Betye Saar, whose assemblages of racist memorabilia delivered searing commentary on the condition of the Black American, died on July 26 at the age of 99.
As a leading figure of the Black Arts Movement, Saar built a body of work that confronted racism with sharpness and force. Her art transformed troubling found objects into pointed cultural critique.
Through those assemblages, Saar examined the images and symbols that shaped Black life in America. Her work stood as an enduring challenge to racist attitudes and assumptions.
Her death on July 26 closes a remarkable life and career that left a lasting mark on contemporary art. Saar remained widely recognized for the power and urgency of her work.
