In honor of Women’s History Month and March 8 being International Women’s Day, Culture Pledge invites you to check out the women behind the music, the camera, and the artistic campaigns. Here are some of today’s best female artists to watch.
1. Olive Allen: Crypto Artist
“All artists believed that their movement was revolutionary (and rightfully so): be it impressionism, cubism, or pop art. Crypto artists are not the exception.”
We closed out 2020 by interviewing one of the leading artists in crypto art: Olive Allen, who has gone from casually buying Bitcoin to being a creative entrepreneur. After heading from Silicon Valley to New York City, Olive initially preferred painting before diving into the world of crypto art.
Her digital work has now appeared on crypto art platforms like OpenSea, NiftyGateway, and MakersPlace, making her one of the first artists worldwide to have her art featured on bigger crypto platforms. Her artwork blends stunning visuals with vibrant colors and bold statements that remind viewers that crypto art is here to stay. Looking at Olive’s work, it’s not hard to see why she’s been deemed a ‘trailblazer’ in the crypto world.
Recommended works: THE MYSTERIOUS NFT FACTORY — HOLIDAY SPECIAL (in collaboration with Twisted Vacancy), 3-D Self Portraits, Captain Pig vs. The Protester
2. The Venomous Pinks: Band
“Don’t ever let someone dictate what you can and can’t do.”
In last year’s feature, “Women Who Rock and Why They Do,” readers got a taste of how the Pinks pack a punch through punk rock. Drea Doll, Gaby Kaos, and Cassie Jalilie are The Venomous Pinks, a punk trio from Arizona that brings powerhouse performances to every show, song, and statement they make. Case in point: Drea got candid about sexism in the music industry, but also about the hustle that comes from making it as a band.
Recommended works: “I Really Don’t Care”, “Hold On”, “I Want You”
3. Suzanne Stein: Photographer
“I feel very strongly that, as a photographer, it is vital to photograph everything in my sphere as honestly as possible.”
Our contributing editor gave Suzanne Stein a shoutout in his piece about street photography, citing that her “intimate work never fails to wow me”. Suzanne’s pursuit of photography started in 2015 when she was taking pictures with her new iPhone in Europe. Upon returning to the US, she purchased a professional camera and took it to the streets to document the world around her.
Suzanne’s photos capture raw looks at life in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Paris, and Skid Row, particularly the women of Skid Row. Her photos come with honest descriptions of her subjects, which allow the subjects to become even more intimate and open for the camera. Her work humanizes the lives of the forgotten while calling attention to their stories.
Recommended works: Lullaby…, Skid Row: Women, Little Bits of New York
4. Jessie Wagner: Singer
“You have to be careful to come across as sweet, but still be able to voice your opinions. It’s a fine line.”
“Multitalented” is the perfect word for Jessie Wagner. She is a songwriter, actor, vocalist, and backup singer for artists like Lenny Kravitz and Steven Van Zandt (the latter signed her to his record label, Wicked Cool Records). Jessie released her debut album Shoes Droppin’ and has continued to self-promote and thrive in the midst of the global pandemic. In December, she took the time to get personal with us about sexism and racism in the music industry. She offered many sage words of wisdom to readers, reminding them that you don’t have to be one thing or the other when you step into the spotlight – just yourself.
Recommended work: “What You Get Is What You See”, “Beautifully Damaged”, “Love Me Right”
5. Elisabeth Murdoch and Sonia Alleyne: Artivism
“To achieve a cultural sector that truly reflects the richness and diversity of 21st Century Britain, we must address the unacceptable exclusion of Black and ethnic minority voices from the visual arts.”
Aside from female artists, there are also those who help the artists shine. Elisabeth is the founder and chair of the Freelands Foundation. Created in 2015, the foundation aims to make arts education more accessible, as well as support teachers, artists, and art-related organizations in the United Kingdom. Freelands has given grants to organizations that promote racial inclusion in arts education, and pledged to commit 15% of future grants “to initiatives with specific targets to promote the involvement of Black and ethnic minorities in the visual arts”.
Sonita Alleyne is the chair of the Diversity Action Group at Freelands. A journalist and broadcaster, Sonita holds many titles, including Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Governor at the Museum of London, and has served as a board member and director for a number of charities and arts-related organizations. The Diversity Action Group at Freelands is made up of “high-profile Black and ethnic minority academics, artists, educators and curators” and under Sonita’s leadership, they will develop a program for research, partnerships, and funding for artists.
Today’s Best Female Artists Taking Center Stage
Did you enjoy this list of the best female artists people should be paying attention to? We invite you to drop a comment about female creatives that you think need a light shone on their work.
