Judy Chicago on the Beatles: 'They represent things we have lost – hope and freedom'

For Sgt Pepper’s 50th anniversary, the great psychedelic visionary of feminist art has created a giant mop-top mural inspired by Fixing a Hole – a song that sums up what she has spent her entire career doing

When American artist Judy Chicago accepted an invitation earlier this year from the Tate to paint a large-scale public mural as part of Liverpool’s Sgt Pepper at 50 celebration of the Beatles’ most popular album, she was amused to hear of an exchange between two of the curators involved in the project. One of them said, “What is Judy going to do? Paint a giant vagina?” The other replied, “I hope so.”

Related: The Beatles: Sgt Pepper 50th Anniversary Edition review – peace, love and rock star ennui

Related: Beatlemania in 1964: 'This has gotten entirely out of control'