March is Women’s History Month. Come celebrate the accomplishments of women artists!
Women’s work and accomplishments should be celebrated and centered not just during Women’s History Month but all year round. Women have contributed to the art world for eons, and yet, a recent survey found that in the past decade, “only 11 percent of all work acquired by the country’s top museums was by women.” I encourage you to share these stories not just with your daughters but with all of your children and family members.
I’m sharing five women artists to inspire you and your kids this month. Take a dive into their lives and work through children’s books, art, and creating art of your own inspired by their practices.
Ruth Asawa
An influential sculptor and advocate of arts education, Ruth Asawa is known for her intricate hanging sculptures. Learn about her inspiring life story, investigate one of her iconic works of art, and create your own paper chain sculpture inspired by her practice.
READ:
A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa by Andrea D’Aquino
LOOK:
Untitled (S.270, Hanging Six-Lobed, Complex Interlocking Continuous Form within a Form with Two Interior Spheres), Ruth Asawa, 1955, refabricated 1957–1958 In the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York
CREATE:
Paper chain sculptures
- Materials: Strips of paper, stapler or tape or glue, drawing materials, string.
- How to: Draw or write designs onto your paper strips. Once complete, take a strip of paper and loop it into a circle, connecting the ends with a stapler, tape, or glue. Repeat the process and connect the next paper circle to the last. Continue to do this in different patterns and play around with the size of your circles. Attach string and hang to the ceiling or another part of your home.
Frida Kahlo
Known for her expressive portraits and paintings of the nature and artifacts of Mexico, Frida Kahlo is considered one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century. Read about her beloved pets, examine her self-portrait, and create your own self-portrait.
READ:
Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos by Monica Brown and John Parra
LOOK:
Fulang-Chang and I, Frida Kahlo, 1937 (assembled after 1939) In the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York
CREATE:
Self-portraits
- Materials: Any kind of paper, drawing or painting materials, a mirror.
- How to: Get inspired by your own reflection in the mirror. Notice the shapes, lines, and colors that make up your image. Use your drawing or painting materials to capture your self-portrait. Don’t worry as much about your portrait looking realistic, but focus on design elements that help to convey something about you as a person.
Yayoi Kusama
Permeating popular culture, Yayoi Kusama is an interdisciplinary artist, now best known for her playful and immersive installations. Discover her life story, gaze at one of her installations, and create art inspired by one of her iconic patterns.
READ:
Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity! by Sarah Suzuki and Ellen Weinstein
LOOK:
Infinity Mirrored Room – My Heart is Dancing into the Universe, Yayoi Kusama, 2018 In the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas. Watch a video of the installation here: Video
CREATE:
Dot paintings
- Materials: Paper, paint, tray, found objects such as cotton swabs, pencil eraser tips, pom poms, bubble wrap, cardboard tubes, etc.
- How to: Press one of your objects into paint and then press onto your paper. Experiment with these objects and notice the different kinds of dots you can make. Explore repeating patterns and color mixing during your process!
Georgia O’Keeffe
She has been called the mother of American modernism. Georgia O’Keeffe is known for landscapes and detailed abstract paintings of natural objects. Discover her story, admire one of her iconic paintings, and create your own nature drawing.
READ:
My Name is Georgia by Jeanette Winter
LOOK:
Birch Trees at Dawn on Lake George, Georgia O’Keeffe, 1925 In the collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri
CREATE:
Observational nature drawings
- Materials: Paper, drawing materials, magnifying glass, objects from nature
- How to: Examine one of your objects from nature under a magnifying glass. Notice lines, shapes, and colors up close. Draw your object, focusing on the details.
Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold is a painter, writer, sculptor, and performance artist. She is best known for her vivid narrative quilts. Read her fantastical autobiography in picture book form, marvel at her intricate quilt, and create your own collage quilt that tells a story.
READ:
LOOK:
Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach, Faith Ringgold, 1988 In the collection of the Guggenheim in New York, New York.
CREATE:
Collage quilts
- Materials: Different kinds of paper, scissors, glue or tape, drawing materials
- How to: Think of the story you wish to tell with images. Cut out the shapes and forms from paper that tell your story. Arrange them on a new page and secure them with glue or tape.
Share photos below of your child’s art inspired by these women artists!
