Let’s celebrate women artists There is so much power in art, especially in times of collective despair. Artists find a way to express what many of us cannot. They bring forth necessary thoughts and emotions that help us all feel a bit less alone. Art can foster resistance to oppressive systems. Art can lead to social change. Art can comfort us like a warm blanket. We are so grateful for women like these whose individual talents have such a large social impact. Barbara Kruger (slide 1) Kruger is a conceptual artist known for her bold, text-based works that merge art, activism, and graphic design to challenge power structures, consumerism, and gender politics. Her signature style is black-and-white photography overlaid with bold red-and-white text. Pieces like “Your Body is a Battleground” and “I Shop Therefore I Am” have cemented her as a leading voice in socially engaged art. Guerilla Girls (slides 2 + 3) This anonymous group of women artists uses posters, billboards, and public installations to call out sexism and racism in the art world and beyond. Their work is heavily text-based, satirical, and visually striking. Carrie Mae Weems (slides 4 + 5) Weems is known for her photography and text-based installations that address race, gender, and historical narratives. Her work focuses on reclaiming Black women’s perspectives that have been erased from history. Adrian Piper (slide 6 + 7) Piper is a conceptual artist whose work challenges racial and gender stereotypes, often using a mix of photography, text, and installation. Tatyana Fazlalizadeh (slide 8) Fazlalizadeh is the creator of “Stop Telling Women to Smile,” a street art campaign addressing gender-based harassment. She uses large-scale wheat-paste portraits of women with direct statements. Shirin Neshat (slide 9) Neshat is an Iranian visual artist known for her powerful photography and film work that confronts themes of gender, exile, and political oppression, specifically in the Middle East.