For centuries women have always had to fight their way through oppression, and have had to do remarkable things in order to have their voices heard. The movement of women deserving to be treated better and with equality has been expressed by art in various different ways. This movement is called feminism. There are many women artists who have addressed the issues that women battle in their everyday lives: being belittled, gender roles, etc. Feminism has been a vocal movement but artist have made it a visual movement as well. Throughout centuries, artists that have passed away have made a contribution to the feminism movement but there's still many current artists that continue to do so today. An example of five contemporary artists that contribute to the movement of feminism through their art are: Barbara Kruger, Judy Chicago, Yayoi Kusama, Cindy Sherman, and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. These artist have had an important and phenomenal impact in the feminism movement and continue to empower many women today in modern society.
Barbara Kruger is an American artist from Newark, NJ who has contributed to the feminism movement. Her art uses the techniques of marketing and mass communication to address issues occurring in today’s society. With a combination of imagery and text, Kruger transforms her ideas into billboards to address and challenge viewers that see her work. She writes slogans that say “I shop therefore I am,” and “Your body is a battleground,”; these slogans appear in white letters against a red background. Kruger has made posters that support women’s rights on legal abortion. Specifically, her poster for the 1989 Women’s March on Washington. For this march, she used the slogan, “Your body is a battleground.” Barbara Kruger is a contemporary artist who has contributed to the movement of feminism through her exquisite and unique art. Kruger’s art represents power, identity, and sexuality.
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| Barbara Kruger, Untitled, 1981 This image acknowledges the male gaze and promotes ignoring the male gaze. This is an empowering image for women |
Judy Chicago is likewise another outstanding artist who has given phenomenal contributions not only to the art world but the feminism movement as well. She’s an American artist who is known for her empowering art and creations. She founded the first feminist art program in the United States. One of her famous works is called, “The Dinner Party,” installed at the Brooklyn Museum. The dinner party represents 39 historically famous women in a plate setting along a triangular table. Each woman has her own plate and a napkin with a unique embroidered gold edge. The Dinner Party celebrates the accomplishments of women throughout history which is something that should always be acknowledged. Judy Chicago is a legend and a very important contemporary artist that has contributed to the feminist movement with her art and ideas.
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| Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, 1979 This creation acknowledges historical women |
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is an American artist who is similar to Barbara Kruger. She is a contemporary artist who has contributed to the movement of feminism and is most well known for her ‘Stop Telling Women to Smile campaign.’ Not only is she an oil painter but she likewise works with street art. Fazlializadeh's street art uses visual art to address ongoing issues that continue to be ignored in our society today. Women all across the globe experience street harassment that makes them feel uncomfortable and unsafe and Tatyana gives them a voice through her art. She uses real women's voices and faces, and puts them in the street to not only remind other women that they're not alone but to remind men of the horrors women face everyday. Fazlalizadeh gives a voice to the women who are too afraid to speak for themselves, it reminds others that this is an issue that has not been solved and is still ongoing in our society.
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| Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Stop Telling Women To Smile This piece is one of Fazlalizadeh's street arts in NYC, it gives closure to women to know that they're not alone and educates the public on issues that are still happening today |
Cindy Sherman is a contemporary American artist who greatly contributes to the movement of feminism. She first began by painting but now her art consists of photographic self-portraits. Sherman’s work often contributes to the feminism movement; her photography captures attention to the objectification that is put on women in the media. What I found most interesting was her 2008 series, “Society Pictures” which addresses the obsession with female and beauty in American society. It is seen that Sherman’s work addresses the concept of the male gaze. Sherman’s work seems to address how the male gaze is something constantly portrayed in society although she claims those weren't her intentions. She claims she was simply addressing real problems going on in the United States.
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| Cindy Sherman, Untitled, 1979 In this image she portrays the ideal woman in the United States |
Yayoi Kusamat is an intersectional feminist and a contemporary artist. Kusama was born in Japan and is known for her paintings, drawings, sculptures, ect. Her art demonstrates attributes of feminism through pop art and abstract expressionism. She was first recognized to the public when she organized a series of art performances where naked participants were painted with brightly colored polka dots. Her work communicates her feminism, anti-war, and political ideologies. Kusamat shares her personal expereinces with sexism, mental illness, and sexuality, and how art allowed her to escape the struggles she went through. The artist sheds a light to the importance of not ignoring those who struggle with these problems.
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| Barbara Kruger, Untitled, 1989 |
Citations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kruger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Chicago
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