African American Women Artists
African American women are generally either acknowledged only in passing or are erased altogether by the “official” world of the visual arts. For the vast majority, the depth of their artistic commitment and the authenticity of their interest in art have been questioned. African American women artists have often been excluded due to the preconceived notions of what art is supposed to be and who is qualified to be an artist. Despite such discouragement, African American women artists not only exist but they possess strong artistic voices. These voices can be heard through a number of artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Adrian Piper, Faith Ringgold and Augusta Savage. These women are making their voices heard through the form of sculpture, photography, lithographs, paintings, and other forms of visual media. Many of their works of art are interpretations by strong women who could serve as role models. Often they are depictions of sexuality or are about racism.
In the 1970’s African American women artists gained increasing recognition. There where various large exhibitions held at the Boston Museum of Fine Art and at the LaJolla Museum. The Studio Museum, which was founded in Harlem in 1968, became a major exhibition place for women artists after 1971. But even though these women enjoyed greater critical attention from the 1970’s onward, their works were generally shown in a separate fashion. Even today, they have yet to gain acceptance in the mainstream of contemporary art.