Women in Art

Introduction

Art is more than just pretty it s powerful! Everything around us, whether you realize it or not, has been touched by an artist. The building you live in, that billboard on the street, the pattern on your shirt all started as concepts in an artist s mind. Many think that our ability to express ourselves creatively is what makes humans special. Both men and women have been creating art since the cave paintings of prehistoric times. Yet throughout history, women have been excluded from the story of humanity s creative expression. The women in this book had to fight sexism, classism, and racism to have their art be seen, taken seriously, and appreciated. Through their struggle to be seen, their art has made history.

Art informs our culture and either confirms or challenges our expectations of what we consider normal. Throughout history, powerful institutions all over the world have employed artists to make sure their story was told properly. Whether it was royalty spending a fortune during the Renaissance to make sure paintings depicted them perfectly, or major corporations today spending millions of dollars on advertisements to sell their products, art is a tool wielded to get a clear message across to the masses. 

What happens when people take the power of art back? Many women in this book have used their talent to tell truths, to talk about injustice, and to bring visibility to the unseen, because that is when new ideas can spread and the world can begin to change for the better.

Art can be used to empower and celebrate heroes. During the height of segregation in America, many artists, including Elizabeth Catlett, were denied entry into universities due to racist policies. But Elizabeth was determined to make art that celebrated black people, and she portrayed them with beauty and strength. Today, her art depicting black leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman has been shown in museums around the world. 

Art

Rachel Ignotofsky is a New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and designer. Rachel and her work have been featured in many print and online media outlets such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, Science Friday, Brain Pickings, and more. She is the author of Women in Science, Women in Sports, Women in Art, I Love Science, and The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth. She is a graduate of Tyler School of Art’s graphic design program.

It s eye-opening and awe-inspiring to see how women artists have shaped the world over the centuries. Rachel Ignotofsky splendidly captures that in her phenomenal book Women in Art. From the first page to the last page, I saw icons I ve loved, like Zaha Hadid and Alma Thomas, and learned more about artists such as Loïs Mailou Jones. This book is a visual treasure for women across all generations. Jasmin Hernandez, founder of Gallery Gurls
 
With charming illustrations, fun facts, and a comprehensive collection of cool creatives, Rachel Ignotofsky s Women in Art will inspire, inform, and ignite imagination in the minds of the littles and bigs in your life. Justina Blakeny, designer, artist, author, and founder of Jungalow
 
Rachel Ignotofsky s Women in Art is that rare, perfect marriage of medium and message. Fifty true and inspiring stories of artful women, artfully told. Fun to read and to behold, this book is a delightful expression of the fact that, in Ignotofsky s words, Art is more than just something beautiful it shapes and reflects our world. Bridget Quinn, author of Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History (in That Order)