Gendering the Non-Binary in Anatomical Images
How does the visual representation of the human body in anatomical images play a role in our understanding of gender differences, particularly those of non-binary bodies? Anatomical images exist at the intersection of medicine and art, as well as observation and interpretation. As a result, they reveal much about the practices, beliefs, biases, and power dynamics of the cultures in which they were created. This talk will explore some of the factors that have framed our understanding of and approach to gender differences and will illuminate the longstanding struggle between defining an idealized norm and recognizing the reality of human diversity.
Allison Hill-Edgar is an artist, art historian, and medical doctor who focuses on the intersection of art, medicine, and gender. In addition to her studio practice, commissions, and exhibitions which explore the human body from many perspectives, she teaches and lectures on the visual arts, art history, and medical representations of gender. She has a BA in Art History from Harvard College, an MD from Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, and an MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art. She is a recipient of the Michael E. DeBakey Fellowship in the History of Medicine at the National Library of Medicine (NIH) for an ongoing research project, “Reframing Anatomical History Through the Female Body,” and gave their annual lecture in 2021. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the New York Academy of Art, the Glimmerglass Festival, and Family Planning of South-Central New York. A selection of her work can be found at allisonhill-edgar.com.