Elizabeth Catlett's Art of Liberation: A Retrospective on Black Identity and Social Justice
A new art exhibit is dedicated to Elizabeth Catlett, highlighting her dual heritage from Africa and Mexico, which significantly influenced her creative expression. Catlett, who studied with Diego Rivera and married Francisco Mora, became an advocate for Mexican Muralism and social justice. Noteworthy pieces include her 1968 sculpture, Homage to My Black Sisters, on view at the Brooklyn Museum, and her linocut series, The Black Woman, from 1947, with notable prints showcased at the Whitney Museum. The exhibition also features influential works like Malcolm X Speaks for Us and Sharecropper, emphasizing her enduring impact as an artist and activist.
Key facts
- Elizabeth Catlett's art was deeply influenced by her African American and Mexican heritage.
- She was married to Francisco Mora and studied with Diego Rivera.
- Her 1968 sculpture Homage to My Black Sisters is in the Brooklyn Museum.
- The Black Woman series (1947) consists of 15 linocuts celebrating Black women.
- In Sojourner Truth I Fought for the Rights of Women as well as Negroes is from that series and is at the Whitney Museum.
- Malcolm X Speaks for Us (1969) is in the Museum of Modern Art.
- Sharecropper (1952) is at the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Phillis Wheatley (1973) and I Have Given the World my Songs (1946) are at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Entities
Artists
- Elizabeth Catlett
- Francisco Mora
- Diego Rivera
- Sojourner Truth
- Harriet Tubman
- Malcolm X
- Phillis Wheatley
Institutions
- Brooklyn Museum
- Taller de Gráfica Popular
- Whitney Museum of Art
- Museum of Modern Art
- Lusenhop Fine Art
- Art Institute of Chicago
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Stella Jones Gallery
- Toledo Museum of Art
- National Endowments for the Arts
Locations
- New York City
- USA
- Mexico
- Cleveland
- OH
- Chicago
- IL
- Washington, D.C.
- New Orleans
- LA
- Toledo