Carole Feuerman: Artist – Sculptor

I am a women’s woman, I care about women, I care to talk about women, and I think that my work speaks louder than my voice. I’m excited and every day I’m happy I get to work on new pieces.

Interview by Ada Iliopoulou

We know that as an artist and as a woman you are supporting women’s rights. How did you start to understand that it is necessary?

Understanding the necessity of protecting women’s rights often brings awareness of historical injustices and ongoing inequalities. I have seen inequalities. When I was younger, I couldn’t find a gallery because of the art dealers who felt that my work was too “sensual” and that it wasn’t “appropriate”, and I often wonder if it would be appropriate if a man had done those pieces. They were very prejudiced against women and what I was doing. So, it took all these years until today to have these works seen publicly in New York City at the Museum of Sex right now call “Long Island Girl.”

You became famous because of your marvelous work with women’s bodies in many ways… do remember the first time it started to inspire you?

It wasn’t the fact that I was inspired, it was the fact that this was who I was. I was just doing what I enjoyed. But years later, I joined the International Women’s Forum with special women from all over the world who’ve accomplished things, and all the great women I’ve felt have had an influence on my life. I put my sculpture of Catalina on a wall in the Jacob Javits Center with the National Association of Woman Artists in 1979. The mayor was giving a speech, but everyone was looking at my sculpture Catalina, and not listening to him.  He asked that Catalina be taken off the wall. It had gone on to become one of my most famous sculptures and that was my first swimmer.

Especially in Venice, you presented women who were stouter. Why did you do this?
This past year, at the Venice Biennale I presented two monumental pieces. One was a very large woman called My Body My Rules. Her body was very voluptuous, her thighs were very big. So, this was a swimmer, but most of all, a woman protesting what was going on in the world at the time and it was the way I was able to speak through my work.

You had a swimmer in front of tour Eiffel in Paris. Let us know about it and what’s next in France too.

I submitted two pieces for the Olympics last summer in Paris, and the Mayor of Paris chose The Diver, which is a male doing a handstand and it shows his balance, perseverance, grace, and all the things an Olympian does. They had it installed in such a beautiful location, right in front of the tower and it was a wonderful experience for me, and I think a great experience for a lot of other people. But I was hoping that my sculpture Perseverance, a woman, would be chosen at the time. However, I’m very happy to announce that the Mayor of Paris has decided to buy Perseverance, to be displayed this August and that will be the story of strong women who persevered which is from my own life.

What do you have to tell for this important day for all the women who live a difficult time and want to change their lives?

I am a women’s woman, I care about women, I care to talk about women, and I think that my work speaks louder than my voice. I’m excited and every day I’m happy I get to work on new pieces. Hopefully, I can help women who want to change their lives and can be inspired by what I’m doing and can also follow their dreams.

Thank you very much!