The Imaginary Beings of the Feminist-Fueled Resistance

PUBLISHED 2/15/2019 by

I’ve been working for a few years on an ongoing collage series entitled “The Catalogue of Imaginary Beings,” in which I build larger-than life portraits out of collage material. In the wake of the president’s State of the Union address, I have opted to turn away from my anger and frustration with the White House—and focus my attention instead on the inspirational, monumental and formidable women fighting for equality and leading the resistance.

We’ve seen and heard some powerful and brave women this year. I’m especially inspired by the 116th Congress, which is the most diverse Congress in American history.

That’s why I’m celebrating them with my newest portraits.

THE WOMEN OF THE WOMEN’S MARCH: I’ve made quite a few marchers and protesters in the past couple of years, and I continue to build these women out of other marchers and protesters. These marchers represent all of us. There are too many of us to ignore.
RUTH BADER GINSBURG: The venerable Supreme Court Justice and Super Hero has spent her career advocating for—and ushering in—victories women and girls.
DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD: The courageous woman who was brave enough to testify about her sexual assault—even in the face of threats against her life—inspired millions to rise up and resist the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
NANCY PELOSI: The Speaker of the House, which must be one of the toughest jobs in the world right now, wields a gavel like no other.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: One of two women elected in November who became the youngest representatives ever to serve in Congress didn’t take corporate money in her successful bid to unseat an incumbent—and never waivers on what she believes in.
ILHAN OMAR: This glass-ceiling-smasher is one of the first Muslim women and the first Somali-American elected to Congress, and the first woman of color to serve as U.S. Representative from Minnesota.
AYANNA PRESSLEY: The first black woman ever elected to Congress from Massachusetts isn’t there to play.
KRYSTEN SINEMA: The first openly bisexual member of Congress in the history of the U.S. chose to be sworn-in over a legal text that contained the Constitution instead of a Bible.
KAMALA HARRIS: The Senator who takes no guff—and asks the tough questions of Trump’s nominees.
ELIZABETH WARREN: The Senate voted to silence Warren when she tried to voice her objections during Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearing. (Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, infamously complained that “nevertheless she persisted.”) Warren had to finish her objections in the halls of the Senate.
Email
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Flip
Tagged: , ,

About

Johanna Goodman is an artist based in New York City. She graduated from Parsons School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration in 1992 and has been a freelance illustrator ever since. Her work has garnered awards from The Society of Publication Design, American Illustration and Communication Arts. Her clients include the Sidney Hillman Foundation, The Paley Center for Media, Le Monde, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bust, New York Magazine and Smithsonian Magazine, among many others. 

You May Also Like:

The ‘Woman in Charge’: Diane von Furstenberg’s Lifelong Commitment to Empowering Women, Fashion and Philanthropy

We Heart: Feminist Art on Display in Texas Declares, ‘Be Afraid. We Are Coming for You.’