From Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre to the Guerrilla Girls' disruptive visuals, art has long been an evocative form of activism. 

Art allows us to express complex feelings, uplift the often-unseen, and call out bad actors who may otherwise hold greater power over us. Just think of Dorothea Lange's haunting images of farmers struggling in the Dust Bowl, or the iconic ACT UP posters spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS deaths.

This critical moment, when our nation faces a constitutional crisis and our democracy is at risk, is rife with inspiration for artistic advocacy. In honor of our Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative to defend democracy, we collaborated with Andrea Pippins, a female artist and author originally from PG County, Maryland, to create an image that would inspire us through this fight.

Andrea's core mission to empower others through her art and storytelling directly aligns with the League's mission to empower voters. Past projects include the bestselling "Young, Gifted, and Black," book series, designing a national Kwanzaa stamp with the US Postal Service, and collaborating with the Malala Fund, among many other credits.

The League is honored to have commissioned her work for Unite and Rise. We interviewed her about her art, womanhood, and activism below.

How Would You Describe Yourself As An Artist?

I would describe myself as a storyteller, with writing but mainly through illustration. 

My work is really rooted in identity with an emphasis on creativity, curiosity, and connection, and I’m really interested in how art can help people, especially women and girls, feel more seen and whole. 

Visually, my work is vibrant and celebratory, and usually with a deeper intention to share messages about self-worth, belonging, and healing. 

I think of my practice not just as making images, but as creating experiences that invite people to reconnect with their creativity and their inner world. 

How Did the Theme Unite and Rise Inspire This Work? 

My hope was to create an image that expressed the power of women coming together for a bigger purpose. I knew the figures would be arm in arm in some way, while reaching high above the clouds, towards the sun, for change. 

I was inspired by protest posters from the 60s and 70s and the beautiful activism imagery from the See Red Women’s Workshop. 

Commit to Unite and Rise With Us

What Details Do You Hope People Notice?

There are two things: the symmetry in the linked arms that are central to the piece, and then the circles on their shirts, which represent buttons and pay homage to one of my visual heroes, Emory Douglas, who is a graphic designer, artist, and was the Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party. He frequently used buttons on his figures to show a person involved in a cause for the people.

How Does Being a Woman Influence Your Work As An Artist?

 We live in a world where women are often taught to shrink themselves, or to take care of everyone else before taking care of themselves, both of which I’ve had to actively dismantle in my own life. 

Through that process, I’ve been learning a lot, and with that, my work is a way of sharing what I’ve learned. Because of this, I create art and stories that center themes of identity, self-worth, and well-being. 

My books, art, and writing often focus on empowering women and girls to self-nurture, to take up space, and to recenter themselves in their own lives, because when we are clear on who we are, we’re better able to show up for and serve our communities. 

Great news for fans of Andrea's beautiful work — you can now purchase swag with her custom art at the LWV store!

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Are you an artist using your medium to speak up? We'd love to see your work! Message us on Instagram.

It's time to Unite and Rise.