Twelfth International Conference on The Image

Abstract

“Street Heroines” examines the contemporary global phenomenon of street art. Using a visual culture studies approach, this research critically analyzes street art as a creative tool for social change as enacted by women and queer artists. Focusing on work that is intentionally produced to promote social change or constitute political activism (sometimes called ‘artivism’), the author finds two themes in artwork made by women street artists and those working in predominantly female art collectives. Artists in different global contexts produce work concerned with creating safe and inclusive public spaces, and attempt to reclaim representation of female sexuality. This study critically investigates underrepresented women artists/artwork to reveal several common creative strategies. These aesthetic interventions employ portraiture and novel depictions of the female form that expand a multimodal dialogue about contemporary society, positioning artists as social critics/citizen activists. This work also considers how street art photography and online sharing has expanded once marginalized artists’ capacities to reach viewers beyond local neighborhoods, generate global audiences and networks, and establish connections between local issues and broader public discourses.

Presenters

Kristin Moss
Associate Professor, Art, Media, & Design Department/ School of Arts, California State University San Marcos, California, United States