More Than Beauty: The Power and Purpose of Elizabeth Catlett’s Work

We honor the remarkable legacy of Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012), a pioneering sculptor, printmaker, and activist whose bold vision gave shape to the dignity, resilience, and enduring beauty of Black life.

Born in Washington, D.C., during an era of deep segregation and systemic inequality, Catlett found her voice in the intersection of art and justice. After earning degrees from Howard University and the University of Iowa—where she became one of the first African American women to receive an MFA—Catlett began shaping a powerful visual language rooted in social truth.

Her journey ultimately led her to Mexico, where she would live and work for most of her life. There, she joined the Taller de Gráfica Popular (People’s Graphic Workshop), embracing the spirit of collective art-making and revolutionary activism. Mexico became not just a home, but a wellspring for her creative expression and political solidarity.

Through evocative sculptures and striking linocut prints, Catlett uplifted the lives of Black women, laborers, and civil rights figures. Pieces like Survivor and Sharecropper capture both hardship and heroism—offering the viewer an unflinching gaze into the lives of those too often overlooked by mainstream history. Her figures, bold and grounded, exude both pain and pride, silence and defiance.

Catlett believed deeply in the purpose of art. “Art,” she once said, “is only important to the extent that it helps in the liberation of our people.” This conviction guided her work for over seven decades, inspiring generations of artists, activists, and changemakers.

Today, as the world continues to confront questions of identity, equity, and justice, Elizabeth Catlett’s work remains profoundly relevant. She reminds us that art is not only a reflection of life—but also a force that can transform it.

Her legacy is not just preserved in museums and collections; it lives on in every artist who uses their voice to advocate, to uplift, and to liberate.