Art Against Ageism

On International Women's Day, we honor and celebrate great female activist artists. Barbara Kruger, born in New Jersey in 1945, began her training at the School of Art at Syracuse University in 1964, continuing her art and design studies in 1965 at Parsons School of Design in New York under?Diane Arbus?and?Marvin Israel. Her artistic style mimics and simultaneously mocks propaganda by turning it into protest.? Through her art, Kruger questions who has a voice in society—and how. Her portfolio of lithographs?Untitled (We will no longer be seen and not heard), from 1985, assigns a word from the work’s title to each image, suggesting a vaguely recognizable sign language. The work exhibits Kruger’s desire “to ruin certain representations” of hierarchical roles through its contradictory message: viewers may guess who the speaker is and who is included in the “we.” Learn more about Kruger here: https://lnkd.in/ehqh_Tj6 #IWD2025

Today marks the last day of Black History Month. In light of the political and cultural climate of today, we thought it was appropriate — and important— to feature the activist art of Emory Douglas, a revolutionary artist who served as the Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party, where he began creating iconography to represent Black-American oppression. According to the Museum of Modern Art, Douglas "helped define the aesthetics of protest at the height of the Civil Rights era, cementing his status among the 20th century’s most influential radical political artists.” Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he designed all but one of the Party’s newspapers, "each issue marked by the artist’s bold, figurative illustrations outlined in thick black line and contrasted with bright colors, block text, and photomontage. The clearly rendered imagery, applied to a range of printed media from newspapers to posters, notecards, and pins, became a hallmark of liberation movements around the world, as supporters calling for an end to the oppression and subjugation of Black, Indigenous, and other communities sought to project a spirit of shared struggle through a common artistic vocabulary." A 2016 New York Times article noted how the Black Panther Party’s most potent weapons in its outreach to African-Americans in cities across the country was its artwork. “In posters, pamphlets and its popular newspaper, The Black Panther, the party’s imagery was guided by the vision of Emory Douglas, its minister of culture,” the article states. As the U.S. Department of Education yesterday launched an “End DEI” portal on its website, we stand in PROTEST with the knowledge that “art is a powerful tool, a language that can be used to enlighten, inform and guide to action.” Let us continue to make art that enlightens, that informs, that protests, and that speaks truth to power. Learn more about Douglas here: https://lnkd.in/eGa4W5Jr #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #DEI #artisticactivism

Please take a look at our latest newsletter, which contains updates about our upcoming appearances with the Own Your Age Photo Booth and presentations at conferences and other events. Our first photo booth installation will take place at the Expose Dementia: ART of the Matter conference by C. Nathaniel Brown. This inspiring multimedia arts tour, which will have its first stop in Baltimore in late March, celebrates creativity in the dementia space. Headlining the festival is "Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community," a powerful documentary exploring the need for education and awareness within the community. More on the conference here: https://lnkd.in/e3vTgc7y. Read about our news, appearances, and of course artistic activism, here: https://conta.cc/3D2jel2.

Thank you for sharing our work, Margaret McDonald! Please sign up for our news and updates here: https://lnkd.in/e97G-sNX

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month????????, we reflect on the resilience, achievements, and cultural contributions of Black artists. At?Art Against Ageism, we believe in the power of creativity to challenge stereotypes and build a more inclusive world—because art transcends race, age, and barriers. Art creates an atheistically pleasing pathway to raising awareness and creating change. Let’s uplift Black voices, share stories, and continue advocating for justice and equity among all generations. Today's featured artist is Betye Saar, an American artist known for her powerful assemblages exploring African American identity, spirituality, and cultural narratives. She transforms found objects into evocative works that challenge racial and gender stereotypes. Her iconic piece,?The Liberation of Aunt Jemima?(1972), reclaims racist imagery as a symbol of empowerment. Saar's work continues to address themes of history, mysticism, and resistance, cementing her legacy in contemporary art. Sources: Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, Glenstone Museum #BlackHistoryMonth #ArtAgainstAgeism #RepresentationMatters #HistoryInTheMaking

In recognition of Black history month, we are excited to celebrate Black artists throughout history who have used their work as tools for social change. Similar to Art Against Ageism’s mission, Black artists have challenged injustices, preserved cultural heritage, and inspired movements. Their art—whether through music, visual arts, literature, or performance—has served as a medium for protest, education, and empowerment. The work of Art Against Ageism is often inspired by Black artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou, who exposed injustice and racism through their painting, photography, literature, poetry and more. Contemporary artists such as Kendrick Lamar (with?“To Pimp a Butterfly”) and Beyoncé (with “Lemonade”) have addressed systemic racism, police brutality, and Black identity in their work. Today’s highlight is?Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000).?As a painter, storyteller, and interpreter, Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic?cubism,” influenced by the shapes and colors of Harlem. According to WikiArt, “he brought the African American experience to life using blacks and browns juxtaposed with vivid colors.” Lawrence was also professor at the University of Washington for 15 years. At 25 years old, he gained national recognition with his 60-panel Migration Series, painted on cardboard depicting?the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North, highlighting the struggles and aspirations of the migrants.?A part of this series was featured in a 1941 issue of?Fortune. Source: Whitney Museum of American Art (whitney.org) and WikiArt (https://lnkd.in/efeTT83X) #ArtisticActivism #ArtThatMoves #ChangeThroughArt #BlackHistoryMonth

Do you want to build friendly communities for #OlderPeople? ?? Then check out our “Let’s Go” guide. It's packed with ideas and guidance on how to engage with older people and improve communities for all ages! ?? https://ow.ly/sAGP50QiPum

As we close out another year of aging, we took a look back at the last 12 months of tackling ageism through art and creativity. We are immensely grateful to our steadfast supporters, particularly GreySource, Center for Innovation: The Green House Project and Pioneer Network, The Eden Alternative, A.G. Rhodes, and many others! #artthattacklesageism

We are in ?? with the beautiful artistic activism at the NYU Kimmel Center Windows display “What Is Age?” More than a dozen windows tell the story of ageism — how it manifests in systems, the media, and among individuals. Curated by Stacey Gordon and perfectly illustrated by Aubrey Hirsch, this project is informative and educational. More details about it here: https://lnkd.in/e_H3dBM5