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Artist Exiled for Activism, Then Honored by Oprah
20 Apr
Summary
- Elizabeth Catlett was exiled for nearly a decade due to her views.
- Her work gave voice and dignity to Black women and the working class.
- Her granddaughter is directing a documentary about her life.
Elizabeth Catlett, an influential sculptor and printmaker, was honored at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball in 2005. Despite her significant contributions, Catlett faced exile and surveillance by the U.S. government for nearly a decade due to her activist views and support for international solidarity.
Considered dangerous by the U.S. for her advocacy of the working class and civil rights, Catlett was labeled an "undesirable alien" in 1962. Her art, however, became a powerful symbol for Black revolutionaries, imbuing Black women and laborers with humanity, voice, and dignity.
