Black History Month Creative Spotlight: Elizabeth Catlett
- Richelle Murry
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Feb. 25, 2026
Hello. We are going to spotlight a few people who contribute to the arts for Black History Month. Today we have Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012).
Catlett was a transformative African and Mexican artist whose work fused modernism with a lifelong commitment to social justice. known for her powerful sculptures and graphic prints, she focused on the dignity, labor, and resilience of Black and Mexican people, particularly women.
Early Life and Education
Washington, D.C. Roots: Born to parents who were educators and the children of formerly enslaved people, Catlett’s heritage deeply influenced her perspective on struggle and freedom.
Academic Pioneer: After being denied admission to Carnegie Mellon due to her race, she attended Howard University, studying under Loïs Mailou Jones.
First MFA: In 1940, she became the first student to earn an MFA in sculpture from the University of Iowa, where mentor Grant Wood famously advised her to "paint what you know".
Artistic Focus and Activism
The Black Woman Series: One of her most famous works is a 1946-47 series of linocuts (originally titled The Negro Woman) that serves as a visual narrative of historical figures like Sojourner Truth and the everyday struggles of working-class women.
Exile and Mexico: Moving to Mexico in 1946 on a Rosenwald Fellowship, she joined the Taller de Gráfica Popular (TGP), a radical printmaking collective. Her political activism eventually led the U.S. government to label her an "undesirable alien," resulting in a years-long ban from her home country.
Public Art for the People: Catlett rejected the idea of "art for art's sake," instead creating monumental sculptures for public spaces like Howard University and Atlanta City Hall to ensure her work remained accessible to the masses.
Legacy and Current Exhibitions
Global Recognition: Her works are held in premier collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the National Gallery of Art.
Retrospective: A major traveling exhibition, "Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies," is currently highlighting over 150 of her works across major U.S. cities through early 2026.
Here is a small video three years ago from Art Speaks Saint Louis Art Museum about Catlett.
Come back tomorrow for more focus on creative works for Black History. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, be safe, happy, healthy, and blessed.
Featured Image: Minneapolis Institute of Art
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