Throughout our history, women have been using creativity to challenge conventions, tell powerful stories, and shape culture.
Yet, more often than not, their contributions to society have been overlooked, underestimated, nearly swept into the dustbin of history.
But not today! From literature and design to film and music, women have paved the way for future generations and left behind legacies that continue to inspire little girls to this day!
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s time to recognize the trailblazers, visionaries, and rising stars who have made a huge impact on the arts! Today’s blog is a tribute to women who have made their mark across a variety of various creative fields.
Keep reading to learn more about women in the arts, their achievements, impacts, and how they encourage others to follow in their footsteps!
Why We Should Celebrate Those Who Came Before Us
The achievements of the following women in arts have served to break down barriers, redefine what’s possible, and pave the way for future generations!
Here is why it’s essential to honor the women who came before us:
- They Broke Barriers in Male-Dominated Fields – Many women faced discrimination and limited opportunities, yet they persevered, opening doors for future generations.
- Their Work Continues to Inspire – From timeless literature to iconic films and groundbreaking art, their creations continue to move and inspire people worldwide.
- They Championed New Perspectives – By sharing their experiences and viewpoints, women have contributed to every aspect of the arts, promoting diversity and inclusivity.
- Their Legacy Shapes Today’s Creatives – Modern artists, writers, and designers build on the foundation laid by these pioneers and continue to pushing boundaries even further.
- They Proved That Gender Is No Barrier to Success – By succeeding in fields where women were often excluded or underrepresented, they shattered stereotypes and proved that talent isn't limited to gender.
- Their Stories Teach Resilience and Courage – The challenges they overcame serve as powerful examples of perseverance, encouraging others to pursue their dreams.
- They Advocated for Future Generations – Many trailblazing women used their influence to fight for equal opportunities so that future generations could participate and thrive in creative fields.
Celebrating Women’s Achievements in the Arts
Ready to see how women have shaped the world of creativity?
In the sections below, divided by art category, we’ll explore their stories!
Women in Literature
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For centuries, female writers have been using the written word to tell stories and document experiences that might have otherwise gone unheard. From poetry to novels, the following 5 women have shaped the art of literature and left their mark on the world!
Sappho of Lesbos (c. 630–570 BCE)
Women have been telling stories just as long as history has been recorded.
Sappho was a poet in ancient Greece, whose lyrical poetry was known to celebrate themes like love, desire, and the human experience.
Though most of her work has been lost to history, what survives of her poetry are some of the most revered in classical literature, so much so that her influence on expressive poetry is still felt even thousands of years later.
Fun Fact: Sappho’s poetry was so admired in her day that wise guy Plato supposedly referred to her as the “Tenth Muse.” And if you know your mythology, you know that being placed alongside the nine Muses of Greek Mythology means you have some serious poetic clout!
Mary Shelley (1797–1851)
Mary Shelley is best known as the author of Frankenstein (1818), a novel that not only pioneered the sci-fi genre but also explored deep themes of ambition and what it means to be human.
She was only 18 years old when she wrote it too, defying the literary norms of her time. Her work continues to inspire writers and filmmakers to this day.
Fun Fact: Frankenstein was the result of a spooky ghost story competition! In 1816, Mary, her husband, Percy Shelley, the literary figure Lord Byron, and others were stuck indoors due to a volcanic winter. Byron decided to pass the time one night by proposing that they each write a ghost story, resulting in Mary creating one of the most famous monsters in literary history!
Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)
A key figure in modern literature, Virginia Woolf is celebrated for authoring groundbreaking novels like Mrs. Dalloway (1925) and To the Lighthouse (1927), which experimented with stream-of-consciousness narration and some deep psychological insight.
She also became an advocate for women’s rights in literature, pushing for the financial and intellectual independence of female writers in an industry dominated by men.
Fun Fact: Virginia Woolf was part of the influential Bloomsbury Group, a circle of writers, intellectuals, and artists who helped shape 20th-century politics and culture!
Maya Angelou (1928–2014)
A poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou’s work explored themes of identity, racism, and resilience in the face of adversity.
One of her best-known works, the autobiographical masterpiece, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), broke new ground with its addressing of racism, trauma, and the Black female experience.
A powerful voice for social justice, Angelou’s words continue to inspire generators of readers, writers, and activists alike.
Fun Fact: Before becoming a world-famous writer, Maya Angelou spent her youth in a variety of colorful careers, including a calypso singer, streetcar conductor, and professional dancer! Talk about a lady of many talents!
Toni Morrison (1931–2019)
Toni Morrison was a Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize-winning novelist whose books examined themes like race, history, and racial identity in America.
Her books Beloved (1987), Song of Solomon (1977), and The Bluest Eye (1970) were extremely popular, giving a narrative voice to Black experiences, often through the themes of love, pain, and resilience. Her storytelling earned her a place as one of the most influential writers of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Fun Fact: Before she became a famous writer, Toni Morrison was an editor, helping bring Black literature to a wider audience. She edited works from other famous authors like Angela Davis and even Muhammad Ali!
Women in Fashion Design
Fashion is more than just clothing! It’s also a form of cultural identity, self-expression, and a way to innovate through design!
And, throughout history, women designers have been doing just that. Check out the following ladies who have left an undeniable mark on the world of fashion design.
Rose Bertin (1747–1813)
Often called the world’s first fashion designer, Rose Bertin was a personal dressmaker to the last queen of France, Marie “let them eat cake” Antoinette.
And since Marie Antoinette was the fashion trendsetter of her time, women across Europe emulated her elaborate gowns and towering hairstyles. Through her, Rose Bertin helped revolutionize fashion in 18th-century France, turning dressmaking from a necessary craft to a true art form. Bertina’s extravagant gowns defined the opulence of the Rococo era and helped to establish Paris as the fashion capital of the world!
Fun Fact: Bertin was one of the first to use fashion as a political statement, designing elaborate styles that symbolized the wealth and status of members of the French court.
Coco Chanel (1883–1971)
There are few names as iconic in fashion history as Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.
She was a key figure in women’s fashion in the early 20th century, rejecting the restrictive corsets of the time in favor of sleek and much more comfortable designs. Whether you know her from her Chanel No. 5 perfume, her tweed suit, or “the little black dress,” Coco Chanel introduced the world to fashion mainstays that are still elegant and chic to this day.
Fun Fact: Chanel was the first designer to feature her initials — the interlocking CC logo — on her designs. It remains one of the recognizable symbols of luxury today.
Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973)
A true visionary in the fashion world, Elsa Schiaparelli was known for blending fashion with art, collaborating with artists like Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau to create surrealist-inspired designs.
She’s credited with popularizing shocking pink, trompe-l'œil designs, and whimsical motifs like the famous lobster dress. Schiaparelli’s avant-garde approach set the stage for modern high fashion.
Fun Fact: Schiaparelli created the first-ever wrap dress in the 1930s — decades before Diane von Furstenberg made it famous!
Vera Wang (1949–present)
The queen of bridal couture, Vera Wang has transformed wedding fashion using her sophisticated, modern, and, sometimes, unconventionally designed gowns.
Starting off as a fashion editor for Vogue Magazine, Wang then pivoted into bridal design and launched her first collection in 1990. Today, her name is synonymous with elegance and luxury in the wedding game.
Fun Fact: Vera Wang started her career as a figure skater before taking her fashion editor job at Vogue!
Stella McCartney (1971–present)
A trailblazer in sustainable fashion, Stella McCartney (daughter of Beatle’s Paul!) has made it her mission to design luxury fashion in ways that does no harm to our planet!
She’s known for her commitment to vegan leather, cruelty-free materials, and environmentally responsible production. Her brand, Stella McCartney, was founded in 2001 and has become a global leader in ethical fashion, proving that style and sustainability can go together hand in hand.
Fun Fact: McCartney was the first designer to create a 100% vegan leather handbag for a major luxury fashion house!
Sandy Liang (1991–present)
A rising star in contemporary fashion, Sandy Liang has taken the industry by storm with her playful, nostalgic and, well, cool designs.
Best known for her signature fleece jackets, puffed-up silhouettes, and modern takes on traditional Chinese attire, Sandy Liang’s blend of streetwear with feminine detailing has made her a favorite among fashion lovers!
Fun Fact: Liang’s early fleece jacket designs were inspired by the ones her grandma used to wear!
Women in Graphic Design and Visual Arts
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Throughout history, women have played a big role in visual storytelling, everything from paintings in antiquity to modern digital design.
The following are 6 trailblazers who have made a lasting impact on the world of graphic design and digital arts!
Timarete (5th Century BCE)
Also known as Thamyris, Thamar, or Tamaris, Timarete was an ancient Greek painter and one of the few recorded female artists of antiquity.
She was mostly known for her religious paintings, particularly a depiction of the goddess Artemis at Ephesus.
Fun Fact: Timarete is listed by name among the female painters listed by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, one of the oldest sources of recorded art history in the world!
Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614)
Lavinia Fontana was an accomplished Italian painter of the Renaissance and one of the first women to paint female nudes. She is known for her work in portraiture and religious scenes.
Her work was so highly regarded in her time that it was common for her to receive commissions from high-ranking patrons which even included Pope Clement VIII!
Fun Fact: Fontana was able to support her entire family financially with her art— a very rare accomplishment for a woman of her time!
Paula Scher (1948–present)
Paula Scher is a powerhouse figure in modern graphic design, well known for her use of bold typography and branding work.
A key figure at the multidisciplinary design firm, Pentagram, her designs have shaped the identities of brands and public spaces and have inspired countless young people looking for a career in the arts and graphic design!
Fun Fact: Paula Scher designed the iconic CitiBank logo in just five minutes! (But, as she modestly puts it, it took a lifetime of experience to be able to do so.)
Susan Kare (1954–present)
A pioneer of digital iconography, Susan Kare is the designer who was behind many of the original Macintosh icons, which helped bring some personality and ease of use to the earliest computer interfaces.
Her icon, like the friendly Mac smiley face, remains an icon in the tech world!
Fun Fact: The original “command” key symbol on Apple keyboards was inspired by a Swedish road sign indicating a landmark or attraction.
Debbie Millman (1962–present)
Designer, author, and host of the popular design podcast, Design Matters, Debbie Millman is a leading voice in the world of branding and design education.
Her podcast, Design Matters, is one of the first and longest-running podcasts about design! Give it a listen here if you’re looking for a source of insight and inspiration!
Fun Fact: Through her podcast, Debbie Millman has interviewed hundreds of creative minds, including Marina Abramovic, Seth Godin, and Tim Ferriss!
Jessica Walsh (1986–present)
Known for her bold and vibrant style and experimental branding, graphic designer, art director, and illustrator, Jessica Walsh, has made a name for herself in the world of contemporary design!
She is the founder of the popular New York creative agency, &Walsh and, through her agency, continues to push the boundaries of design and visual communication.
Fun Fact: Early in her career, Jessica turned down a 6-figure salary job at Apple in favor of working for a small agency — according to her, it was the best decision she ever made!
Women in Television
From pioneering producers to groundbreaking performers, women have played a vital role in shaping the evolution of television.
Through their bold innovation, storytelling techniques, and sheer determination in a typically male-dominated industry, the following five women have transformed the industry and left a lasting impact on the silver screen!
Lucille Ball (1911–1989)
Lucille Ball, best known as Lucy, was a comedic trailblazer best known for creating and starting the 1950s series I Love Lucy, one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time.
As the first woman to head a major television production company (Desilu Productions), Ball helped to shape the modern sitcom format and revolutionized TV with techniques like multi-camera filming, live studio audiences, and syndication — models still used today.
Fun Fact: Despite being known for her signature red hair, Lucille Ball was a natural blonde! She dyed her hair red for a role in a musical in 1943 and decided to keep the look for the rest of her career!
Diahann Carroll (1935–2019)
Not so long ago in 1968, actress Diahann Carroll made history as the first Black woman to lead a non-servant role in a television series when she starred as the title character in the sitcom Julia (1968–1971).
The show was groundbreaking for its portrayal of a successful Black professional woman on TV at a time when that kind of representation was a rare thing. Carroll was also a Tony Award-winning actress and had a celebrated career in television, film, and theater.
Fun Fact: Caroll was good friends with legendary actor Sidney Poitier! They met in 1959 while filming the movie musical Porgy and Bess.
Betty White (1922–2021)
One of America’s favorite grandmas, Betty White’s television career started when she was much younger and spanned over eight decades, making her one of the most beloved figures in entertainment.
She starred in numerous iconic roles, including that of Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls (1985). In addition to her acting roles, White was also a television pioneer behind the scenes as well, becoming one of the first female producers in Hollywood with her show Life with Elizabeth (1953).
Fun Fact: Betty White holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career of a female entertainer in television, making her debut in 1939!
Nichelle Nichols (1932–2022)
Nichelle Nichols made history as Lieutenant Uhura on TV’s Star Trek (1966).
Her presence on the bridge of the USS Enterprise was groundbreaking during the civil rights movement and was one of the first depictions of a Black woman in a non-stereotypical role. She used her Star Trek fame to later work with NASA to recruit women and minorities into the space program!
Fun Fact: Martin Luther King Jr. personally convinced Nichols not to leave Star Trek, as he felt her role was too important for Black representation!
Mary Tyler Moore (1936–2017)
Mary Tyler Moore transformed how women were depicted on screen with her role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970), where she played a single, independent career woman at a time when most female TV leads were defined by their marriage and families.
Still in syndication today, The Mary Tyler Moore Show paved the way for future career-oriented female-led sitcoms like 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and Murphy Brown.
Moore was also a producer and director as well, co-founding MTM Enterprises, which produced wildly successful shows like The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, and Hill Street Blues.
Fun Fact: Those of a certain age remember the famous Mary Tyler Moore opening scene (the freeze frame of her tossing her hat in the air). It’s so iconic that there’s now a statue of it in Minneapolis where the show was set!
Women in Filmmaking
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From way back in the silent film era to the multi-million dollar blockbusters of today’s movies, women have played a huge role in shaping the direction of cinema.
The following five women are directors, writers, and producers who have pushed boundaries, challenged the norm, and proved that great cinema has nothing to do with gender!
Alice Guy-Blache (1873–1968)
Alice Guy-Blache was the first female film director and an influential figure in the days of early cinema.
She worked at Gaumont Studios in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France in the l890s and directed what is widely regarded to be the first-ever narrative film, La Fee aux Choux (The Cabbage Fairy) (1896).
Her career spanned decades and she either directed or produced over 1,000 films, many of which explored new techniques at the time, including things like synchronized sound and color tinting.
Fun Fact: Alice Guy-Blache’s contributions to film have only been rediscovered in recent years! Historians are working to restore her films and secure her legacy in the filmmaking industry!
Agnes Varda (1928–2019)
Agnes Varda was a key figure in the French New Wave movement, a film movement of the 1950s and 60s, characterized by experimentation and personal storytelling.
She was a director of films that were personal and poetic, blurring the lines of fiction and documentary. Films like Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) and Vagabond (1985) cemented her reputation as a master storyteller. Varda was the first woman to receive an honorary Academy Award for her contribution to cinema, making her an icon of independent and experimental filmmaking.
Fun Fact: Even in her later years, she was still making movies, releasing the Oscar-nominated documentary Faces Places (2017) at the age of 89!
Kathryn Bigelow (1951–present)
A director known for her gritty action films, Kathryn Bigelow made history in 2010 when she became the first-ever woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director for her Iraqi war film, The Hurt Locker (2008).
Other notable works of Bigelow include the critically acclaimed Zero Dark Thirty (2012) and Point Break (1991).
Fun Fact: When Bigelow won her Best Director Oscar, she beat out her ex-husband James Cameron, who had been nominated for Avatar (2009) that year!
Keiko Niwa (1959–present)
Keiko Niwa is a renowned screenwriter who has played a vital role in shaping the emotional depth and storytelling of Studio Ghibli’s (Japan’s most famous animation studio) most beloved films.
As one of the few women in the male-dominated anime industry, she has been instrumental in the creation of the strong female protagonists and deep narratives that are hallmarks of Ghibli’s work.
Some of her screenwriting credits include films like The Secret World of Arrietty (2010), From Up on Poppy Hill (2011), and When Marnie Was There (2014).
Fun Fact: Keiko Niwa was one of Studio Ghibli’s first female screenwriters, paving the way for more women to contribute to the studio’s legacy!
Ava DuVernay (1972–present)
Ava DuVernay has made history as a trailblazer for Black women in Hollywood.
She was the first Black woman to direct a film (Selma, 2014) that was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and also the first to direct a $100 million dollar-budget film (A Wrinkle in Time, 2018).
She’s also an advocate for racial justice, as seen in her documentary 13th (2016), which explores mass incarceration in the United States.
Fun Fact: Before getting into filmmaking, DuVernay worked as a publicist. She didn’t direct her first film until she was in her 30s, proving that it’s never too late to switch gears to follow your passion!
Chole Zhao (1981–present)
Chloe Zhao is a screenwriter and film director known for her intimate, natural storytelling style that blends real-life elements with fiction.
She made history in 2021 by becoming the first Asian woman (and the 2nd woman overall after Kathryn Bigelow!) to win the Academy Award for Best Director for her film Nomadland (2020), which also won Best Picture that year too!
Other notable films she both wrote and directed are The Rider (2017) and Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015).
Fun Fact: One of her professors at NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts was acclaimed director, Spike Lee!
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Honoring the Women Who Shaped the Arts
The women featured in this tribute have left broken barriers, challenged norms, and left a huge impact on the creative world.
Their contributions span centuries and disciplines, proving that artistry knows no gender and that talent, resilience, and passion can reshape entire industries and redefine what’s possible!
But there are more stories to tell!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we’ll explore even more incredible contributions from women who continue to shape the creative world and inspire the generations to follow in their footsteps!
