Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World

Art is powerful, whether it’s used in advertising, portraiture, politics, fashion, war or music. Yet, throughout history, women have often been excluded from the story of art and have fought racism, sexism and classism to have their work recognised. Therefore, it’s a delight to learn about 50 women artists – some we may have heard of, and many that we may not have.

For instance, nineteenth century fashion designer Jeanne Paquin, who rose to fame in a male dominated industry, was one of the first designers to start making comfortable clothes for women. Painter Alma Thomas, famous for her abstract paintings of earth and space, was the first African American woman to hold a solo show at the Whitney Museum in New York, and photographer Lola Alvarez Bravo, who worked as a professional photographer from the 1930s to the 1980s in Mexico, captured dramatic moments of light and shadow but also pictures which demonstrated the playfulness and heart of her country.

As with her previous volumes Women in Science and Women in Sport, Ignotofsky has created an appealing, meaningful and well-researched book, perfectly pitched for older primary aged children. It’s impossible not to be inspired by the work of these women artists, and hopefully learning about their contributions will ensure a new generation of artists.