Ana Mendieta review – were she still alive she’d be at the forefront of art in this century

Jonathan Jones | The Guardian | 13th July 2026

Mendieta placed her art “in the tradition of a Neolithic art”. If she meant that art was part of the process of life, that would make sense. Her earth-body works, executed outdoors, were ephemeral and did indeed return to the natural world. Beyond her obvious focus on womanhood and environmental concerns, however, her work is hard to decipher. What Mendieta undoubtedly did have was an instinct for emotional, unforgettable images. “This artist is irresistible”.