Barbara Kruger’s unmissable artworks are as much as a comment on the social times as it is about a call for a cultural change. Barbara Kruger is a conceptual artist and a collagist whose artwork consists of mostly black and white photographs overlaid with texts in bold and solid colour fonts. Kruger’s earliest works date back to 1969 and were primarily large wall hanging made out of different materials such as yarn, beads, sequins, feathers, and ribbons. It was only after years of meandering, which included a stint at Conde Nast and other publications, and a term as a faculty at the University of California, she turned to her modern practice of collage in the early 80s.
Kruger’s bold work has made head turn for their witty and thought-provoking quotes juxtaposed with images from everyday magazines and newspapers. Kruger has said that “I work with pictures and words because they have the ability to determine who we are and who we aren’t.” Her work draws attention to social, cultural, and political issues like feminism, consumerism and individual desires. Kruger’s artwork is meant to be in your face, stopping you in your track to reflect upon its message and, subsequently, the society’s workings.
