Elizabeth Catlett

Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) was an influential American artist known for her work in sculpture and printmaking. She was a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement, using her art to address themes of social justice and the African American experience. Catlett studied at Howard University and later at the University of Iowa, where she was mentored by Grant Wood. In 1946, she moved to Mexico, where she joined the Taller de Gráfica Popular, a collective of artists dedicated to social causes, and became a Mexican citizen in 1962. Her work, characterized by its powerful depictions of African American and Mexican women, has been celebrated for its emotional depth and political resonance. Catlett's legacy endures through her contributions to both American and Mexican art, as well as her role as a trailblazer for women and artists of color.