Women Film Pioneers:
VALIE EXPORT in Memoriam
June 24, 2026
VALIE EXPORT – Director, Writer, Producer
VALIE EXPORT deposited her film works at the Austrian Film Museum in 2020. At that time, she had a long history with the museum. In 1969, the artist – as a founding member of the Austria Filmmakers Cooperative – took part in a protest against the museum's "authoritarian" structure and programming policy, against its "reactionary historicism." In the time between these two events, and more specifically since 1966, she created an artistic body of work with an existential force. In 1967, she deliberately chose an artist name, which symbolically distances her from the role of 'woman' assigned to her in the art world within a male-dominated society. In her forms of expression – including drawing, conceptual photography, installation work, sculpture, and performance – film and video play a central role. The label 'EXPORT' stands for an art which affectively renders social conditions perceptible and accordingly critiques how the media regulates them. EXPORT's aspiration: to change realities through perception. (Katharina Müller / Translation: Ted Fendt)
With the support of the Vienna Chamber of Labor
On this evening, VALIE EXPORT was scheduled to be our guest for a talk in our Women Film Pioneers series to discuss her impressive career. In light of the sad news of VALIE EXPORT's passing, we will honor the artist – who has been creating work of existential power since 1966 – with a memorial event.
The detailed program will be announced here soon.
VALIE EXPORT – Director, Writer, Producer
VALIE EXPORT deposited her film works at the Austrian Film Museum in 2020. At that time, she had a long history with the museum. In 1969, the artist – as a founding member of the Austria Filmmakers Cooperative – took part in a protest against the museum's "authoritarian" structure and programming policy, against its "reactionary historicism." In the time between these two events, and more specifically since 1966, she created an artistic body of work with an existential force. In 1967, she deliberately chose an artist name, which symbolically distances her from the role of 'woman' assigned to her in the art world within a male-dominated society. In her forms of expression – including drawing, conceptual photography, installation work, sculpture, and performance – film and video play a central role. The label 'EXPORT' stands for an art which affectively renders social conditions perceptible and accordingly critiques how the media regulates them. EXPORT's aspiration: to change realities through perception. (Katharina Müller / Translation: Ted Fendt)
With the support of the Vienna Chamber of Labor
Related materials
Books VALIE EXPORT
For each series, films are listed in screening order.
