Born in Billings, Montana, Andrea Fraser emerged as a significant figure in the 1980s, becoming closely associated with the second generation of institutional critique. Her practice often involves assuming personas to deconstruct the power dynamics, hierarchies, and financial systems inherent in museums, galleries, and the broader art market.

Fraser is widely known for works such as Museum Highlights: A Gallery Talk, in which she adopted the character of a docent to satirize the institutional framing of art. Her medium frequently utilizes video, performance, and written analysis to interrogate the relationship between art institutions and their patrons, donors, and audiences.

Currently based in New York and Los Angeles, Fraser serves as a professor and area head of the Interdisciplinary Studio at the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture. Her work continues to be a foundational reference point for discussions regarding the ethics and social functions of contemporary art institutions.