Bad Ass Female Street Artists

Communities love coming together to see the unique and impactful visions of local artists come to life on their own city walls. The street art scene is bursting with creative minds with a feminine side. Female street artists bring their own edge to the practice that had for so long, as with many other industries, been dominated by men. Now, they’re not just considered “female street artists to watch,” but street artists all the same, in the same rank as the boys. In case you are unfamiliar, allow us to introduce you to some of the very best street artists out there who are active, inspiring, and worth keeping track of. 1).Shamsia Hassani- A bad-ass Afghan street artist, she’s also a fine arts lecturer, and Associate professor of Drawing and Anatomy Drawing at the Kabul University. Her art is rampant in her hometown of Kabul and often depicts a svelte character with long dark hair and a purple head wrap. The emphasis of her work is on feminism. The act of creating street art in her war-torn city is statement in and of itself. The characters she draws seem delicate, but find a voice in the various musical instruments they often wield. The burqa becomes a central theme for her art as well as the musical instruments. Shamsia has said that “[the burqa] is not a cage, like people think it is” and expresses that there is power in being able to see others when they can’t see you. Though she makes no secret about who she is, and her art is colorful and sometimes even seems like it will pop out of the pavement, she lets the central character of her artwork do the talking for her. Lady Pink Much like Hassni, Sandra Fabara uses her artwork to empower females. This Ecuadorian-American artist, known as Lady Pink to her fans, is legendary in New York City, where her art can be found on the street as well as in art museums. She’s been painting for much of her life and considered a street artists capable of “competing with the boys” as far back as the early 80s. Her work is still ogled by New Yorkers on the street, but she has made such an impact on the community that her influence pushed the boundaries of her home city. She now teaches art to young aspiring artists and does privately commissioned paintings. 2).Faith47- Emerging three years after the end of apartheid in South Africa, Faith47 creates street art largely focused on humanitarian and environmental issues. Her art comes from a deep place of love and sympathy for the earth and all the living things on it. Her paintings are often politically motivated. In Shanghai she painted a scene of rhinos as spectres in response to poaching in Africa to meet Asian demands. Similarly, she made a animal-focused painting in New York to attempt to “reconnect [people] with the natural world.” She also has several pieces of work that put emphasis on the human spirit and how our modern civilization is built in a way that divides communities. Apartheid, migration, and living conditions are common themes throughout her art, which is splashed across multiple continents; a tribute to her belief in the world as our collective home. 3).Tatyana Fazlalizadeh- Hailing from Oklahoma City, Tatyana Fazalalizadeh’s art is around the United States, but particularly in her hometown: New York City. Her paintings are done in a way that invokes a certain power of individuals. Her posters and paintings all feature a central character with a story. In varying series, she’s painted a young black child with (literally) blossoming ideas, racially diverse characters challenging xenophobia and racism, and her popular series with a simple message: Stop Telling Women To Smile. Through her portraitures, she brings faces of the oppressed, abused, or outcasted figures in society to larger-than-life proportions, and their messages are just as impactful. 4).Olek Polish-born Olek is a NYC-based street artist with a twist. Instead of using cans of spray paint as her main vehicle to invoke thought and inspiration, she uses crochet. Like all great artists, this form of free-thinking was well-considered before Olek put it into action. “I think crochet, the way I create it, is a metaphor for the complexity and interconnectedness of our body and its systems and psychology,” she said. Bound together, it creates something beautiful. Cut a strand and it unravels. Overtime, inevitably, it will unravel on its own. This profound mission statement doesn’t take away from the fun and lively nature of her creations. She often incorporates very silly and spontaneous images that will make you blush like crocheted toilet paper, dildos, and penises. She also has an affinity for mermaids. 5).Swoon American-born and based artist Swoon also uses mixed media to create her art. Her emphasis is on reuse and recycling. She is most known for her wheatpaste prints which are literally pasted to walls. The subject of her work is often family, friends, and acquaintances. She finds fulfillment in breaking down feelings piece by piece, and allowing the artwork itself to tell a story of inception and construction. She prefers mixed media and wheatpaste as a way to explore all the dimensions and potential of a piece of art. She was predominantly opposed to the simple idea of wall-art and the confined community of rich people who buy it, but she’s warmed to the idea in recent years. Still, much of her focus is on pushing her own boundaries and exploring new media that can help her work through and illustrate emotions and the human experience. Final Thoughts Street art can be a fun way to gawk at surprising creations and wonder what they mean, but these women are giving powerful and meaningful narratives to their art. Though they can still be enjoyed for the visual beauty, it’s astounding to see the courage, creativity, and dexterity of these international women and the voice they share with the world. #FemaleStreetArtists #Art #Streetart #Brooklyn