ARTIST STATEMENT
As part of a collection of works for women empowerment, this piece titled “Change is Coming. Women.Life.Freedom” was designed for protest. Reminiscent of historical black and white newspaper publications with bolded text, it’s designed to get your attention. The messaging allows the viewer to consider the impending change while simultaneously encouraging and empowering those to keep fighting.
In this featured story, the woman takes the role as the protagonist in the struggle, bravely looking into her audience while pulling back her hijab. With her hands up for battle she is determined and ready to fight for her narrative.
In addition to its publication-like style this work was also created and designed to be used as a stencil for graffiti. With the use of tagging, the message of protest is distributed throughout the city bounds like a silent chant in the streets, both quiet and loud at the same time. Combining graffiti art and propaganda one can hear the voices of a revolution. Change is Coming. Women.Life.Freedom
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Leigh Brooklyn was born in 1987 outside of Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her degree in Biomedical Illustration from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2011. Brooklyn worked with several hospitals, museums, and research facilities including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Case Western Reserve.
In 2011 Brooklyn began moving throughout the US gaining inspiration from individuals she met through pursuing street photography. This led her to switch her focus back to figurative art. In 2019 Brooklyn began learning techniques for sculpture, fabrication and welding, earning her lifetime certification in 3G MIG welding. After a personal upheaval in 2019 Brooklyn narrowed her focus toward women empowerment in her series titled, the “Women’s Militia.”
Brooklyn has won countless national and international awards for her art since 2004. Her work has been displayed in galleries, museums, and fairs across the country including the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, Makeshift Museum in Los Angeles, the U.S. Capitol Building and Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C.
© Leigh Brooklyn