In honor of Women’s History Month, the National Museum of Women in the Arts launched a social media campaign called #5womenartists to help the public answer the question — without hesitation — “Can you name five women artists?” We asked our staff and faculty to share some of their favorite female artists, and we’d love hear about yours!
Name: Goreti da Silva
Discipline: Theater
Favorite Female Artist: Carol Burnett
What about this female artist’s work, life, and/or career inspire(s) you personally and professionally?
She was the first comedic actress I saw on TV. Family time was spent watching The Carol Burnett Show and laughing out loud. I was inspired by the fact that she played female characters that weren’t beautiful; she made me want to do the same thing: make people laugh.
Name: Heather Lowe
Discipline: Visual Arts
Favorite Female Artist: Helen Lundeberg
What about this female artist’s work, life, and/or career inspire(s) you personally and professionally?
My work has been influenced by many great women artists including Bridget Riley, Berthe Morisot, Claire Falkenstein, and Mary Cassatt. I chose Helen Lundeberg (1908-1999) because her mastery of California light can be matched by no one. Her compositions are always surprising and subtle. Her oeuvre is so broad, covering figurative art, conceptual art, surrealism, and abstract art. Lundeberg was a woman of both integrity and humility. She was also an art activist, completing the manifesto of the Post-Surrealist group in the 1930’s. Although she was sometimes overshadowed by her husband’s (Lorser Feitelson) reputation, she has recently received much more museum exposure.
This month, the Laguna Museum will be organizing the first comprehensive exhibition of her work, which will be on display until May 2016. In an interview conducted by Jan Butterfield, Lundeberg said, “I want the painting, as a whole, to have a subjective entity. It has to have some magic for me. Sometimes it works for other people. I’m not interested in merely a fine, formal visual arrangement. I want something more to happen.”
My own work goes through many transformations and her work has inspired me at every stage. Her use of color and beautiful formal structures are qualities I often refer to when I am working out a composition. Her point of view is always subjective, which is a rare quality in what is now termed “hard-edge” abstraction.
Name: Mariel Lacson
Discipline: Visual Arts
Favorite Female Artist: Amy Cutler
What about this female artist’s work, life, and/or career inspire(s) you personally and professionally?
Amy Cutler’s work inspires me because her paintings often depict women working or being in normally odd and dangerous places, but the calm and placid looks on their faces show how strong and unfazed they are by the situation. The strength and fortitude of the women in Cutler’s work inspires me to be more resilient in the face of adversity.
Name: Amy Knutson
Discipline: Theater
Favorite Female Artist: Anne Bogart
What about this female artist’s work, life, and/or career inspire(s) you personally and professionally?
Anne Bogart is one of my favorite directors! She’s the Co-Artistic Director for the SITI Company, and her work is heavily movement-based. Anne is well known for developing an improvisational, ensemble-building technique called Viewpoints, which is based on Mary Overlie’s Six Viewpoints of Dance. I’ve found using Viewpoints incredibly helpful as a director and actor, and I’m always inspired by the productions Bogart creates.
Name: Jen Leitch
Discipline: Feminist/Performance/Public Art
Favorite Female Artist: Suzanne Lacy
What about this female artist’s work, life, and/or career inspire(s) you personally and professionally?
Throughout her career, Suzanne Lacy has actively collaborated with other artists, the media, and the local communities in which she works to make productive commentary on social and political issues. Lacy is able to build community through her artistic process, and as a nonprofit practitioner, her commitment to relationships and collectivity is a good reminder of the power and impact we have when we work together.
Name: Donna Singleton
Discipline: Creative Writing
Favorite Female Artist: Maya Angelou
What about this female artist’s work, life, and/or career inspire(s) you personally and professionally?
For decades, Ms. Angelou engaged millions through her written autobiographies, her novels, and the spoken word. Whether it be on the big screen or delivering President Clinton’s Inaugural Address, her words shall — even in death — remain poignant. Ms. Angelou’s early life was tumultuous; a childhood of suffering and abuse drove her to mute her voice for five years. She found her ‘voice’ in writing and, in developing those skills, she helped generations worldwide to find their rainbows amidst the clouds. Ms. Angelou pushed forward to become an accomplished, revered, and spirit-filled citizen of the world.
Ms. Angelou’s various artistic works are gifts of wisdom, courage, and grace that have positively impacted my life both professionally and personally. Her life story served me well in understanding the cycles of life, the value of service, humility, and love and grace in all things.
