Seeing Through Her Eyes: A Conversation on The Female Gaze In Art & Photography with Australian author, Anita Selzer.

The Female Gaze in Art and Photography is about how twenty women artists from around the world create their artwork from a female experience and perspective, a female way of seeing and feeling. (Volume I is on contemporary women; Volume 2, deceased women artists; Volume 3 & 4 out this fall and 2026)

The Female Gaze in Art and Photography is nuanced. It highlights how the female gaze differs to and challenges the dominant, historical male gaze that has underscored western art, idealising or sexually objectifying women, particularly in the nude. It shows how the female gaze reclaims the female body and form as a site of multiple meanings. It delivers examples of diverse visual images created by the women artists and photographers from their female way of seeing and feeling, including their psychological and subjective experiences then channeled into their art. The book (Volumes 1 and 2) also reveals how social issues are inscribed in the artworks. It provides a socio-historical context, referencing art history and offers biographical sketches of each creative.

With a scholarly background and a passion for amplifying women’s voices, Australian Author Anita Selzer is redefining how we look at art—specifically through the lens of the female gaze. As an author, academic, and advocate for women in the arts, her The Female Gaze book series offers fresh and necessary perspectives on how women create and are seen in visual culture. We sat down with her to explore the inspiration, impact, and future of this important work.

A Career Rooted in Education and Advocacy

Before stepping into the world of publishing, Seltzer cultivated a rich academic and professional life. Holding a BA, Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies, a Master’s in Education, and a PhD in Education, she has long been engaged with the intersections of gender, history, and learning.

“I taught English and Politics to young and older adults at a college level,” she explains, “and served as Executive Officer in Women’s Affairs in the Premier’s Department in Victoria.” Her expertise also extended into publishing, reviewing books for Cambridge University Press and the academic journal Gender and Education.

Currently Selzer channels this rich foundation into her writing, (an award winning author of fourteen adult and children’s nonfiction books) focusing on women, gender, history, education, biography—and most recently, art.

Inspiration Behind The Female Gaze In Art & Photography

The seed for The Female Gaze In Art & Photography was planted by Charlotte Jansen’s Girl on Girl, a book that examined how 40 women artists used the female gaze in photography. “[Jansen’s] book inspired me to extend the conversation and explore it further,” she says. “I wanted to create a coffee table book—something more expansive.”

The Female Gaze was also personal. “[I] had to feel a connection to the work and the artists I selected,” she adds. Encouragement from close friend and fellow artist Jon Cattapan was pivotal. “He told me to give it a go and is now mentoring me.”

Volume One: Creating Space for Women’s Perspectives

Published as the first in a series, The Female Gaze In Art & Photography Volume One is more than a showcase—it’s a reclamation of space and narrative. “It provides visibility to women artists who have often been overlooked,” she explains. “The book explores how these creatives use their female perspective in the production of their work—something rarely discussed in other texts.”

Unlike traditional art criticism that often filters women’s work through a male-dominated lens, this book centers the artist’s intention and lived experience. “These women see their female subjects as people, as agents—not as eroticized objects,” she says. “It shows that the female body can carry multiple meanings, interpreted through the multifarious female gaze.”

The Female Gaze In Art & Photography Volume One earned the distinction of “Winner” of the 2024 Independent Press Award in the Fine Arts Category. 

Looking Forward: Volume Two Arrives in 2025

Set to release in September 2025, The Female Gaze In Art & Photography Volume 2 builds on its predecessor while introducing a historical dimension. “It made sense to complement Volume One, which focused on contemporary artists, with a volume that looks at significant deceased female artists,” she says. “Both volumes can stand alone or be read together—they inform and enrich one another.”

The Female Gaze In Art & Photography Volume 2 offers a reflective contrast, reminding us how long women have been shaping and challenging the visual narrative—even if their contributions have been sidelined.

Professor Emma Redding, Director Victoria College of the Arts comments, 

“The Female Gaze in Art and Photography Volume 2 is a remarkable exploration of creativity, perspective, and resilience. With stunning and thought-provoking images that resonate deeply, this book is both a visual and intellectual feast. The book not only showcases exceptional works by female artists and photographers but also sheds light on the social and institutional barriers they have faced across history. Selzer provides a compelling narrative that reveals how these challenges shaped their artistic journeys and contributions. Her insights illuminate the power and persistence of women in art.”

Bridging Past and Present

The duality between the two volumes is key. “Volume One captures the present, the here and now. Volume Two looks to the past, showing us how innovative and expressive women artists have always been when it comes to using the female gaze. The series reveals how social issues are inscribed in the artworks. It provides a socio-historical context, referencing art history and offers biographical sketches of each creative.”

The Female Gaze volumes form a continuum—a reminder that women’s creative voices are both historical and ongoing.

What Sets The Female Gaze Apart?

While there are other books that celebrate women artists, few focus on how the female gaze actively informs their work. “[My books] explore this in detail,” she explains. “They also provide biographical insights and socio-historical context, giving readers a more holistic understanding.”

This makes the series an essential resource for both the art world and general readers curious about the evolution of women’s voices in visual culture. “There’s a depth and nuance to how I discuss the female gaze that I haven’t seen elsewhere,” she says.

A Glimpse Into Volume Three

Looking ahead, The Female Gaze: Volume 3 is already in development. This installment will spotlight three significant Australian artists: Jane Sutherland, Emma Minnie Boyd, and Josephine Muntz-Adams.

“It provides their biographies, explores how they used a female gaze in their art, and situates their work in its socio-historical context,” she shares. The aim is to continue deepening our understanding of how women have shaped art across time.

With her Female Gaze series, Selzer is not only telling untold stories—she’s helping reshape the lens through which we view art. As each volume builds upon the last, it becomes clear that the female gaze is not a fleeting trend, but a vital, powerful perspective whose time has come. For more, you can view and listen to The GAB TALKS with Anita Selzer here: https://www.independentpressaward.com/thegabtalks/the-female-gaze-in-art-and-photography