Saar, Betye
1926-present · Contribution: 1960s-present
Visual Arts
Assemblage and mixed-media art; densely layered constructions of found objects exploring African American identity, spirituality, memory, and the reclamation of racist imagery; best known for 'The Liberation of Aunt Jemima' (1972)

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Category
- Visual Arts
Impact on the world
Saar weaponized racist imagery, turning demeaning stereotypes into icons of Black power and feminist defiance, a landmark strategy for the Black Arts Movement.
Sources
- Brooklyn Museum
1 more sources and references are available to members.
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