Faith Ringgold

Date of Birth: October 8, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Biography

Faith Ringgold is a renowned American artist and author known for her innovative and impactful work that addresses social issues, particularly those related to African American culture and history. Born on October 8, 1930, in Harlem, New York City, she grew up during the Harlem Renaissance, which significantly influenced her artistic development. Ringgold began her career as a painter but expanded her oeuvre to include quilts, sculptures, performance art, and children’s books. Her “story quilts” are particularly famous, blending visual art with narrative storytelling to explore themes of race, gender, and civil rights. Ringgold’s artistic journey began in earnest after she earned a degree in Fine Art from the City College of New York in 1955. Despite facing significant racial and gender barriers, she persisted, creating work that challenged the status quo and advocated for justice and equality. Her quilts, such as the celebrated “Tar Beach,” are housed in major museums around the world, including the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition to her artistic achievements, Ringgold is also a celebrated author. Her children’s book “Tar Beach” has won several awards, including a Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. Over the decades, Ringgold has received numerous accolades for her contributions to art and literature, cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in American culture.

5 Interesting Facts about Faith Ringgold

1. Faith Ringgold’s “Tar Beach” was turned into an animated short film that aired on HBO.

2. She was arrested multiple times during the 1960s for protesting against the underrepresentation of African American artists in major art institutions.

3. Ringgold’s mother, Willi Posey Jones, was a fashion designer, which significantly influenced Faith’s use of fabric in her art.

4. She received the National Endowment for the Arts Award twice, once in painting and once in sculpture.

5. Ringgold is also a professor emeritus of art at the University of California, San Diego.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Faith Ringgold

1. “You can’t sit around waiting for somebody else to say who you are. You need to write it and paint it and do it.”

2. “I became a feminist because I realized that I had been left out of history.”

3. “Creativity helps us realize that we don’t have to understand everything.”

4. “Art is a form of social consciousness.”

5. “I wanted my art to become a part of the culture and to make a statement.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Faith Ringgold’s highest net worth achieved is estimated to be around $1-5 million.

Children

Faith Ringgold has two daughters, Michele Wallace, a prominent cultural critic and feminist writer, and Barbara Wallace, who has also been involved in the arts.