Press
Los Angeles Review of Books
Jan 2, 2022
Define Yourself: Riva Lehrer’s and Jan Grue’s Disability Memoirs
The New York Times: Opinion
Oct 31, 2021
I'm Done With the Costumes That Hid the 'Monster' Beneath
Finalists Announced in Sixth Triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition
Oct 29, 2021
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has announced the finalists in the sixth triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Their work will be presented in “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today,” a major exhibition premiering at the National Portrait Gallery from April 30, 2022, through Feb. 26, 2023, before traveling to other cities in the United States.
Unboxing the Canon Podcast: On Disability
Oct 28, 2021
This episode of Unboxing the Canon introduces the topic of disability and the visual arts, looking at both historical and contemporary examples. We consider the near absence of visible disability in the history of Western art and discuss how some contemporary artists are representing disability in powerful ways.
BBC World Service: Outlook Podcast
Oct 27, 2021
American artist Riva Lehrer was born with spina bifida. She endured countless medical procedures through her childhood and adolescence and was told she would never have a job, a romantic relationship or an independent life. But everything changed when as an adult Riva was invited to join the Disabled Artists Collective, a group of artists, writers and performers who were challenging myths around disability in their work. She tells Emily Webb how she began to paint their portraits - and through her art started to transform the stories she’d been told about herself. (This interview contains language that some listeners might find offensive)
Arts Letters & Numbers
Jul 26, 2021
Artist and Disability Activist Riva Lehrer in conversation with Lawrence Weschler
The New York Times: Opinion
Dec 10, 2020
The Virus Has Stolen Your Face From Me
Chicago Humanities Festival with David Mitchell
Oct 30, 2020
Riva engages in fascinating conversation with David Mitchell
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Interview
Oct 23, 2020
Riva speaks to SAIC about her art, stigmatized identities, and the challenge of writing a memoir.
This is the Author Podcast
Oct 21, 2020
Meet the Author with Penguin Random House
Pure Wow Gift List for Men
Oct 21, 2020
Golem Girl listed as Pure Wow's number 33 of 75 Best Gifts for Men
One World Ideas x Action: Art as Resistance
Oct 15, 2020
Riva in conversation with artist Molly Crabapple, moderated by publisher Christopher Jackson.
Golem Girl named CHIRBy Award Finalist
Oct 15, 2020
Chicago Review of Books has named Golem Girl as a finalist for the CHIRBy Award in the category of Nonfiction.
Publishers Weekly: Disability Futures Fellows
Oct 15, 2020
Ford, Mellon Team to names Riva a Disability Futures Fellow
NYT: Disability Futures Initiative Announced
Oct 14, 2020
Riva is honored to be among the winners of the first Disability Futures initiative, a new fellowship established by the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support disabled artists.
Lit Hub
Oct 14, 2020
Lit Hub's The Hub announces Disability Futures Fellows
Open Book with Scott Simon
Oct 13, 2020
Riva visits with NPR's Scott Simon and family on Open Book.
NPR Weekend Edition Interview
Oct 10, 2020
Scott Simon speaks to Riva about her new book, which recounts a life growing up with spina bifida.
Jewish Journal Review
Oct 8, 2020
The Jewish Journal reviews Golem Girl
Amazon Book Review
Oct 1, 2020
Golem Girl named one of Amazon's Best Books of October
Lambda Literary
Sep 30, 2020
Golem Girl named October's Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books
Curatorial Talks: Riva Lehrer and Terry R. Myers
Sep 25, 2020
Riva in conversation with Los Angeles-based writer and independent curator Terry R. Myers .
Kirkus Book Review: Golem Girl
Sep 16, 2020
Kirkus declares Golem Girl, "An extraordinary memoir suffused with generosity, consistent insight, and striking artwork."
Publisher Press Release: Golem Girl
Sep 11, 2020
Golem Girl was published by the One World imprint of Penguin/Random House. Christopher Jackson, publisher and senior editor, has established One World as a powerful home for literary social justice. Authors include Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ibram X Kendi, and Mira Jacob.
Mention: Code of the Freaks
Aug 27, 2020
Shout out from the folks at Code of the Freaks