Judy Chicago and The Dinner Party

Few artworks have had a greater impact on the representation of the vulva in contemporary art than The Dinner Party (1974–1979) by Judy Chicago. Created during the feminist movement of the 1970s, the installation consists of a monumental triangular table honoring 39 historical and mythical women, with the names of 999 additional women inscribed on the floor beneath it.

What made the work groundbreaking was its use of butterfly- and vulva-inspired imagery on the porcelain plates. Rather than treating female anatomy as something hidden or taboo, Chicago transformed it into a symbol of presence, history, creativity, and female experience.

More than an artwork, The Dinner Party became a landmark of feminist art. By placing women and their stories at the center of a monumental installation, Chicago challenged traditional narratives of art history and helped open new conversations about identity, representation, and the female body.