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Judith and Her Maidservant by Artemisia Gentileschi,
1613, oil on canvas. |
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I'm not one to put artist before artwork. If I like the painting
or drawing, it has nothing to do with who the art-maker is.
But that doesn't mean that I don't believe in acknowledging
an incredible group of working artists past and present, all of whom happen to
be women. Here are a few of my favorite female artists and why I think they are
worth all the accolades they get and more.
Artemisia Gentileschi—Gentileschi is a titan of the Baroque
period. Working in the style of Caravaggio, for sure, she brought her own point of view to
the Biblical and mythical subjects of her day. She also had an eye for
capturing the perfect moment, as in Judith
and Her Maidservant, in which the hand holding the sword resting on
Judith's shoulder looks so natural, and the angle of the two figures' perfectly
indicates that they were startled by a noise behind them.
Louise Nevelson—The power of assemblage hits home to me in
Nevelson's work, and it says a lot that you know her work when you see it. It
is distinctive and unlike anything else I've seen in terms of iconography. Her
work can't be tied down to a movement or manifesto; it freely roams from Cubism
to Abstract Expressionism to Minimalism and others.
Sherrie McGraw—If I could steal anyone's hands, I'd make a
grab for McGraw's. Her abilities as a draftsman are truly inspiring, and she
creates such a delicate balance on paper, never stifling a drawing's openness
and ease, yet employing so much skill to get there. Her sketching techniques in Painting with the Masters were
a revelation to me. I've learned a lot from studying her work.
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The Road to Decoration City by Lisa Sanditz,
2008, acrylic on linen. |
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Lisa Sanditz—Sanditz does something that a lot of artists
are trying to do right now: blend representational qualities in their work with
abstraction. She must have really honed instincts or she goes through a lot of
canvas, because she just seems to get it right.
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Evening in Paris by Betye Saar,
2010, mixed media assemblage. |
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Betye Saar—I first knew of Saar through her assemblages,
which I was privileged to write about in the
June 2011 issue of
American Artist. But I've stayed an
ardent follower of hers because of her collages. They are incredibly poignant and
articulate strong and deep emotions so simply.
Lea Colie Wight—Unflinching is how I'd characterize Wight's
works, which are featured in the November 2010 issue of American Artist. She doesn't hesitate to look hard and peel away
the excess and fluff that mask what we really see. I'm especially drawn to her
self-portraits, which show a strong will and penetrating gaze, and have learned
a lot from her about how to make the most of a simple figural composition.
Our art history brims over with exceptional artists, and
these are just a few of them, but their contributions are amazing in and of
themselves. Plus these artists paved the way for those of us practicing
centuries later or who are carrying on the tradition in our own practices today. American Artist magazine is committed to
shining a light on notable and worthy artists across history, gender, race, and
creed, and the fact that many of the artists I love have been featured in the
magazine only reinforces what a living, breathing,
growing source of artistic inspiration this publication is. Enjoy!
Leave a comment telling me who your favorite female
artists are. I can't wait to see your top picks!