Elizabeth Catlett, the First Black Woman to Earn an MFA from the University of Iowa, Used Art to Celebrate Black Women’s Strength

Breaking Barriers in the Art World

Elizabeth Catlett made history as the first Black woman to earn a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from the University of Iowa. Her work focused on celebrating Black women’s strength, resilience, and daily lives. Through sculptures and prints, she created powerful representations of African American and Mexican communities.

Catlett’s art defied trends, prioritizing social realism over abstraction. She believed in using her talent to uplift and empower, ensuring that Black women saw themselves reflected in art with dignity and pride. Her works continue to inspire generations of artists and activists.

Early Life and Artistic Foundations

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1915, Catlett grew up in a household that valued education. Her father, a Tuskegee University mathematics professor, passed away before she was born. Her mother worked multiple jobs to support the family. Spending time with her formerly enslaved grandparents shaped her understanding of racial struggles and resilience.

Catlett attended Howard University, where she studied design under Loïs Mailou Jones, a leading Black artist. This mentorship played a crucial role in shaping her artistic vision. She graduated with honors in 1935, already dedicated to using her art as a tool for social change.

Finding Her Purpose Through Education

After Howard, Catlett taught high school in North Carolina before pursuing her MFA at the University of Iowa. There, she studied under Grant Wood, the artist behind American Gothic. He encouraged her to focus on subjects she knew personally. This advice led Catlett to portray the struggles and triumphs of Black communities, especially women.

In Iowa, she developed her signature style, blending African, Mexican, and American influences. Her thesis piece, Mother and Child, showcased Black motherhood with strength and tenderness, setting the tone for much of her future work.

Influences from Harlem and Mexico City

After earning her MFA, Catlett moved to Chicago, where she met fellow artist Charles Wilbert White. The couple later settled in New York City, where Catlett taught at the George Washington Carver School in Harlem. The vibrant culture of Harlem deeply influenced her art, reinforcing her commitment to depicting Black resilience.

A turning point came in 1946 when she won a Rosenwald Fund fellowship to study in Mexico City. There, she encountered Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Mexican painter Francisco Mora, whom she later married. In Mexico, she embraced printmaking and sculpture, refining her ability to tell powerful stories through visual art.

Celebrating Black Womanhood in Art

Catlett’s most notable works highlight Black womanhood. Her 1940s sculpture Head of a Negro Woman embodies both modern femininity and African ancestry. The figure’s hollowed eyes create a haunting presence, while the strong features defy stereotypes and celebrate Black beauty.

Her prints also carried powerful messages. Pieces like Sharecropper and I Am the Black Woman showcased the resilience of Black women, emphasizing their role in history and society. These works became symbols of pride during the Civil Rights Movement.

Legacy and Impact

Catlett spent much of her later life in Mexico, where she taught at the National School of Plastic Arts. Even after retiring in 1975, she continued creating art until her passing in 2012 at the age of 96.

Her legacy lives on in major museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Kinshasha Holman Conwill, deputy director of the museum, noted that Catlett’s work lifted up Black women in ways few American artists had before her. Her influence remains strong, inspiring artists committed to social justice and representation.