“I became an artist for the same reason I became a
writer: I wanted to tell my story.”
Faith Ringgold
• Born on October 8, 1930
• She was born in Harlem.
• She the taught art in NYC public schools.
Faith Ringgold, began her artistic career more than 35 years ago as a
painter.
Some of her first paintings look like masks.
Do you have any ideas about the meaning of this painting?
The Black Light Series: Love Black Life 1969 Oil on canvas
Sometimes Faith painted relationships in her family.
The Black Light Series: The American Spectrum 1969, Oil on
Her 1st book was called “Tar Beach” and was awarded for its illustrations.
Tar Beach 1988, Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed,
pieced fabric border
Here are a few more of my
favorite books by Faith.
Today, she is best known for her painted story quilts -- art that
combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling.
• This quilt was made in 1985
Mother 's Quilt 1983, Acrylic on canvas,
dyed, painted and pieced
fabric
The Dinner Quilt, 1986, Acrylic on canvas, fabric border
What is happening in this picture story?
Church Picnic 1988
Acrylic on canvas,
fabric border
Do you think these
girl’s are really
jumping rope on
the bridge?
This is a quilt of Faith with some of the people she
admires.
Who’s
Bad?
These are the buildings where Faith grew up.
Faith Ringgold, her mother Willa Posey and Faith's two daughters Michele and Barbara took their first trip to Europe in 1961, to tour the famous art museums.
Faith wrote, " somehow I felt that being in Europe--where Picasso, Matisse, Monet and other great painters had lived--would lead me to the answer"
The the question was whether she could be an artist or not.
The Sunflower Quilting Bee at
Arles 1991
Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed, pieced fabric border
Look carefully at the quilt.Can you find Vincent Van Gogh?
Faith Ringgold's art sends a messages about things that are important to African-American women.
Her images are enjoyable to many people because of her use of bright-colored images in quilts and dolls.
Le Cafe des Artistes 1994, Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed, pieced fabric
border
Wanted: Douglas,
Tubman and Truth 1997
Acrylic on canvas;
painted and pieced border
Sonny's Quilt 1986
Acrylic on canvas with
pieced fabric
border
Dancing at the Louvre
1991, Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed,
pieced fabric border
Bessie's Blues 1997
Acrylic on canvas;
painted and pieced border
Coming to Jones Road #1 1999, Acrylic on canvas with pieced border
Ringgold started her first mature work in 1963, the American People
Series.
Ringgold said, "the idea was to make a statement in my art about the Civil
Rights Movement and what was happening to Black people in
America at the time.”
The American
People Series #2:
For Members Only 1963
• The American People Series #6: Mr. Charlie, 1964.
• The American People Series #7: Cocktail Party 1964 Oil on canvas 42 x 24"