About City of Berkeley Public Art Collection

Discovery

Artist: Betye Saar

Betye Saar was born in Pasadena, California. During visits to her grandmother in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts, she watched as the fantastic Watts Towers were slowly being constructed by Simon Rodia out of broken glass, bottle tops, and other junk. The experience would later influence her own work.
Saar was a latecomer to art. Graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1949 and then marrying, she returned to California State University at Long Beach to earn a teaching certificate. There she was exposed to printmaking and decided to get an MFA in graphic design. However, when her prints began to win competitions, she reconsidered and at the age of thirty-four turned to art as a full-time career.

National Racism: We Was Mostly 'Bout Survival by Betye Saar, Image 1.

Betye Saar
National Racism: We Was Mostly 'Bout Survival, 1998

Color silkscreen

City of Berkeley Public Art Collection

Artist: Betye Saar