A voice for black liberation

On view at the Brooklyn Museum’s Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art and the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing until January 19th, 2025, Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies celebrates the life and work of the influential Black American artist and activist Elizabeth Catlett. This retrospective, co-organized with the National Gallery of Art, presents over 200 pieces, making it the most comprehensive showcase of Catlett’s art to date.

Catlett’s work—spanning printmaking and sculpture—was deeply informed by her experiences with racial and class inequalities from a young age. Her art embodies a dual commitment to aesthetics and activism, shaped by her unwavering dedication to social justice. After moving to Mexico in 1946, she became an advocate for both Black Americans and Mexican workers, using her art as a vehicle for political expression and cultural pride.

Highlights of the exhibition include Mother and Child (1944), a lithograph that powerfully captures the quiet resilience of a Black mother shielding her child. In this work, Catlett’s influence from artists like Käthe Kollwitz is evident, showcasing her skill in evoking emotional depth and strength. Another standout is The Black Woman series (1946–47), a suite of linocuts that reflect Black women’s historical experiences in the U.S. These prints are notable for their poetic titles and poignant imagery, each piece resonating with messages of struggle and endurance.

Catlett’s sculptural work further exemplifies her artistic prowess. Tired (1946), a terracotta piece of a weary woman seated with clasped hands, conveys both physical and emotional exhaustion—a tribute to the daily hardships faced by many Black women. Black Unity (1968) stands out as well; carved from cedar wood, it depicts two faces merging into a raised fist, a clear symbol of solidarity central to the Civil Rights Movement.

Organized by a distinguished curatorial team, the exhibition captures the scope of Catlett’s artistic evolution, highlighting her contributions as both an artist and an activist. Her works continue to speak to issues of racial justice and women’s rights, proving timeless in their relevance and impact.