Gloria Steinem, the icon who spent her later years hosting "Talking Circles" in her living room — because, apparently, some traditions are too good to die — left behind a legacy that goes far beyond the printed page.
Her upcoming book, An Unexpected Life, delves into her beloved brownstone, a place she hoped would become a social justice center, inspiring future generations. A fitting final act for someone who spent a lifetime sparking change.
The Art World's Unofficial Muse
Steinem's influence on art, photography, and pop culture was, frankly, massive. She wasn't just in the cultural conversation; she was the conversation, often becoming the subject herself. Remember that time she went undercover as a Playboy Bunny to expose the realities of waitressing? Kristie Alley certainly did, portraying her in 1985's A Bunny's Tale.
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Start Your News DetoxThen came a whole lineup of actresses stepping into her shoes: Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Lulu Wilson, Alicia Vikander, and Julianne Moore in the 2020 biopic The Glorias. Not to mention Rose Byrne's turn in the FX miniseries Mrs. America that same year. Because when you're that iconic, one portrayal just isn't enough.
Steinem wasn't just portrayed by artists; she befriended them. She even lived with artist Barbara Nessim for six years, a friendship born through art director Henry Wolf. Nessim, being "very visual," taught Steinem "how to look at form rather than function." Which, if you think about it, is a pretty profound lesson.
She was also a friend and mentor to the legendary fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz, writing the introduction for Leibovitz's 2016 exhibition "Women: New Portraits," held at the wonderfully unexpected Bayview Correctional Facility in New York. Because art, like justice, can pop up anywhere.
From Galleries to Rebellions
While Steinem largely shied away from public life in her later years, there were exceptions. One notable exception? Artist Judy Chicago. Ann Philbin, former director of the Hammer Museum, recounted how Steinem would regularly decline invitations to their swanky gala. But for Chicago, who was being honored in 2019? Steinem showed up, declaring, "You can pretty much divide the art world, and certainly I can divide my life, into before and after Judy Chicago." High praise, indeed.
Steinem's impact continues to resonate. In 2023, Marilyn Minter featured her in a solo exhibition at the LGDR gallery in New York, alongside Monica Lewinsky and Lady Gaga. Minter, a "hopeaholic" herself, quoted Steinem after Roe v. Wade was overturned: "Do not give up hope... it’s vital that, despite it all, we act on our hopes every day." A message that still hits hard.
Her 1983 book, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, even inspired the Brooklyn Museum's exhibition "Everyday Rebellions: Collection Conversations," which runs from October 10, 2025, to July 5, 2026. The show celebrates how "contemporary artists infuse daily life with mindful gestures of creative defiance," much like Steinem's own essays. It seems some rebellions are just timeless.
Of course, not everyone was on board with Steinem's brand of feminist fire. The Guardian reported that in the 1970s, Steinem visited Georgia O’Keeffe's New Mexico home only to be turned away. While Steinem admired O’Keeffe's art, O’Keeffe reportedly disliked being called a "woman artist," believing her gender shouldn't define her work. A fascinating, if slightly awkward, clash of titans.
