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Iconic Feminist Artist Valie Export Dies at 85

5/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Valie Export died in Vienna on May 14, 2026, at age 85.
She adopted the capitalised pseudonym Valie Export as a statement of empowerment.
Born Waltraud Lehner in Linz in 1940, she left a teenage marriage to pursue art.
Her best-known works include the performances “Tapp- und Tastkino” and “Aktionshose: Genitalpanik” and the experimental films “Unsichtbare Gegner” and “Syntagma.”

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Story summary

Valie Export died in Vienna on May 14, 2026, at age 85.
She adopted the capitalised pseudonym Valie Export as a statement of empowerment.
Born Waltraud Lehner in Linz in 1940, she left a teenage marriage to pursue art.
Her best-known works include the performances “Tapp- und Tastkino” and “Aktionshose: Genitalpanik” and the experimental films “Unsichtbare Gegner” and “Syntagma.”