Martha Wilson

Martha Wilson is an artist that handles the topics that no woman (or man either) wants to touch, but everyone has to face - becoming their worst enemy while simultaneously doing away with that enemy through her art. Her fearless approach to age and gender roles makes one think about the piece with a smile on their face thanks to her lighthearted sense of humor. It is this sense of humor seen in her portraits and live performances that allows the viewer to connect with her work and eases the blow of the themes of her work, most of which have to do with appearances. We are all uncomfortable with our appearances at times, especially the aspect of age, but with her pieces like "I make up the image of my perfection/I make up the image of my deformity" and "I have become my own worst fear" she fearlessly exaggerates the truths that come with age and shows all - something that the majority of people in general do not have the courage to do. She also has a large role in political work with her impersonations of Barbara Bush with which she humorously makes political statements that bring up important thoughts in addition to just being wonderfully entertaining.