Born in Kappel am Krappfeld, Austria, Maria Lassnig developed a distinct artistic practice that spanned several decades. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, she spent significant periods in Paris and New York, where she refined her approach to figurative painting. In 1980, she returned to Vienna to accept a professorship at the University of Applied Arts, marking a significant milestone in her academic and artistic career.

Lassnig is best known for her body awareness paintings, a series of self-portraits that translate the subjective experience of physical pain, tension, and movement onto the canvas. Her work often utilizes bold colors and distorted anatomical forms to express the internal state of the body. She worked primarily in oil on canvas, consistently exploring the intersection of psychology and physiology throughout her long career.

Her legacy continues to be recognized globally, with her monographs and artist books featured in international exhibitions and reading room projects, such as the 2026 presentation at SUHEHAUS in Shanghai. She was the first female artist to receive the Grand Austrian State Prize in 1988 and remains a foundational figure in contemporary figurative art.