Lorenza Böttner, a transgender artist known for her self-portraiture, created a multidisciplinary body of work using her feet and mouth to paint, following the loss of her arms in a childhood accident. Born on March 6, 1959, in Punta Arenas, Chile, to a family of German migrants, Böttner relocated to Germany in 1969 for medical treatment.
Böttner’s work, which spanned painting, drawing, photography, dance, and performance art, often celebrated and eroticized her armless body, challenging both gender norms and concepts of disability. Notably, she performed in public spaces, creating impressionistic paintings with her footprints.
Böttner's work has been recognized in recent years, partly due to Paul B. Preciado's curated exhibition, “Requiem for the Norm.” Her significant pieces include a photo series called “Face Art,” where she used makeup to transform her appearance, and a sculpture inspired by the Venus de Milo.
After sustaining injuries from an electric shock at age nine, Böttner moved to Germany with her mother. She studied art from 1978 to 1984 at the Gesamthochschule Kassel, where she developed her unique style of “danced painting.” In 1984, Böttner moved to New York City, where she became a beloved figure in the queer artist community, although she later returned to Europe due to illness.
Böttner died of AIDS-related complications on January 13, 1994, in Munich, at the age of 34. Her life and work continue to gain recognition, highlighting her contributions to art and challenging societal norms around gender and disability.