
Photo: Courtesy MARC STRAUS Gallery
This women-only exhibition honors the life and achievements of the late Bella Abzug.
Known as “Battling Bella,” the Bronx-born congresswoman was an equal rights activist and founder of the Women’s Environmental and Development Organization (WEDO). She was a “tireless and indomitable fighter for justice and peace, equal rights, human dignity, environmental integrity and sustainable development.”
Almost as famous for her hats as for her flamboyant rhetoric, she never backed away from an opportunity to fight for her causes. Until her death, in 1988 at age 77, she attracted considerable controversy as well as virulent defenders and supporters.
“They knew her as Battling Bella,” friend and admirer Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski told the The Baltimore Sun. “But I knew her as someone who had a very big heart and a very large agenda.”
The die-hard Democrat affected many through her life’s work, and this group show commemorates her through a range of unique artworks from both emerging to mid-career artists. The exhibition is jam-packed with an amazing lineup of women artists, including New York City-based Ann Craven and Shirin Neshat.
Marc Straus, 299 Grand Street, LES. Through July 29.