Kara Walker

It would be a disservice to try to encompass Kara Walker's work in a paragraph. She is best known for her cutout style art and puppet performances, exploring racial violence, sexuality, and the history of the U.S. South. I first watched this video as a high school student, studying visual arts in North Carolina's Governor's School program in Winston-Salem.

Some of her work was on display at the Nasher Museum of Art in their 2016 exhibit, Southern Accent: Seeking the American South in Contemporary Art. I spent almost an hour with her work. It's mesmerizing. Many of her pieces are graphic and disturbing, and I remember them clearly, years later. Walker's art leans into discomfort, and provides an avenue to unpack historical trauma.

When I think about Southern-focused art, Walker is a standout.