Amongst a menagerie of female artists who have risen from the woodwork of the feminist art movement
since Judy Chicago in the 1970’s, Maud Sulter is perhaps overshadowed by the likes of Cindy Sherman,
who undoubtedly made a more resounding impression on the art world. This doesn’t, however, make
Sulter any less relevant. Like Sherman, Sulter’s artwork is based around the creation of “characters”, like
Sherman, Sulter herself plays these characters, and like Sherman, puts herself in front of the camera to
create a “self portrait” that does not actually portray “the self”.
Sulter, of Ghanaian descent, was born in Scotland in 1960. Her mixed heritage and upbringing during the
period of second-wave feminism led to a heightened awareness of identity, which resulted in her artwork
exploring Blackwoman characters.
I found myself so intrigued by the work of Maud Su