Three women's faces standing side-by-side. The two on either side are face each other and the middle one is facing straight ahead.
Elizabeth Catlett, J. K. Fine Art Editions Co., Joseph Kleineman, Maureen Turci, Links Together, 1996, lithograph on wove Arches paper, Purchased as the Gift of Art Information Volunteers in Honor of Dianne Stephens, 2021.63.1

Current Exhibition

Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist

Details

  • Dates

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  • Locations

    East Building

    East Building Concourse

  • Ticketing Information

    Admission is always free and passes are not required

Committed to both craft and causes, this visionary artist-activist continues to inspire us today.

One of the defining artists of the 20th century, Elizabeth Catlett addressed the injustices she witnessed and experienced in America and Mexico through her bold prints and dynamic sculptures. See more than 150 of her creations in this exhibition, including rarely seen paintings and drawings.

Trace the career of this cultural force—from her roots in Washington, DC, Chicago, and New York to the remarkable body of work she made during some 60 years in Mexico. In striving to make art for the people, Catlett put social justice at the very center of her work.

Explore selected works

  • Printed with black against cream-white paper, a woman pointing to our right nearly fills this vertical linocut. Her body is angled slightly to our right, and she looks off in that direction with hooded eyes. She has wide cheekbones, a thin upper lip, full lower lip, and her mouth is closed over a pointed chin. Her head is covered in a patterned cloth, and she wears a knee-length coat over a long skirt. A knapsack hangs across her torso, and she braces the barrel of a rifle with her right hand, to our left, as she points with the other hand. Two people with short, dark hair stand behind her and to our right. The front person wears pants, square-toed shoes, and a jacket over a shirt. Bracelet-like objects on his wrists could be broken shackles. The other person touches that man’s arm. A fourth person digs in the background to the left. The ground, trees, hills, and sky are dense flicks, slivers, and strokes. The artist signed the sheet in the bottom right corner under the image, “Elizabeth Catlett.”

Stories

Elizabeth Catlett in her studio, 1942

Article:  Who Is Elizabeth Catlett? 12 Things to Know

Meet a groundbreaking artist who made sculptures and prints for her people.

Video:  Master Printmaker LaToya Hobbs Creates a Woodblock Print Inspired by Elizabeth Catlett

Master printmaker LaToya Hobbs creates a woodblock print portrait of Naima Mora, referencing the sculpture Naima created by Elizabeth Catlett.

Events

Film Series :  Friday Afternoons with Elizabeth Catlett

Through June 27

A sculpture of a woman holding a small child in her lap.

Talks & Conversations:  The Sculpture of Elizabeth Catlett

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A man and a woman looking into each other's eyes with serious expressions on their faces.

Talks & Conversations:  Gallery Talk—Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist

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A boy and a girl playing with a ball.

Guided Tours:  Exhibition Tour—Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist

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A sculpture of a woman holding a small child in her lap.

Talks & Conversations:  The Sculpture of Elizabeth Catlett

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Group Tours :  Schedule a Group Tour of Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist

Publication

Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies

Add this revelatory look at the artist and her life to your library.

Read more

Organization
Organized by Brooklyn Museum and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in collaboration with Art Institute of Chicago.

Curated by Dalila Scruggs, Augusta Savage Curator of African American Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum; Catherine Morris, Sackler Senior Curator, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum; and Mary Lee Corlett, former Associate Curator of Modern Prints and Drawings (retired), National Gallery of Art with Rashieda Witter, Curatorial Assistant, National Gallery of Art, and Carla Forbes, Curatorial Assistant, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum.

Other Venues:

  • Brooklyn Museum of Art, 09/13/2024–01/19/2025
  • Art Institute of Chicago, 08/30/2025–01/04/2026

Sponsors
Leadership support has been generously provided by Lugano.

The exhibition is also made possible through support from Dr. N. Anthony and Robyn Coles, Sheila Johnson, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and the Henry Luce Foundation.

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