Pauline Boty

Biography
First British Female Pop-Artist
Feminist Agenda?

Biography

Pauline Veronica Boty was born on March 6th 1938 in London. [1] In the early stages of her live she took part in various educational programs, which ultimately led her to an artistic career. In 1954 Boty Received a scholarship to the Wimbledon School of Art, followed by her receiving her Intermediate Diploma in Lithography in 1956 and the National Diploma in Art and Design in 1958. [2] Besides practicing visual arts, Pauline Boty was a well known actress. From 1962 to 1965 she starred in several film productions such as in an Episode of The Frantic Rebel in 1964 or in Day of the Ragnarok in January 1965. [3] Ultimately on the first of July 1966, just 5 months after Boty gave birth to her only daughter, Pauline Boty died at the age of 28.[4]

First British Female Pop-Artist

Pauline Boty’ first paintings portray rather surrealistic sujets, before in the 60’s they attainted characteristics that one would ascribe to the Pop-Art movement, all while staying true to her pop culture imagery. [5] Despite Boty not being well known for her art even until today, she is nonetheless regarded as the first female artist of British Pop art.[6]

Feminist Agenda?

While art critics are at one about Boty being one of the first women in pop-art, there is a disparity of opinions on her being a feminist artist. In Pop’s Ladies and Bad Girls: Axell, Pauline Boty and Rosalyn Drexler [7] Kalliopi Minioudaki claims that Pauline Boty is in fact a relevant forerunner of the feminist art movement despite the little exposure that she receives until today. (p.406): [8] Others such as James Hall view Boty as a "[…] fringe pop-artist […].", thus as one who insinuates feminism, but does not follow a clear feminist agenda. (p.413): [9]