Title: A Brief History of Protest Art
Headings: A Brief History of Protest Art
A Brief History of Protest Art
From the Dadaists to Guerrilla Girls, here are the most politically impactful artists of the last century.
The Dadaists
Mexican Muralists
Jacob Lawrence
Gordon Parks
Danny Lyon
William Kentridge
Ana Mendieta
Guerrilla Girls
Feminist Studio Workshop
Carrie Mae Weems
Nancy Spero
PAD/D
Martha Rosler
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
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Content: A Brief History of Protest Art
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A Brief History of Protest Art
From the Dadaists to Guerrilla Girls, here are the most politically impactful artists of the last century. Rachel MacFarlane March 07, 2017
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In the current political climate, artists are finding ways to be involved in politics. With an American administration that called the support of art and humanities not “prudent”, the creative population are taking it upon themselves to prove that art plays a vital role in society. The result has been everything from individual actions, like Richard Prince’s denouncement of his work owned by Ivanka Trump, to exhibitions like The Knockdown Center ’s Nasty Women in Queens, New York that donated artwork sales to Planned Parenthood. As people are called into action on the street, some artists may want to put down the brushes, shut their laptops, and join. But they can also use their talent and vision to aid a movement. For example, artist Christo decided to walk away from a project that has cost $15 million of his own money, as well as over 20 years to create, in what the New York Times called “the art world’s biggest protest yet.” Action from other artists seems imminent. Could a move to snuff out art funding reveal a desire by the current administration to quiet critical voices? Throughout history, artists have participated as adamant reactionaries to unjust political actions.