Inspirations: Stories About Women Artists

by Leslie Sills

Discusses the lives and art of Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Alice Neel, and Faith Ringgold. Includes color reproductions of their work.

Genres: Art, History, Biography

Hardcover

First published November 1, 1988

About the author

Leslie Sills is a sculptor whose work has been shown at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and other museums and galleries throughout the country. She has lectured on art and writing at museums, art schools, universities, colleges, and public schools.

She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Margaret Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is 51 pages long yet I kept looking at it and not picking it up. Today I finally did. Such inspiring stories from women artists. Although they came from different backgrounds and suffered life altering sadness, they all persevered in spite of those obstacles. “Each was true to her own unique vision.”

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of four female artists. Despite the book's picture book appearance this is a book for older children and even adults who want to understand these artists but do not have the patience for a long tome.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children enjoy learning about artists and different styles and so far we've mainly found books about male artists (and Mary Cassatt). This book was a welcome change because I want to be more balanced in whose art we examine. I loved that the book talked about specific issues these women faced because they were women or because they were black (in the case of Faith Ringgold). We plan on checking out the author's other books in the near future!

[Marybeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

good for a children's collection, a cross section of different women artists working in North America in the 20th Century which talks a bit about their personal lives without going into salacious detail.

[Norma]

Though simply written, and focused on women artists of whom I already had some knowledge, this author brought me to a greater appreciation of each one of them and their work. As but "nutshell" biographies, I'd have to say "well done!"

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book, not as current as i'd wanted. pickedit up for the chapter on faith ringgold, but written before she did children's books.