Born in Linz, Austria, Valie Export emerged as a central figure in the avant-garde movement during the late 1960s. She adopted her professional name in 1967 as a conceptual act, distancing herself from patriarchal naming conventions and establishing a distinct artistic identity that prioritized experimental media and performance.

Her work is characterized by the use of the body as a medium, frequently exploring themes of gender, identity, and the gaze through photography, film, and installation. She is particularly noted for her contributions to expanded cinema, which sought to break the boundaries between the screen and the viewer, and for her provocative public interventions that confronted societal norms.

Export remains a canonical figure in contemporary art history, with her works frequently revisited in major institutional retrospectives. Recent analysis by the Centre Pompidou highlights her enduring influence, positioning her early subversive performances as foundational to the evolution of modern and contemporary art practice.