The Art of Resistance: Feminine Rage, Protest, and Power

Throughout history, art has been a crucial tool of resistance—especially for marginalized communities fighting to have their voices heard. In times of political repression and attacks on bodily autonomy, art becomes more than an expression; it is an act of defiance. My resistance series is born from this tradition, created at a time when women—particularly Jewish women like myself—are being told to be silent. Each piece in this series is an assertion of power, a refusal to be erased, and a visual protest against the forces that seek to control us.

Feminine Rage

For centuries, women’s anger has been demonized, dismissed, or weaponized against them. But rage, when harnessed, is a catalyst for change. *Feminine Rage* is a declaration that this anger is not only valid but necessary. The bold red lips symbolize the voice that refuses to be silenced, while the gold backdrop asserts its worth. The stark contrast between the deep reds and gold speaks to the intensity of emotion behind the message, visually echoing the historical struggle of women who have fought against oppression.

Historically, women’s voices—especially in matters of reproductive freedom—have been treated as less important, as though autonomy over our own bodies is up for debate. Feminine rage is often painted as hysteria, as something irrational, rather than as a justified response to systemic injustice. This piece stands as a reminder that rage is a response to injustice, a force that fuels movements, and an essential part of the fight for women's rights. The texture of the paint, rough and unrefined, further reinforces the raw emotion behind the piece—anger that cannot and should not be restrained.

Freedom Not Fascism

Resistance takes many forms, from marches to policy battles, and from spoken words to brushstrokes. “Freedom Not Fascism” captures the urgency of this moment—a hand gripping aprotest sign, a visual reminder that bodily autonomy is not a given but a right that must be defended. The bold colors—reds, blacks, and golds—echo the hues of revolution, signifying the fight against oppression. The deliberate texture of the lettering, raised and almost rough, evokes the feeling of handmade protest signs—crafted with urgency, carried with purpose. The fight for reproductive freedom is a fight against authoritarianism, against the state’s attempt to control our most personal decisions. We are living in an era where legal protections for bodily autonomy are being stripped away, where access to essential healthcare is under siege. The choice to depict a hand firmly gripping the sign is deliberate—it is the act of holding on, of standing firm in resistance. This imagery is rooted in a long history of activism, from the suffragettes who fought for voting rights to the feminist artists of the 1960s and 1970s who used art to demand liberation. Art has always played a role in protest movements, from suffragette banners to feminist zines. This piece continues that legacy, reinforcing that freedom is not something given; it is something fought for.

F the Patriarchy

The piece “Fuck the Patriarchy” is layered both visually and symbolically. The chaotic brushstrokes, the mixed-media text, and the gold foundation represent the complexity of dismantling patriarchal control. The phrase itself—bold, direct, and unapologetic—defies respectability politics, rejecting the notion that resistance should be polite or palatable. Over generations, the tools of oppression—laws, language, and cultural norms—have reinforced the idea that women's rights are secondary. Reproductive rights, in particular, have been used as a means to control women’s lives, futures, and choices. The background is embedded with cutouts from the 2015 Girlboss book. A brand of corporate feminism that claims empowerment while upholding the same oppressive structures. By painting over these texts, by disrupting them with forceful brushstrokes, this piece physically enacts the act of resistance—of dismantling oppressive structures. This piece declares that resistance is not polite, nor should it be. It is raw, unapologetic, and necessary. The words "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house" line the edges, a direct reference to Audre Lorde’s famous words, reminding us that we cannot dismantle oppression using the systems designed to uphold it. Instead, we must break the frame, redefine the conversation, and create our own paths forward.

The Call for Resistance Art

Art has always played a vital role in activism, amplifying the voices of those who demand change. Each piece in this series is a call to action, urging viewers to recognize that the battle for autonomy is far from over. Feminine Rage represents the collective anger of those who refuse to accept injustice. Freedom Not Fascism serves as a stark reminder that reproductive rights are human rights and that political oppression thrives when voices are silenced. F the Patriarchy dismantles the structures that have historically denied women control over their bodies and futures. I seek to contribute to a broader movement of resistance—one that uses art to inform, to provoke, and to inspire. These pieces are more than paintings; they are a testament to the ongoing fight for equality, for agency, and for the right to exist without oppression. This art stands as a defiant refusal to be silenced. Resistance takes many forms, and this is mine.

To create art in a time of oppression is an act of defiance. As a Jewish woman creating in an era of increasing hostility toward women’s rights, I refuse to be silent. The very act of putting brush to canvas, of asserting one’s presence in a space that seeks to erase or diminish it, is resistance. This series is a visual scream against injustice, a rallying cry for those who feel their autonomy slipping away. Feminist art is not just expression—it is activism. It forces people to confront what they would rather ignore and calls them to action. Each stroke, each layer, each word embedded into these pieces carries the weight of history—the battles fought before us, the ones we continue to fight today. Art has always been at the heart of resistance, and in this moment, we need it more than ever. This series stands as both a protest and an invitation—to feel, to fight, and to reclaim the power that has always been ours. The power to create, to speak, to demand, and to resist.