The entire month of March was dedicated to Women's History as the whole nation recognizes and celebrates women’s accomplishments and contribution throughout history. One way to spotlight women’s achievements is by showcasing their works of art. During the last week of March, Elevate Creative Studio, a pop-up contemporary art gallery located in Houston, Texas, hosted a one week event called The Art of a Woman Art Exhibition as a way to feature artworks created by or inspired by women.
I had the opportunity to attend and celebrate these women’s accomplishments by attending their opening reception and meeting different artists to discuss their artworks on display. Here are some of the artworks featured during the event.
I. Kloie O’Quinn’s Artist Nebula
This piece featured a Black woman while sitting on different colored clouds with stars above her, as if the entire universe revolves around her. What makes this piece unique compared to other artworks on display is the choice that the artist made as a pair of eyeglasses. Instead of creating clear lenses, the artist made a bold choice to use mirrors. Therefore, when you look closely, your own eyes become part of the piece.
II. Marshall Bradley’s Vitiligo Queen
I had the opportunity to speak with Bradley and discuss his artworks that were on display. His artworks showcase the beauty and diversity of Black skin. With his piece Vitiligo Queen, Bradley illustrates different shades of Black skin and the beauty of it. What I love about this piece is how well Bradley blended the colors together, making the woman in the canvas look naturally confident in her own skin.
III. Aelisha Cade
Next to Bradley were Cade’s artworks, and similarly to Bradley, I had the opportunity to speak to her about her artworks. What was so interesting about her works are the media she uses. She admitted that she loves everything that sparkles, from beads to gold leaves, and she usually incorporates that to her artworks. At the same time, she also admitted that she enjoys using Crayola crayons. Oftentimes, people associate crayons with children and coloring books, but for Cade, she finds beauty in common things and elevates them through her own works.
IV. Meagan Juric’s Free Spirit
Juric’s works involve using resin. Her Free Spirit art piece celebrates femininity and the female body. The woman in the art piece looks as if she is floating in water with the way her clothing clings to her body, emphasizing her curves.
V. Lexia Knowles’s Aesthetic AF and You Look Beautiful
These two art pieces from Knowles showcased the diversity of women’s beauty. I think the use of the color pink found in both artworks insinuates some form of femininity. With the art piece You Look Beautiful, the woman seems to be admiring her own beauty. As for Aesthetic AF, the woman gives off a strong sense of self and confidence.
VI. Cecilie Baxter’s Generations
What I find beautiful about this piece is how the artist showcases the beauty of motherhood. This piece was different from any other piece in the event. Oftentimes, artworks about women illustrate feminine beauty, but motherhood is a rare sight when it comes to portraying womanhood. The different fabrics on each woman illustrate their own differences, yet they bond over the similar understanding of motherhood.
Womanhood can be illustrated in various forms of art and these artworks mentioned above are just a few that stood out to me during the event, but that doesn’t mean that these artworks are the only ones that capture what it's like to be a woman. March shouldn’t be the only month where we celebrate womanhood, we should always be acknowledging the experiences of being a woman, and as a woman, I would like to end this piece with a famous quote, stating “nevertheless, she persisted.”
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