Anne Bean
b. 1950, United Kingdom
Anne Bean is a London-based artist and active and influential figure in UK live art and performance. Born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1950, she moved to England in 1969 after an initial art education at the University of Cape Town. Bean attended Reading University (graduated 1973), and her wide-ranging practice encompasses slide projections, drawing, photography, video and sound, with materials such as fire and pyrotechnics to weather balloons, wind and steam. Since 1970, she has presented solo and collaborative projects throughout Europe, USA, Africa, Mexico and Japan. In 2008, Bean was awarded the 'Legacy: Thinker in Residence' award by Tate Research and the Live Art Development Agency. A mongraph, 'Anne Bean: Self Etc' was published by Intellect Books in 2018. England & Co have exhibited Bean's images relating to performance from the 1970s at Photo London and Paris Photo and in their recent group exhibition, 'Womens' Works' in 2023. England & Co held a solo exhibition: 'Anne Bean: How Things Used to Be Now' (2019) and a solo presentation of Bean's works at Frieze Masters (2022). Bean is currently included in the touring Tate exhibition, 'Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970–1990'.