Nancy Spero

Overview

Nancy Spero born Cleveland, OH August 24, 1926 (d. 2009). Feminist and antiwar artist. Works include “The War Series”, 150 pieces against Vietnam War, 1966-70; “Torture of Women” depicting events in Chile, 1976.

Quotations

“It’s horrific, trying to show the insanity and brutality of war. I couldn’t do it in a realistic fashion, so it got kind of surreal. Even though I was responding to Vietnam, all these grotesques—these surreal images—are my response to war. That was my subject matter, and it still is. For the most part, one wouldn’t realize it was about Vietnam. You know, as they say, 'It’s art because I say so'—so, it’s Vietnam because I say so, or Iraq because I say so.” (quote & photo Art21)