A few days ago marked the birthday of Ana Mendieta, a visionary Cuban-American artist whose work resonates deeply with me. Today, I honor Ana Mendieta by sharing her story and celebrating the works that have profoundly moved me. Her art not only bridges the material and spiritual worlds but also challenges us to reexamine our relationship with the earth and with each other.
© The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC, vía Galerie Lelong & Co.v
Mendieta’s artistry bridged the realms of body art and land art, leaving the imprint of the female form on the landscape and extending the language of sculpture into the natural world. Her profound connection with elemental materials such as earth, water, and tree bark reflects a mythical and spiritual relationship with nature, creating a dialogue that feels both timeless and transformative.
She was a pioneer, not only as a woman artist but also as an explorer of ancient myths and prehistoric art. She found inspiration in the omnipresence of the feminine and its deep-rooted connection with nature—an aspect she believed was central to the artistic practices of indigenous and European cultures of the past. Her work often explored themes of creation, faith, and femininity, bringing these ideas to life through natural materials like clay, grass, flowers, and branches.
Ana Mendieta, Imágen de Yágul, 1973/2018. Color photograph. © The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC. Courtesy Galerie Lelong & Co.
One of her most inspiring series for me is Siluetas, a collection of sculptures and imprints crafted from natural elements. These forms evoke a sense of unity between the human body and the earth, embodying creation myths and highlighting the interconnectedness of life. Mendieta’s work also underscores the parallels between the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women. Both are treated as inferior, as commodities to be owned, used, and discarded—a stark truth that Mendieta boldly illuminated in her art.
Untitled: Silueta Series, Iowa
Ana Mendieta. Untitled: Silueta Series, Iowa From Silueta Works in Iowa, 1976-1978, 1976-78. Color photograph. © The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC. Licensed by the Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York
Exhibition View: “Ana Mendieta. In Search of Origin,” MUSAC, 2024. Untitled: Silueta Series, 1978/2024 (detail) © The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC. Courtesy of The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC and Galerie Lelong & Co. / VEGAP, Madrid, 2024.
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1948, Mendieta emigrated to the United States as a child. Her early experiences of displacement deeply influenced her practice, infusing it with themes of belonging, identity, and spiritual reconnection with the earth. Though her life was tragically cut short in 1985, her legacy continues to inspire generations of artists.