ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Creative Clay’s Women in Art History exhibit celebrating Women’s History Month, opens March 11 during ArtWalk, St. Petersburg’s monthly event for galleries and art spaces.
Women in Art History features the women artists of Creative Clay. Creative Clay artists, working in teams and individually, created art inspired by women artists in art history.
“The creative process began with the contemporary artist learning the story of their chosen artist in the past,” said Jody Bikoff, Creative Clay Director of Exhibitions. “This included studying a life story, looking at images of artwork, and delving into research where often a past woman artist was under recognized. It was exciting to see how the artists approached their work. Sometimes, one piece of the past artist’s artwork became the inspiration for the contemporary artist’s new work. And for others, inspiration came from the entirety of the past artist’s work and life story.”
Creative Clay Teaching Artist Coral Walden partnered with Member Artist Hanna V. to pay tribute to Faith Ringgold through their collaboration.
“I’ve always been inspired by Ringgold’s activism and versatility as an artist,” said Walden. “She opened doors for Black artists, women artists, and folk artists simultaneously, and dissolved the barriers between fine art and political protest.”
Member Artist Hanna’s connection to Ringgold lies in the parallels between their artistic styles. Hanna’s two-dimensional figures and use of bold pattern and color are reminiscent of Ringgold’s Impressionist style.
“Hanna is especially drawn to Ringgold’s narrative quilts, which combine Hanna’s passions for painting and fabric art,” said Walden.
Other artists represented in this exhibit include Rosetta Thorpe, Hilma af Klimt, Hannah Höch, Pauline Boty, Kyeong Ja Cheon, Yayoi Kusama, and Frida Kahlo.
“The intention of this exhibit is to honor and elevate the women artists of our time, as well as the women artists of the past, who have often been under recognized and marginalized,” said Bikoff.
Artist teams include Coral Walden and Hanna V., Emily Turnage and Ivy J. and Stephanie P., Lisa Glaser and Lindsay J., Jung In Kang and Shasta G., Summer Kluytman and Carla L., and Julie Price and Grace P.
Following the March 11 opening, Women in Art History may be viewed at Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and in its virtual gallery on Creative Clay’s website. Art in Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery and its virtual gallery is available for purchase. Artists receive 50% commission on all works sold.
Learn more about Creative Clay at www.creativeclay.org. Follow Creative Clay on Facebook, on Instagram @creativeclaystpete, on Twitter @creativeclay, and on LinkedIn.