Compelling Women

Another edition of the 6x6x30 Group Art Exhibit, where artists create 6x6 inch works of art every day over the course of thirty days.

Artist Statement

“Hope is a woman who has lost her fear.” ― Alice Walker, Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart

In a world full of injustice, trauma, and inequity, complacency and fear may often seem like an easier place to land than hope. Hope is the antidote to despair. In our beautiful broken humanity, we all seek hope in various and mysterious places. Some find it through faith in a higher power, others in connection with loved ones, others by immersion in our natural world, and others by looking to inspiring individuals who are doing good work every day to make our world a better place. For many of us, it is a combination of these that keep us grounded, yet reaching for the sky while slogging through our everyday struggles. Each illustration represents a compelling woman whose actions and choices have shaped the world in some way. A collection of thirty hardly scratches the surface of influential women, yet each likely reminds us of another, as well as the women in our personal lives. Time was spent researching each individual and the illustrations are representative of both their characteristics and traits, as well as the meanings and symbolism of their names. Drawings were compiled digitally, allowing disparate elements to become integrated. Learn more about these inspiring and influential women below.

Wangari Maathai (1940 - 2011)

Environmentalist, Educator, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Wangari was the founder of the Green Belt Movement and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a renowned environmental, social, and political activist in Kenya and beyond.

Kamala Harris (1964 - )

History maker, Vice President, Justice seeker

Kamala is the 49th and first female, African American, and Asian vice president of the United States.

Chanel Miller (1992 - )

Writer, Artist, Survivor

Chanel authored the book Know My Name, sparking a national discussion around the topic of sexual assault.

Tori Amos (1963 - )

Singer-songwriter, Spokesperson, Survivor

Tori is a renowned pianist and singer and a spokesperson for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954)

Artist, Visual Autobiographer, Political Activist

Frida was a Mexican painter, most well known for her self-portraits exploring identity and mixing fantasy and realism.

Tara Brach (1953 - )

Psychologist, Author, Teacher

Tara is a writer, champion of Buddhist meditation, and the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC.

Jordan Marie Brings Three Horses Daniel (1988 - )

Runner, Activist, Indigenous Advocate

Jordan is a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. She is an elite runner who uses this platform to advocate for indigenous equity and the founder of Rising Hearts.

Toni Morrison (1931 - 2019)

Truth-teller, Novelist, Educator

Toni continues to be one of the most celebrated authors in the world. Her writing garnered her many accolades, including the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Alicia Garza (1981 - )

Civil Rights Activist, Author, Speaker

Alicia is a cofounder of the international Black Lives Matter movement and a powerful organizer around issues of social justice, equity, and oppression.

Abby Wambach (1980 - )

Athlete, Writer, Activist

Abby is a soccer legend, author, and cofounder of WOLFPACK Endeavor, a leadership training program.

Laverne Cox (1972 - )

Actor, Artist, Activist

Laverne is an actor, an LGBTQ activist, and the executive producer of the documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen.

Maya Angelou (1928 - 2014)

Poet, Civil Rights Activist, Public Speaker

Maya was an activist and writer, focusing on themes of identity and racism, and is celebrated for her autobiographical works.

Amanda Gorman (1998 - )

Wordsmith, Change-maker, Poet

Amanda is the first National Youth Poet Laureate, and the author of multiple books.

Valerie Kaur (1981 - )

Filmmaker, Activist, Author

Valerie is a documentary filmmaker, faith leader, lawyer, educator, and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project.

Mae Jemison (1956 - )

Engineer, Astronaut, Dancer

Mae was a doctor in the Peace Corps, the first black woman to travel to outer space, an educator, and is the founder of multiple organizations. 

Brandi Carlile (1981 - )

Singer-songwriter, Musician, Producer

Brandi is an acclaimed musician, a powerful advocate for social justice causes, and cofounder of the Looking Out Foundation.

Serena Williams (1981 - )

Athlete, Philanthropist, Fashion Designer

Serena is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, creator of a sustainable fashion line, cofounder of the Yetunde Price Resource Center, and a fierce advocate for a plethora of social justice causes.

Rosa Parks (1913 - 2005)

Abolitionist, Seamstress, Civil Rights Activist

Rosa helped to launch the civil rights movement by refusing to give her bus seat to a white man. She continued to advocate for equity through the remainder of her life.

Greta Thunberg (2003 - )

Environmental Activist, Student, Speaker

Greta is a Swedish activist known for open criticism of world leaders regarding climate action. She is the founder of Fridays for Future, a school climate strike.

Jacinda Ardern (1980 - )

Leader, Child Advocate, History-maker

Jacinda is the 40th prime minister of New Zealand, and youngest leader of the Labour Party.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (1981 - )

Singer-songwriter, Producer, Dancer

Beyonce is a singer, dancer, songwriter, and one of the world’s best-selling recording artists of all time.

Harriet Tubman (1822 - 1913)

Abolitionist, Activist, Suffragist

Harriet escaped slavery at the age of 27 and guided dozens of of enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 - 2020)

Judge, Activist, Feminist

Ruth was an associate justice of the Supreme Court and an advocate for gender equality.

Ani DiFranco (1970 - )

Musician, Poet, Activist

Ani is a prolific singer-songwriter who uses her platform to support social justice organizations and movements. Lyrics by Ani DiFranco.

Dolly Parton (1946 - )

Musician, Businesswoman, Philanthropist

Dolly is a celebrated multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, humanitarian, and advocate for literacy through her Imagination Library program.

Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)

Suffragist, Pacifist, Advocate

After losing her sight and hearing at 19 months, Helen went on to be a prolific writer, speaker, and activist for many causes.

Anita Hill (1956 - )

Educator, Survivor, Author

Anita is a university professor, lawyer, and author. Following her testimony about her experience of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas, she has continued to be a national voice to issues of gender and race.

Amelia Earhart (1897 - 1937 disappeared)

Aviator, Author, Feminist

Amelia earned many early aviation awards, including being the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

Rosemarie Aquilina (1958 - )

Judge, Advocate, Change-maker

Rosemarie empowered over 150 survivors of sexual abuse by allowing their impact statements to be heard in the trial of their abuser.

Sylvia Rivera (1951 - 2002)

Activist, Entertainer, Advocate

Sylvia was a transgender rights and gay liberation activist, and cofounder of STAR, which formed the first LGBTQ youth shelter in the United States.