Howardena Pindell is an American artist known for her abstract paintings and works on paper. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1943 and received her BFA from Boston University and her MFA from Yale University.
Pindell began her career as an exhibiting artist in the 1970s, at a time when few women of color were given opportunities in the art world. Her work often explores issues of race, gender, and identity, and incorporates materials such as glitter, sequins, and hole-punched paper.
Pindell’s work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Venice Biennale. She has received numerous awards and grants for her work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts grant.
In addition to her art practice, Pindell has also worked as an educator and curator. She has taught at several universities and colleges, including Stony Brook University and Yale University, and has curated exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art and the Studio Museum in Harlem.