Celebrating Black Women Artists: Visionaries Who Inspire and Create

Title

Title

Celebrating Black Women Artists: Visionaries Who Inspire and Create

Feb 3, 2025

Black women artists have long been at the forefront of creativity, using their voices, visions, and talents to shape the art world in powerful ways. From bold visual storytelling to deeply personal works that challenge and inspire, their contributions deserve to be celebrated not just during Black History Month but all year round. At Bon Femmes, I'm always happy to highlight some incredible Black women artists making waves, pushing boundaries, and sharing their unique perspectives through their work. Whether through painting, illustration, mixed media, or sculpture, these artists continue to redefine and reimagine what art can be.

Faith Ringgold, Who's afraid of aunt jemima

Image via Faith Ringgold

Image via Uzo Njoku

Title

Lina Iris Viktor: Reimagining the Past to Shape the Future

Title

Image via Lina Iris Viktor

Lina Iris Viktor is a Liberian-British multidisciplinary artist whose work masterfully intertwines contemporary and ancient art forms. Living and working in Italy, Viktor’s art is a fusion of painting, sculpture, photography, and performance, often adorned with 24-carat gold. Her pieces explore philosophical themes of time, existence, and identity, blending historical narratives with a futuristic vision.

Viktor’s use of black as a primary element challenges sociopolitical preconceptions, positioning it as an origin of life and a powerful artistic statement. Drawing inspiration from West African traditions, ancient Egyptian iconography, and European portraiture, her art bridges the divine and mortal realms. Viktor’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, solidifying her place as a trailblazer in contemporary art.

Image via Lina Iris Viktor

Faith Ringgold: Storytelling Through Art and Activism

Title

Faith Ringgold (1930-2024) was a groundbreaking artist, author, and activist whose work redefined the intersection of fine art and storytelling. Born in Harlem, Ringgold used painting, quilting, sculpture, and performance to explore themes of race, gender, and social justice. Her quilts, including the iconic Who’s Afraid of Aunt Jemima?, blended narrative and textile art, making space for Black stories within the larger art historical canon. She was also an acclaimed children’s book author, with Tar Beach becoming a beloved classic. Ringgold’s art, deeply inspired by African traditions, Tibetan tankas, and her travels across the world, created a bridge between history and contemporary identity. Her work is featured in major collections, including the Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. With over 100 awards and honors, her impact on the art world is immeasurable, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of artists.

Image via Faith Ringgold

Image via Faith Ringgold

Uzo Njoku: Patterns, Color, and Representation

Title

Uzo Njoku is a Nigerian-American visual artist known for her mesmerizing use of patterns and vibrant depictions of melanin-rich figures. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moving to the U.S. at the age of seven, Njoku’s work seamlessly blends bold colors, intricate motifs, and striking compositions that celebrate beauty and identity. Her artistic practice extends beyond painting, influencing apparel design, and a variety of creative products. With a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of Virginia, she now resides in New York, where she continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art. Njoku’s work is a testament to her ability to create contrast and depth, using hypnotic patterns to craft immersive pieces that captivate and empower.

via Uzo Njoku

Image via Uzo Njoku

Jordan Casteel

Title

Image via Jordan Casteel

Image Via Jordan Casteel

Jordan Casteel (b. 1989, Denver, CO) is an incredible artist who got her BA in Studio Art from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, in 2011, and her MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Yale School of Art in New Haven, CT, in 2014. In 2020, she had a fantastic solo exhibition called "Within Reach" at the New Museum in New York. The exhibition came with a beautifully illustrated catalogue that included interviews and essays by well-known figures like Thelma Golden, Dawoud Bey, Lauren Haynes, and Amanda Hunt.

Image via Jordan Casteel

Deborah Roberts: Challenging Beauty Standards and Identity

Title

Deborah Roberts is a mixed-media artist whose work dismantles and reimagines traditional notions of beauty, identity, and representation. Combining found images with hand-drawn and painted details, she creates powerful hybrid figures—often young Black girls and boys—who navigate the intersection of societal pressures and self-discovery. Roberts' work critiques how mainstream media and historical depictions have shaped perceptions of race and femininity, confronting myths and stereotypes head-on. Her collages, which blend elements of art history and pop culture, challenge ideals of universal beauty and push for greater inclusion and dignity. Roberts’ art is part of major collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and LACMA, cementing her influence in contemporary art.

Image via Ampersand Art

Image via Deborah Roberts

Image via Deborah Roberts

Bisa Butler

Title

Bisa Butler is an award-winning African American textile artist known for her vibrantly stunning, larger-than-life quilted portraits that captivate viewers worldwide. Born in Orange, New Jersey, and raised in South Orange, Butler’s artistic talent was recognized early when she won a blue ribbon in an art competition at the age of four. She graduated Cum Laude from Howard University with a Bachelor’s in Fine Art, refining her talents under renowned lecturers and experimenting with fabric and collage techniques.

She later earned a Master’s in Art from Montclair State University in 2005, where a Fiber Arts class inspired her to focus on quilt-making. Influenced by her mother and grandmother, Butler created her first portrait quilt for her grandmother and has been dedicated to this art form ever since. Butler also spent over a decade teaching art in Newark Public Schools and Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey.

via My Modern Net

Image via Mt Holyoke College Art Museum

Amy Sherald

Title

via National Museum of Women in the Arts

Born in Columbus, Georgia, and now based in the New York City area, Amy Sherald captures the contemporary African American experience in the United States through her stunning and intimate portraits. Her work engages with the history of photography and portraiture, encouraging viewers to rethink accepted notions of race and representation and to see Black life as an integral part of American art.

Sherald earned her MFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art and her BA in painting from Clark-Atlanta University. In 2016, she made history as the first woman and first African American to win the grand prize in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition from the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.

Image via National Portrait Gallery

The contributions of these Black women artists continue to shape the art world in transformative ways. Their works challenge norms, celebrate identity, and invite critical dialogue about race, beauty, and history. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s take the time to engage with and support Black women artists—by learning their stories, sharing their work, and recognizing the lasting impact they have on both art and culture. Their creativity not only enriches the artistic landscape but also empowers future generations to express themselves without limits.

- Omotola Akinbiyi