Katy Hessel’s New Book Teaches Us How to Live More Like Artists
As How to Live an Artful Life is released, author and broadcaster Katy Hessel—known for her project The Great Women Artists—reflects on creativity, mindfulness, and what artists can show us about living meaningfully.
It’s difficult to find anyone more devoted to art than Katy Hessel. Speaking over Zoom from her north London home, with shelves full of books behind her, she gestures energetically and quotes artists freely. Her enthusiasm is contagious and helps explain her journey from working at a gallery’s front desk to becoming one of the UK’s most respected art commentators and authors.
Reframing the Art World
In her debut book The Story of Art Without Men, Hessel explores how women have been overlooked in art history. Drawing from decades of feminist scholarship and her own experience running The Great Women Artists project on Instagram and as a podcast, she reimagines the art historical canon through a female perspective.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone more passionate about art than Katy Hessel.”
The book became an instant bestseller in both the Sunday Times and the New York Times, earning awards and sparking debate. Some critics argued that it leaned on the same artistic traditions it aimed to challenge, yet its impact on the conversation around women in art remains undeniable.
About the Author
Katy Hessel is an art historian and broadcaster committed to amplifying the voices of women artists and reshaping our understanding of art history.
Author’s Summary: Katy Hessel’s latest work champions creativity and women’s perspectives, offering readers a refreshing, artist-inspired approach to everyday living.