“You can’t sit around waiting for somebody else to say who you are. You need to write it and paint it and do it. That’s where the art comes from. It’s a visual image of who you are. That’s the power of being an artist.” —Faith Ringgold
Keeping on the theme of grande dames of black women activist artists, today we’re bringing you the inimitable Faith Ringgold. Born in 1930 into the heart of the Harlem Renaissance, Ringgold is an artist of diverse and prodigious talent. As well known for her activism and advocacy for woman artists and artists of color as for her groundbreaking art, Ringgold has seamlessly merged the two since her earliest paintings such as the American People Series (1963), and later in her story quilts, sculptures, performance art, and writings.
In this video from 2012, Makers sat down with the effervescent Ringgold to discuss fighting for what you believe in, her demand for artistic equality, and the importance of being proud of who you are.