A deft sculptor and printmaker, ardent feminist, and lifelong social activist, Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) was a defining artist of the 20th century. Across nearly 100 years—from Jim Crow segregation through the Cold War and into Barack Obama’s first term as president—Catlett remained steadfast in her commitment to both her art and her political beliefs.
Bringing together over 100 works from across Catlett’s awe-inspiring career, this long-overdue retrospective showcases the significant role this revolutionary artist and radical activist played in her time and the influence she still has today. Her powerful work continues to speak directly to all those united in the fight against poverty, racism, and imperialism.
Join Sarah Kelly Oehler, Field-McCormick Chair and Curator, Arts of the Americas, and Vice President for Curatorial Strategy for an exclusive overview of the exhibition Elizabeth Catlett: “A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies.”
About the Speaker
Sarah Kelly Oehler is the Field-McCormick Chair and Curator of Arts of the Americas and Vice President of Curatorial Strategy. Oehler joined the Art Institute in 2002 and has contributed to numerous exhibitions and publications at the museum. Selected previous projects include Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks” (2024), Charles White: A Retrospective (2018), Whistler’s Mother: An American Icon Returns to Chicago (2017), America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s (2016), and Shatter Rupture Break: The Modern Series I (2015).
If you have any questions about programming, please reach out to museum-programs@artic.edu.
Closed captioning will be available for this program. For questions related to accessibility accommodations, please email access@artic.edu.
