Carolee Schneeman, the eldest of three children, was born in semi-rural Pennsylvania on October 12th, 1939. She began drawing at the age of four, a habit that took over her life. She accepted a full ride of Bard College after her high school graduation, which was where she met her future husband and collaborator James Tenney. However, she was kicked out of Bard after her third year and transferred to Columbia School of Painting and Sculpture to complete her undergraduate degree. She then traveled to the University of Illinois to work towards, and eventually receive, her MFA. She then moved to New York City where she was introduced to artists such as Warhol, Rauschenberg, Cage, and Morris. Through these men she discovered dance theater and happening, which led to her fascination with the human body and its potential use as a canvas.
Her work took off the in 1970s and 80s due to her baffling and highly sensitive subject matter, aka her own body. Her performance art has been heralded as some of the most visceral work of the 20th century. She dealt with many critiques that called her work self absorbed and conceited, but it did not stop her. Schneemann is still creating works; these newer pieces lean away from performance and focus more on photography. However, she still uses her work to try and illicit immediate and honest reactions from her audience.