Mini Post - Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger is an American artist born in Newark, New Jersey. Her father was a chemical technician and her mother is said to have been a legal secretary at a local firm. After attending Syracuse University for only a year, her father passed away and Kruger left the University. The next year she pursued an education at Parson’s School of Design which kick started the formative years of her career. Starting off as a designer she built a reputation and moved on to other mediums like photography, crocheting, bright paintings, and finally her famous architectural stills. These massive photos and collages use modern forms of marketing and communication to address societal issues including: language, class, gender, and identity.

Most of Kruger’s more famous work seems to mimic and even poke fun at some modern pieces. In one photo, we see a young boy trying to mirror the famous Rosie the Riveter poster from the 1940’s. The girl next to the young boy appears to be pushing his arm down with a caption across the middle of the piece saying, “We don’t need another hero”. I thought to myself, “Why is this boy mimicking the Rosie the Riveter pose? She was considered a feminist icon!” Well, that’s what I believe Barbara was trying to with this art piece. There are enough men out there trying to be the face of something a woman created. Other art works like the ones pictured here are geared towards another social issue of class. Quotes like, “Money can buy you love,” over a younger girl sticking her tongue out and, “You can’t drag your money into the grave with you,” in front of what look like expensive leather shoes both tell me that Kruger isn’t very materialistic. Even with all the money in the world, you can’t buy happiness and what you can buy with that isn’t coming with you when you pass.