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Barbara Kruger was born in 1945 in Newark, New Jersey. She attended Parsons School of Design in New York City. During this time, Kruger worked with artists and photographers, and at age 22, she was promoted to head designer of a large magazine company. Though she began showcasing her artwork in galleries in the early 70s, she believed that her work lacked depth and quit creating art. Instead, she began to teach at several schools and developed a love for poetry. In 1977, Kruger began producing art again with her newfound signature style (large, black and white images overlaid with text). Since becoming successful, she has taught at several excellent art schools and has written many critical essays for publications. Barbara Kruger currently splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City.
This is one of Barbara Kruger's most famous artworks. A hand stretches into the center of the frame and holds a pale, flat block that states, "I shop therefore I am." The hand is the lightest area of the image, representing one's yearning for material possessions. This image is surrounded by a red frame, supplying more contrast.
Almost all of Kruger's artwork addresses politics, and this is no exception. In 1989, many people advocated against new anti-abortion policies, and she made this for the Women's March on Washington to support reproductive freedom. The picture of a woman's face is split vertically in half, one side negatively exposed. To add to this symmetry, the signature red border is only on the left and right of the image. This separation illustrates the divide in people caused by reproductive laws and beliefs.
Kruger created this artwork in 1986, and it has strong parallels to Rosie the Riveter, as seen in the young boy's pose. A girl admires his stance and pokes his arm; it looks like something out of a 1950s magazine. In a bold red line across the image are the words "We don't need another hero." Once again, this artwork is outlined in red. As with all her creations, the true meaning behind this is ambiguous because Kruger likes to make her audience think. Still, it's not a stretch to say that this artwork has to do with gender and power roles within society.
Once again, this is a political piece, and one of Barbara Kruger's most recent creations. She made this during the Covid-19 pandemic in response to policymakers and the push for reopening businesses despite the danger to the public. The print is split horizontally but unevenly. In a thinner black bar at the top are the white words "A CORPSE IS NOT A," then below it is the stretched word "CUSTOMER" in opposite colors. This image was distributed in the New York Times.
Barbara Kruger is an artist that has impacted the world. While I hadn't heard of her before this assignment, I've recognized many of her works. As I began to research her more, I realized that I am a fan of her art. Though I enjoy the aesthetic of black, white, and bold red, I like that she uses her platform to create art with meaning and messages even more.
Kruger's work is recognizable because of the color palette that she uses. Though her artworks explore political and feminist messages, she never says she does political art. Instead, she considers herself a feminist woman who creates. Her images have become so well-known that she even collaborated with a brand called Volcom and installed some of her artwork at a skatepark in Manhattan. Bold reds and whites decorated the park with thought-provoking messages. Like all of her art, this was striking and direct.
Her artwork can be seen on billboards, clothing, bags, buses, and much more. Kruger has even published articles in the New York Times and ARTFORUM. She's edited books and gained recognition as a film critic. Her art is in several well-known museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles). Her work challenges people, and she confronts her audience with controversial but important topics. So many people avoid contentious conversations to avoid upsetting or dividing others, but Kruger is direct and forces people to reflect.
Kruger is, in my opinion, an excellent artist who creates artwork with essential meanings. She's covered topics that range from domestic violence and racism to women's roles and capitalism. Her art is not necessarily traditionally beautiful, but I believe that it is more impactful because of this. There is no beauty to distract from her message, and each artwork can be interpreted differently depending on one's individual experiences, which are emphasized due to her use of "I" and "you." Not only am I impressed by her artworks, but I respect the impact Barbara Kruger has had on modern art and society.
Auslander, Mark. A Corpse Is Not a Customer: Barbara Kruger, 1 Jan. 1970, artbeyondquarantine.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-corpse-is-not-customer-barbara-kruger_2.html.
“Barbara Kruger - Bio: The Broad.” Bio | The Broad, www.thebroad.org/art/barbara-kruger.
“Barbara Kruger Biography, Life & Quotes.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist/kruger-barbara/life-and-legacy/.
“Barbara Kruger's I Shop Therefore I Am – What You Should Know.” Public Delivery, publicdelivery.org/barbara-kruger-i-shop/.
Funk, Clayton. “Art, Culture, Music, Film, Television.” Barbara Kruger, aaep1600.osu.edu/book/23_Kruger.php.
Selvin, Claire. “Barbara Kruger's Strange, Alluring Text-Based Artworks: How the Artist Critiqued Advertising and Rose to Fame.” ARTnews.com, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2020, www.artnews.com/feature/barbara-kruger-art-exhibitions-1202696145/.
“Untitled (Your Body Is a Battleground) - Barbara Kruger: The Broad.” Barbara Kruger | The Broad, www.thebroad.org/art/barbara-kruger/untitled-your-body-battleground.