Honoring Female Artists

This month is Women’s History month to celebrate or honor women’s accomplishments and contributions. March has been Women’s history month since 1987, and continues to be celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, etc. International Women’s Day is also on March 8. 

Over the years, art has changed dramatically. From Renaissance, to Romanticism, to modern. The few women listed are amazing artists who’ve impacted other artists and the art of today.

Frida Kahlo

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954) Most commonly known as Frida Kahlo, was a Mexican painter who created many self portraits. She was born in Coyoacan, Mexico City, Mexico, to a German photographer, Wilhelm, and her mother  Matilde. 

At an early age, Kahlo quickly loved art and drew in sketchbooks. She was given art lessons from printmaker, Fernando Fernández, also her father’s friend. With these lessons, she began to work outside of school as a stenographer to help out her family. Fernando was extremely shocked with her art, but Kahlo was not interested in the career at that time. 

Kahlo began painting after a tragic bus accident. She was in the hospital for two months with fractured ribs, legs, and collarbone. From there, she created more than 30 portraits. 

“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”

Madame Le Brun

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (April 16, 1755 – March 30, 1842) also known as Madame Le Brun, was a French portrait painter from the late 18th century. She was born in Paris, and was  the daughter of a hairdresser, Jeanne. Her father, Louis Vigee, was also a painter, he was the first person to ever introduce Elisabeth to art. By her early teenage years, she was already painting portraits professionally. 

Her elegant and beautiful style made her one of the most popular painters in France during the 18th century. She grew more in popularity when she began painting for the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. She soon became the Queen’s favorite portrait painter and ultimately created 30 portraits of her. Although, due to the overthrow of the Royal family in 1789, Elisabeth traveled to Italy with her daughter to avoid chaos. In 1802, she finally returned to Paris.

“But I could now paint no longer; my broken spirit, bruised with so many horrors shut itself entirely to my art.”

Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe (November 15, 1887 – March 6, 1986) was an American artist known for her mesmerizing enlarged paintings of flowers, landscapes, and New York skyscrapers. She has been recognized as the “Mother of American Modernism.” She was born in the town of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to two dairy farmers, Francis Calyxtus O’Keeffe and Ida O’Keeffe. 

Georgia would receive art lessons at home by local watercolorist, Sara Mann. Throughout her school years, teachers quickly recognized her unique ability and talent. After graduation, she was determined to become a professional artist. She first attended the Art Institute of Chicago, then Art Students League in New York. She created many paintings throughout her career, and also taught art classes. 

In 1932, Georgia took a break from her career due to her nervous breakdowns. She was heartbroken over her husband, Alfred Steiglitz, having an affair. She was hospitalized for depression, and was then admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She did not paint again until January 1934, and in 1936 she completed her best-known paintings, Summer Days. 

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”