I would like to take this moment to recognize a significant time of the year, Women’s History Month. According to the Library of Congress, Women’s History Month “began as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as ‘Women’s History Week.’ Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as ‘Women’s History Week.’” As its name indicates, the occasion exists to pay tribute to women’s irreplaceable contributions to the advancement and cultural enrichment of our country and our global community.

We take time this month to recognize women from all intersectional identities that include—but are not limited to—race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, and generation. When I think of influential women, those unsung champions of change, I begin with my mother. As a graduate of an historically Black College and a manager at New Jersey Bell (now known as Verizon), my mother instilled a high standard of cultural pride and educational excellence within my sister and me. In addition, she sacrificed sleep, personal time and social gatherings to make sure that my father, sister and I had what we needed to thrive.

Similar to my mother and many others, there are countless women in the art and design fields who have pioneered and blazed trails for others to break into a traditionally male-dominated discipline. Their sacrifices and contributions have revolutionized how we experience art, and provide opportunities for those future leaders to come. Through their respective lenses, women such as Augusta Savage, Georgia O’Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Adrian Piper (1969 Fine Arts) and Shirin Neshat have redefined and pushed the limits of creativity and expression.

Recently, SVA has spotlighted the work of a number of women alumni. Click the links below to read more about:

Artist and photographer Nichole Washington (MPS 2016 Digital Photography)

Artist, civil-rights activist and BFA Fine Arts faculty member Sophia Dawson (BFA 2010 Fine Arts)

Filmmaker, artist and LGBTQ activist Zackary Drucker (BFA 2005 Photography)

Artist Veronica Fernandez (BFA 2020 Fine Arts)

Designer and Alumni Scholarship winner Victoria Ayo (MFA 2020 Products of Design)

Author and illustrator Lauren Redniss (MFA 2000 Illustration as Visual Essay)

Throughout the month of March, please follow the SVA Today and SVA Now e-newsletters, and the College’s accounts on Instagram (@svanyc) and Twitter (@sva_news) for highlights of famous women artists who have and continue to set the standard of excellence in visual arts.

Sincerely,

Jarvis M. Watson, Ed.D.

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

School of Visual Arts