Betye Saar

b. 1926

BiographyBetye Saar (b. 1926) is celebrated for her multimedia collages, sculptural assemblages, adn installations consisting of found materials that mix surreal, symbolic imagery with folk-art aesthetic. In her work, Saar voices her political, racial, religious, and gender concerns in an effort to "reach across the barriers of art and life, to bridge cultural diversities, and forge new understandings."

From early on, Saar's work was profoundly impacted by the Civil Rights movement and her participation in teh robust African-American Los Angeles art scene of the 1970s, which inspired her to intertwine politics into her already biographical and spiritual pieces. Saar became known for her appropriation of characters such as Aunt Jemima, Uncle Tom, and other stereotypes from folk culture and advertising, which she re-envisioned as empowered and engaged figures. Her work also reflects a deep interest in African tribal mysticism, history, memory, and nostalgia.

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