Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist

Upcoming Exhibition

March 9 – July 6, 2025

Committed to both craft and causes, this visionary artist-activist continues to inspire us today.

One of the defining artists of the 20th century, Elizabeth Catlett addressed the injustices she witnessed and experienced in America and Mexico through her bold prints and dynamic sculptures. See more than 150 of her creations in this exhibition, including rarely seen paintings and drawings.

Trace the career of this cultural force—from her roots in Washington, DC, Chicago, and New York to the remarkable body of work she made during some 60 years in Mexico. In striving to make art for the people, Catlett put social justice at the very center of her work.

Elizabeth Catlett, Black Unity, 1968, cedar, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2014.11 © 2024 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photography by Edward C. Robison III

Elizabeth Catlett, Joseph Kleineman, Maureen Turci, Limited Editions Club, New York, Playmates, 1992, color lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.347

Elizabeth Catlett, In the Fields, 1947, linocut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.35

Elizabeth Catlett, Randy Hemminghaus, Anne Q. McKeown, Print Club of New York, Gossip, 2005, color digital and photo-lithograph on wove paper, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1185

Elizabeth Catlett, Taller de Gráfica Popular, Untitled (Harriet Tubman), 1953, linocut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.37

Elizabeth Catlett, Lovey Twice, 1976, lithograph in black on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Dr. Charles Warfield and Mrs. Savanna Clark), 2016.23.14

Elizabeth Catlett, J. K. Fine Art Editions Co., Joseph Kleineman, Maureen Turci, Links Together, 1996, lithograph on wove Arches paper, Purchased as the Gift of Art Information Volunteers in Honor of Dianne Stephens, 2021.63.1

Elizabeth Catlett, Survivor, 1983, linocut on heavy wove paper, Purchased as the Gift of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation in Honor of Mary Lee Corlett, 2020.138.1

Organization
Organized by Brooklyn Museum and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in collaboration with Art Institute of Chicago.

Curated by Dalila Scruggs, Augusta Savage Curator of African American Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum; Catherine Morris, Sackler Senior Curator, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum; and Mary Lee Corlett, former Associate Curator of Modern Prints and Drawings (retired), National Gallery of Art with Rashieda Witter, Curatorial Assistant, National Gallery of Art, and Carla Forbes, Curatorial Assistant, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum.

Other venues
Brooklyn Museum of Art, September 13, 2024–January 19, 2025
Art Institute of Chicago, August 30, 2025–January 4, 2026

Sponsors
Generous support is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.

Passes
Admission is always free and passes are not required

Banner detail: Elizabeth Catlett, Black Unity, 1968, cedar, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2014.11 © 2024 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photography by Edward C. Robison III