Anna Weyant is a contemporary painter known for her moody, figurative works that blend classical technique with modern femininity. As one of the youngest artists represented by Gagosian, she’s become a rising star reshaping the landscape of contemporary art.
The Shift:
Who are three women that inspire you?
Anna:
My mother, Charlene
Her sister, Aileen
Their mother, Dorothy
The Shift:
In honor of Gloria Steinem’s 91 years of advocacy, what do you believe is her most enduring contribution to women’s empowerment, and how has it inspired your own journey?
Anna:
I paused when I first read this question-could someone just shy of their 91st birthday really have 90 years of advocacy under their belt? And I began to wonder at what age and under what criteria do women become advocates and activists? I thought of a girl born in 1930s Ohio who, just by existing, faced remarkable social prejudices and civil barriers, for whom abortion was criminal and pay unequal. I considered the limitations of her economic and professional opportunities, the societal expectations, stigmas, and pressures that might confine her-that she was not born sharing the same opportunities and freedoms as her male counterparts. Of course, to answer the question, I could point to After Black Power, Women’s Liberation, penned by Steinem in 1969, or Ms. Magazine, which she founded in 1972, but I would rather make the broader case for simply being there, for showing up early and continuing to show up for nine decades of service. To arrive and continue to exist in a space of prejudicial unwelcome must count as significant rebellion. And then to go further, to prop the door open behind her, to leave the ladder up, to face the pushback of pushing forward. When I look back on my own journey, I am reminded of all the rooms I have entered feeling unwelcome, all the tables I have shown up to that haven’t had a seat for me, the shame I have been expected to feel, and felt, for daring even to exist. And when I think of Gloria Steinem, I think of a woman who has bravely shown up to those rooms and tables for, yes, 90 years, and I am emboldened to continue pulling up a chair.
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Anna Weyant is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.
