This International Women's Day, let’s take the time to reflect and celebrate some of these inspiring female artists around the world! 

Sara Purves

Photo Credit: https://sarapurves.com/pages/about-sara

Sara re-started her painting journey at the age of 47 and within three years she had turned into a full-time artist, showing everyone that women can achieve anything, regardless of when they start! From a graphic designer to a painter, Sara Purves, a Toronto based artist has created quite a few masterpieces describing her love for art. Sara’s art gives us a glimpse into her art journey, exhibiting her youthful and contemporary abstract paintings. One of Sara’s main inspirations and goals is to have her colourful art uplift individuals, while making an everlasting impact within the society. As she describes herself: “I need the beautiful colours, the textures and the satisfaction of creating something out of nothing”. With warmth and happiness beaming from her artwork, people often find that Sara’s work makes them feel good, and we agree! 

Wanda Koop

Photo Credit: https://www.wandakoop.com/about || https://www.wandakoop.com/work || https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wanda-koop-on-how-art-changed-her-life-1.2820267 

Known as one of Canada’s most accomplished painters, Wanda Koop has presented over 60 solo exhibitions through various countries including Canada, Brazil, Japan, and many more. Wanda has received several awards including being appointed as the highest civilian honor given to canadians. She says that, “Visual art is a language. It's the way I can communicate what my observations of the world are, to everybody else”. This incredible ability to communicate her observations has allowed her to be recognized for her community work and social activism. Wanda Koop has illustrated that women can express themselves in many different ways! Her creativity shines through her large-scale paintings and mixed-media events. 

Laura Gulshani

Credit : https://thekit.ca/living/laura-gulshani-painter/ ||  https://www.lauragulshani.com/about 

Laura Gulshani was raised in Mississauga, Ontario and for someone who never thought she would be a professional artist, she made her dreams come true and eventually relocated to Paris! Her artwork is seen through a combination of acrylic and oil paintings. It all started when Marie-Claire UK handed Laura with what was described as the opportunity of a lifetime, an assignment to cover fashion month in paintings! After moving to Paris, Laura described art as having “A different meaning in people’s lives here. It’s considered essential to a good lifestyle balance to enjoy art, to immerse yourself in art, to collect art”. One of the biggest factors that Laura finds really fulfilling is when her artwork reaches the right audience and gains happiness out of it. Laura’s story is an epitome to all women that whether you're still looking for your passion or already following it, it's worth going after!

Helen Frankenthaler

Credit: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/helen-frankenthaler-nemerov-excerpt-1957010 || https://www.frankenthalerfoundation.org/helen/biography || https://gagosian.com/artists/helen-frankenthaler/ 

Helen Frankenthaler has been named one of the great American artists of the twentieth century. Her professional abstract art journey began in 1950, where she tested various art techniques on canvas and paper. Helen received quite a few awards and honorary doctorates, including the National Medal of Arts in 2001. Through the artwork that Helen created, its direct impact was seen on contemporary art as profound and continuously growing. Helen believes, “There are no rules… that is how art is born, that is how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules, that is what invention is about”. Helen is an inspiration to all women who want to be boundless.   

Wangechi Mutu 

Credit: https://www.zenartsupplies.co/blogs/inspiration/7-famous-female-artists-in-contemporary-art-to-date#Wangechi-Mutu || https://www.artnet.com/artists/wangechi-mutu/biography

Kenyan artist, Wangechi Mutu, is a contemporary artist who is an inspiring reminder that art can be used as a means to make a statement on art history, race, and personal identity. Mutu’s art has provided an alternative course of history for people of African descent as her imagery is known to have, “An almost science fiction-like nature”. Mutu has been featured all around the world including the Nasher Museum of Art in North Carolina in 2013. Wangechi’s work ranges from videos, performances, and sculptures which highlight the level of influence that America holds on contemporary African culture.