Written hanging element: 3.75 x 2 in

Comprised of images of different body parts, "Protection" questions established perceptions of the human form and ideals of beauty. Each image can be seen as a fragment of the whole, encouraging us to examine the relationship between the individual and the collective.

Annette Messager (b. 1943 in Berck, France) is a contemporary French artist who is internationally recognized as one of the most important feminist artists working today. After attending the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from 1962-1966, Messager abandoned traditional forms and mediums in order to pursue the conceptual aesthetic that she is known for. Known for her installation art, Messager incorporates everything from photographs and prints to books, embroidery, crayons, toys, and even taxidermized animals. Messager has exhibited in solo shows since 1973, including exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1981, the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1995, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in 2004, Musée D’Orsay in Paris in 2006, and Centre Georges-Pompidou in Paris in 2007. She has also participated in significant group exhibitions, including the Biennale de Paris in 1977, Documenta 6 and 11 in 1977 and 2002, respectively, and the Venice Biennale in 1980, 2003, and 2005, to name a few.

Select Public Collections:
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
The Solomon R. Guggengheim Museum, New York
The Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
The Tate Gallery, London, UK