“There’s no diploma in the world that declares you as an artist. You can declare yourself an artist and then figure out how to be an artist.“
- Name: Kara Walker
- Born: November 26th, 1969
- From: Stockton, California
- Occupation: Artist
- Works: “A Subtlety” (2014), “Gone: An Historical Romance of a Civil War as It Occurred between the Dusky Thighs of One Young Negress and Her Heart” (1994), “The Emancipation Approximation” (1999)
- Awards: MacArthur Fellowship Award for Visual Arts (1997), Glamour Award for the Artist (2008)
- Fun Fact: Walker found herself uncomfortable and afraid to address race within her art during her early college years. She had a distinct worry that having race as the nucleus of her content would be received as “typical” or “obvious.”
Kara Walker is an American contemporary painter, silhouettist, print-maker, installation artist, and film-maker who explores race, gender, sexuality, violence, and identity in her work. She is best known for her room-size tableaux of black cut-paper silhouettes. She has also taught extensively at Columbia University. Her edgy and controversial artwork has inspired others to explore topics such as racism and sexuality.
Handout
To download the Handout:
- Click on the image
- Right-click and select Save Image As…
- Write a description on the line and decorate.
- Cut out and use for a selfie to share on our social media page.
- Download a card and envelope template and write about an idea this leader inspires.
- Check out more resources and ways to celebrate MLK can be found on these links as well as our official Day of Service opportunity to volunteer.
This ASI Special event is an ongoing volunteer-led project made by people like you, using multiple educational sources regularly being revised and updated. We would love your assistance if you or your group would like to get involved, learn more here.