Women artist of today have had so many different barriers in place that have
made it difficult for them to promote their work. Lack of promotion leads to a lack of representation.
While women have been in the art world for centuries it has been difficult for them to be known for work
outside of their womanhood. Artist like Adrian Piper,Yoko Ono,Kara Walker,Danielle Ridley and Mickalene Thomas.
Each one of these women is a woman of color,whose work is dedicated to examining race and gender.
These women are still creating art today and are from different time periods. Whit Yoko Ono’s work
beginning in the 1960’, Piper’s in the 80’s, Walker in the 90’s, Thomas early 00’s Ridley 2016.
Their work is has similar themes yet is extremely different.
made it difficult for them to promote their work. Lack of promotion leads to a lack of representation.
While women have been in the art world for centuries it has been difficult for them to be known for work
outside of their womanhood. Artist like Adrian Piper,Yoko Ono,Kara Walker,Danielle Ridley and Mickalene Thomas.
Each one of these women is a woman of color,whose work is dedicated to examining race and gender.
These women are still creating art today and are from different time periods. Whit Yoko Ono’s work
beginning in the 1960’, Piper’s in the 80’s, Walker in the 90’s, Thomas early 00’s Ridley 2016.
Their work is has similar themes yet is extremely different.
Adrian Piper’s work literally defies space, work like cornered redefine the space that the audience shares
with the artist. In Piper’s video Cornered she controls the space of the gallery, propping a t.v. for display as
she talks directly to the audience. Piper is not afraid to confront the issue regarding race in the United States.
Using her identity as a passing black woman she confronts the issues in regards to how we perceptually
understand race. Refusing to allow the world to simply define African- Americans and reshaping the literal
image of what the world expects perceptually of blackness. Piper is not afraid of doing this simply in the
Gallery but she also used her art in her everyday life. Handing out what she calls her calling card.
The card tells people that she is black and is present in an attempt to make many uncomfortable who are
afraid of being around blacks. Overall her work refuses the racist ideologies of the world and centers black-
ness as the discussion.
with the artist. In Piper’s video Cornered she controls the space of the gallery, propping a t.v. for display as
she talks directly to the audience. Piper is not afraid to confront the issue regarding race in the United States.
Using her identity as a passing black woman she confronts the issues in regards to how we perceptually
understand race. Refusing to allow the world to simply define African- Americans and reshaping the literal
image of what the world expects perceptually of blackness. Piper is not afraid of doing this simply in the
Gallery but she also used her art in her everyday life. Handing out what she calls her calling card.
The card tells people that she is black and is present in an attempt to make many uncomfortable who are
afraid of being around blacks. Overall her work refuses the racist ideologies of the world and centers black-
ness as the discussion.
Adrian Piper My Calling (card) 1986
Adrian Piper Cornered 1988
Yoko Ono is known for her performance art. Ono is also famous for her political protest pieces.
Ono uses her work to tell the truth about the world as it continues to evolve into a war machine.
Using music as another outlet to express her message. Ono’s most known piece premiered in front of an
audience in 1964. Where Ono allowed audience members to cut away at her clothing. Using her literal
body as a part of the performance. Ono takes the art away from the canvas and shows the world her
literal flesh. By doing so she challenges the patriarchal standards that have been used to bind women’s
bodies to a certain appearance. Ono is unique in the sense that she centers the body as the art. With her
approach of healing and meditation, she is known for peaceful and tranquil approaches to the world.
Ono has been criticized for her feminist politics but has continued her work regardless of the backlash that
she has received.
Ono uses her work to tell the truth about the world as it continues to evolve into a war machine.
Using music as another outlet to express her message. Ono’s most known piece premiered in front of an
audience in 1964. Where Ono allowed audience members to cut away at her clothing. Using her literal
body as a part of the performance. Ono takes the art away from the canvas and shows the world her
literal flesh. By doing so she challenges the patriarchal standards that have been used to bind women’s
bodies to a certain appearance. Ono is unique in the sense that she centers the body as the art. With her
approach of healing and meditation, she is known for peaceful and tranquil approaches to the world.
Ono has been criticized for her feminist politics but has continued her work regardless of the backlash that
she has received.
Cut Piece 1964
Bad Dancer 2013
Kara Walker is known for her work with Shadow like images. Using faceless black silhouettes to display
powerful messages. Walkers use of shadows can be for numerous reasons. Refusing to put a face to the
black silhouette has a larger meaning. As the images sge uses are often telling a story that can only be i
nterpreted by the viewers. One of Walkers most famous pieces of work was her Sugar Sphinx.
The Sphinx was created out of sugar in the Dominos sugar factory. Where the sugar sphinx was created.
The Sphinx has received both negative and positive criticism. Using the stereotypical image of
Aunt Jemima with the scarf tied around the forehead it is clear that the Sphinx is a representation of the
“Mammy”. Many think the work was problematic because of the audience’s reaction to the piece.
Some recordings showed how viewers ridiculed and laughed at the Sphinx.
Many believe these reactions are problematic to the purpose of the art.
powerful messages. Walkers use of shadows can be for numerous reasons. Refusing to put a face to the
black silhouette has a larger meaning. As the images sge uses are often telling a story that can only be i
nterpreted by the viewers. One of Walkers most famous pieces of work was her Sugar Sphinx.
The Sphinx was created out of sugar in the Dominos sugar factory. Where the sugar sphinx was created.
The Sphinx has received both negative and positive criticism. Using the stereotypical image of
Aunt Jemima with the scarf tied around the forehead it is clear that the Sphinx is a representation of the
“Mammy”. Many think the work was problematic because of the audience’s reaction to the piece.
Some recordings showed how viewers ridiculed and laughed at the Sphinx.
Many believe these reactions are problematic to the purpose of the art.
Danielle Ridley is a black local Florida artist who sells her work on etsy. Using sharpies are her primary tool
of choose. Her art is far from simple despite the simple tools she uses. She plays with concepts of
afro-futurism. Using outer space and alien like features on her black subjects. Taking them from the
present to the future. Ridley is also known for her ability to counteract beauty standards.
Utilizing a variety of skin tones and sizes of subjects. Showing the unlimited possibilities of black bodies.
While also fighting abelist notions of the world. Many of Ridley’s subject’s are disabled and not viewed
beautiful by society. Ridley refuses the norms of the world in a sense recreating her own through her
art work. Even though she uses sharpies her work has the ability to leap off of the page.
Using vibrant colors and stars and shapes to show something very out of this world. Ridley Gallery
of choose. Her art is far from simple despite the simple tools she uses. She plays with concepts of
afro-futurism. Using outer space and alien like features on her black subjects. Taking them from the
present to the future. Ridley is also known for her ability to counteract beauty standards.
Utilizing a variety of skin tones and sizes of subjects. Showing the unlimited possibilities of black bodies.
While also fighting abelist notions of the world. Many of Ridley’s subject’s are disabled and not viewed
beautiful by society. Ridley refuses the norms of the world in a sense recreating her own through her
art work. Even though she uses sharpies her work has the ability to leap off of the page.
Using vibrant colors and stars and shapes to show something very out of this world. Ridley Gallery
Frida of Dias De Los Muertos Poster 2018
Green Butterfly Goddess 2017
Galaxy Hair 2018
Mickalene Thomas is known for her display of the black female body.
Using literal images and recreations Thomas reappriates old European art and recreates it with a black
subject. Redefining the images that are present in the art world. Thomas is known for working outside of
the box. Her uses of acrylic,rhinestone and photography make her work stand out. Thomas is in a sense
a culture jammer as she takes past events and re conceptualized them for the present while adding black
people to the equation. She is also known for her mixed media collages where she takes photos and other
images and combines them to make one image. Thomas is also known for her photography sometimes
using naked images of black women. Thomas also shows queer love and aesthetics through her work.
Displaying the love and relationships of queer black women.
Using literal images and recreations Thomas reappriates old European art and recreates it with a black
subject. Redefining the images that are present in the art world. Thomas is known for working outside of
the box. Her uses of acrylic,rhinestone and photography make her work stand out. Thomas is in a sense
a culture jammer as she takes past events and re conceptualized them for the present while adding black
people to the equation. She is also known for her mixed media collages where she takes photos and other
images and combines them to make one image. Thomas is also known for her photography sometimes
using naked images of black women. Thomas also shows queer love and aesthetics through her work.
Displaying the love and relationships of queer black women.
MICKALENE THOMASMama Bush: (Your love keeps lifting me) higher and higher, 2009
rhinestone, acrylic and enamel on panel
MICKALENE THOMASLeft Behind, 2010
mixed media collage
MICKALENE THOMASShow Me What You Got, 2011
mixed media collage
Overall these women are all phenomenal and have contributed tremendously to the art world.
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