Who is Barbara Kruger?
Barbara Kruger is an American artist who first gained notoriety in the 1970s and 1980s for her collages, which often featured found images and text that she manipulated to create pointed commentary on consumerism, gender inequality, and other social issues. In the 1990s, Kruger began using her signature style—blocks of sans-serif text overlaid on black-and-white photographs—in public spaces, including on billboards, buses, and buildings. These large-scale works have cemented Kruger’s reputation as one of the most important living artists working today.
What is the meaning behind “Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face)”?
In “Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face)”, Barbara Kruger combines found images with powerful words to create a searing commentary on the objectification of women. The piece was created in 1983, at a time when the feminist movement was gaining momentum.
The image shows a woman’s face in profile, with the words “Your gaze hits the side of my face” superimposed. The words are written in Kruger’s signature sans-serif style, in white against a red background. The effect is both striking and unsettling.
Kruger has said that she wants her art to make people “stop and think about social issues.” With this piece, she forces viewers to confront their own complicity in the objectification of women. By turning the tables and making the viewer the object of scrutiny, she makes us question our own role in perpetuating a culture that demeans and degrades women.
How did Kruger create this piece?
This artwork was created by American artist Barbara Kruger in 1990. It consists of a close-up photograph of a woman’s face with the words “your gaze hits the side of my face” printed in white letters on a red background.
Kruger often uses found photographs and combines them with provocative text to create her signature style of art. In this piece, she is commentating on the way that women are constantly being watched and judged. The close-up nature of the photograph creates a sense of intrusion, while the red color suggests danger or warning.
Kruger is known for her feminist artworks that deal with issues such as gender inequality, racism, and consumerism. This piece is part of a larger body of work that includes other famous pieces such as “I Shop Therefore I Am” and “You Are Not Yourself”.
What are some similar pieces by Kruger?
“Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face)” is a 1983 photo-text work by American artist Barbara Kruger. The work consists of a black-and-white photograph of a woman’s face with the words “Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face” printed in Kruger’s signature white Futura Bold Oblique typeface.
Kruger is best known for her use of stark black-and-white images and bold, declarative texts in her work, which she began making in the late 1970s. “Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face)” is a classic example of her signature style.
Some other similar pieces by Barbara Kruger include “Untitled (I Shop Therefore I Am),” “Untitled (Questions),” and “Untitled (We Won’t Play Nature to Your Culture).”