Barbara Kruger (b. 1945, Newark, New Jersey) is a leading American conceptual artist best known for her striking text-and-image works that critique consumerism, power, identity, and gender. Using bold white-on-red captions over black-and-white photographs, she developed an unmistakable visual language that has made her one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.
Trained at Parsons under Diane Arbus and Marvin Israel, Kruger began her career in magazine design and picture editing - a background that shaped her precise command of visual communication. By the late 1970s, she had established her signature style, pairing appropriated media images with provocative statements such as “Your body is a battleground” and “I shop therefore I am.”
Her work challenges mass media’s impact on personal and cultural values while engaging audiences directly through the use of pronouns like “you” and “we.” Beyond galleries, Kruger has brought her art into public spaces through billboards, buses, and architectural installations, ensuring her critiques reach everyday life.
Exhibited internationally and housed in major collections including MoMA and Tate, Kruger’s art continues to inspire artists, designers, and activists alike. Her practice remains a powerful force in visual culture, feminist discourse, and the ongoing interrogation of media and power.
