid, and writers Ali Smith and Deborah Levy. She also hosts Dior’s podcast, Dior Talks – Feminist Art, which includes interviews with Tracey Emin and Judy Chicago.