Amid swirling cigarette smoke, Brice's self-possessed female figures challenge the male-dominated art historical canon

Known for challenging traditional representations of women in art history, Lisa Brice (born 1968) repositions the female body toward autonomy and references works by important artists such as Suzanne Valadon and Charley Toorop. Nude or clothed, her mysterious and at times aloof female figures lean against doorways or lounge on chairs, staring outward, often smoking cigarettes, in a reinterpretation of the comparatively passive images painted by Félix Vallotton or Gustave Courbet. Lives and Works documents in rich detail the art historical and sociopolitical references that inform Brice's art. The book's design also references Brice's reinterpretation of the Western canon. Well-known modern artists are frequently referred to only by their surname, signaling their reputation and importance. This new catalog references this practice by placing Brice's last name on the cover in confident, bold text.