Barbara Kruger Analysis

Barbara Kruger is by any bar one of the most unique and celebrated artists of the 21st Century. Her style of employing popular culture both as a tool and subject in her artistic works to critique common norms and values has changed the way we think about postmodern life. The questions and ideas brought forth by her work traverses consumerism, race, autonomy and economics. Her ability to use few words and an image to create an instant connection between the artist, the message and the viewer is a show of her artistic genius. Her oeuvre of applying catchy phrases in contemporary publications, magazines and graphic designs creates a fusion with the façade that is graphic design. Her work does not go outright to market a product to the consumer,
His encouragement to prepare a portfolio when she was losing interest in art school led her to mademoiselle where she got her first employment. During this time, she had not yet mastered the assimilation of signage, mass media imagery and language into her pieces of art work. Her focus at this point had been mainly architectural photography, erotic imagery and painting. After working as an art director, picture editor and graphic designer at the House and Garden and Aperture, her understanding and appreciation of the graphic image begun to surface. In 1973, Marcia Tucker selected several of Barbara’s art pieces to be displayed at the Whitney Biennial exhibit. This gave her the exposure she needed to get her work out into the art
It was formally launched at Mary Boone Gallery and also showed at Glasglow`s Tramway Complex. “Twelve” is composed of twelve short scenes all composed by Kruger. The video is performed by actors and the projections are on opposite sides of each other. Out of the 12 scenes, nine of them occur at a mealtime setting. Texts are shown scrolling at the bottom of the scenes showing the discussion on global politics and prejudice. Her critics of essays and publication reviews in The New York Times and The Village Voice have made significant contributions to the literary