Faith Ringgold

Born in Harlem, New York in 1930, Faith Ringgold is an American painter, writer, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, and was a professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. The artist is best known for her story quilts and doll-making. Much of her artwork is created in fabric; this reflects the influence of her mother, who was a fashion designer. Her choice of materials and formats are also a commentary on the disparate value placed by society upon “high art” as opposed to “home craft.” Ringgold made art in modes traditionally thought of as “women’s work” as a commentary upon these conventions and it reflects the artist’s feminist ideals and engagement with social activism. Ringgold is widely recognized for her work and contribution to the arts, and has been exhibited and collected by notable museums internationally. She has received more than 75 awards, which include 22 Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees, as well as fellowships and grants from prestigious foundations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.