Alice Baber

“Levin’s book is dedicated to Baber and ‘all women artists whose works have remained hidden in museum storage for decades.’ Her in-depth biography brings this artist out of the shadows, something that — thanks to Levin’s steadfast advocacy — will likely happen much more.” – Glasstire“Having garnered acclaim for biographies of Edward Hopper, Lee Krasner, and Judy Chicago, art historian Gail Levin takes on a lesser-known artist: Alice Baber. Today, she is largely ‘forgotten,’ to use Levin’s word; this book is an attempt to change that.” – ArtNEWS“Alice Baber, a lyrical abstractionist whose exquisitely translucent, graceful paintings were exhibited the world over, was scrubbed from art history due not only to the usual misogyny but also deliberate erasure by her painter ex-husband and his third wife. Levin, the defining biographer of Lee Krasner and Judy Chicago, is the first to fully tell Baber’s remarkable story. Subtle, stylish, determined Baber and her luscious, lambent paintings have finally been rediscovered. Levin’s scrupulously detailed and incisive portrait will ensure enduring and informed appreciation.” – Booklist“The first biography of Alice Baber (1928–82) rediscovers the abstract artist, feminist, activist, and curator. Part of the midcentury New York City art scene, Baber was known for her colorful watercolors and seen as a visionary artist by her contemporaries. In her lifetime, her art was in exhibitions, solo shows, and the permanent collections of New York’s major museums. The year 2024 marked the first exhibition of Baber’s works in 40 years. This well-researched biography is recommended as a must-add to most art, women’s studies, and art history–focused libraries.” – Library Journal, starred review“A painter of color and light. Alice Baber is the first scholarly examination of the artist. Levin’s thorough research offers a firm grounding for future studies. A richly detailed homage.” – Kirkus Reviews“Gail Levin continues her quest to right the wrongs of art history’s tendency to slight women artists in favor of their more established husband’s. Such was (and is) the case for too many talented painters like Alice Baber. Kudos to Dr. Levin for her valiant efforts.” * Judy Chicago *Praise for Gail Levin “Ms. Levin’s perceptive, judicious book reveals Krasner as a fine, important painter. This is an insightful, sharply drawn portrait of 20th-century America from the vantage point of a creative woman swept up in a realm of remarkable artistic productivity.” * The Wall Street Journal *“A quintuple whammy of a biography?the story of a major artist; a description of a notorious marriage; an education in 20th-century art; a gossipy immersion into Bohemian New York; and a settling of scores against those who practiced gender bias.” * O, The Oprah Magazine *“Compelling. Art historian Gail Levin has drawn on her close association with Lee Krasner and extensive research to produce a biography that rings fair and true.” * Los Angeles Tims *“For the love of art….Art historian Gail Levin frames the extremely colorful life of Lee Krasner, major ass-kicking Abstract Expressionist and formidable genius in her own right, better known for boosting the career of her splashier-than-life husband, Jackson Pollock.” * Vanity Fair *

Gail Levin is the author of Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography, Becoming Judy Chicago, Lee Krasner: A Biography and many other books on twentieth-century and contemporary art. She is Distinguished Professor of Art History, American Studies, and Women’s Studies at the Graduate Center and Baruch College of the City University of New York.

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