Hippies 2013

Lisa Yuskavage created ‘Hippies’, a painting that dives deep into the complex intersections of sexuality, identity, and cultural norms. Yuskavage, born in 1962, paints in a world shaped by second-wave feminism and the ongoing renegotiation of female representation in art. In "Hippies", Yuskavage challenges traditional representations of women. She does so by presenting figures that are both ethereal and grounded, innocent and sexualized. The pale central figure, surrounded by a group of spectral bodies, evokes a sense of vulnerability, challenging idealized beauty standards. Yuskavage explores the female form with a boldness that invites viewers to confront their own assumptions about gender, sexuality, and the human body. The artist once said: "I am interested in painting the kind of body that has been considered not okay". This painting captures that sentiment, demanding that we reconsider our preconceptions about what is considered acceptable or beautiful.