Barbara Kruger

Kruger first emerged in the 80’s when her nighttime campaigns in New York plastering denunciatory text-based posters across the city, her work confronts viewers with their own principles and expectations which are usually an expression of cultural norms.

Her collage-like work appear in a style as like corporate designs which uses combative messages leap out at us written in contrast whit black and red, by using bold italic text against grainy photographs.

Kruger Said:

“I try to deal with the complexities of power and social life, but as far as presentation goes I purposely avoid a high degree of difficulty. I want people to be drawn in and view with ease."

An example of her using text is her most famous "Your Body is a Battleground" across a portrait of a women's face to calls attention to a major demonstration that was in Washington, D.C,  in the defense of the right of abortion - this particularly poster made history and was used in many other countries in the fight for women's rights 

One piece of work that caught my eye  is on the ideal image of women reflected in the media "Super Rich. Ultra Gorgeous. Extra Skinny. Forever Young" is written across a models face recovering from plastic surgery

Kruger's main influences on her work was Kruger's experiences in important positions as a graphic designer, photo editor and art director for big magazines such as Vogue and Mademoiselle - so she became familiar with the aesthetic and linguistic strategies of advertising and media  so she successfully adopts their methods and subverts them.