The Muse And Her Artist

Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict | A Virtual Exhibition

​I an honored to have my watercolor and ink drawing 'Web' included in the Woman Made Gallery (WMG) virtual exhibition "Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict | A Virtual Exhibition".which will be on display
 August 16–November 15, 2025 

Woman Made Gallery reflected upon how a world increasingly shaped by political unrest, censorship, and global crises, artists are often confronted with a critical question: What is my responsibility in the face of conflict? Must art speak truth to power—or is silence also a choice?
“Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict” is a virtual group exhibition that explores the tensions artists face when navigating our creative practice in politically charged environments. The title plays on the dual meaning of “drawing”—as both a visual act and a metaphor for tracing boundaries, beliefs, or courage.
Woman Made Gallery  invited women and non-binary artists from around the world to submit work that confronts, reflects on, or challenges political realities—whether global or deeply personal. Submissions could explore war, migration, censorship, social justice, protest, surveillance, gender-based oppression, or the quiet defiance of everyday survival. They were especially interested in works that wrestle with the dilemma of making art in a time of unrest: how to act, what to say, and what it means to resist.
Since August 2025 Woman Made Gallery (WMG) has presented “Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict,” a virtual group exhibition that explores the tensions artists face when navigating their creative practice in politically charged environments.  The exhibition will be available online untile November 15, 2025.

The title plays on the dual meaning of “drawing”—as both a visual act and a metaphor for tracing boundaries, beliefs, or courage. In a world increasingly shaped by political unrest, censorship, and global crises, artists are often confronted with a critical question: What is my responsibility in the face of conflict? Must art speak truth to power—or is silence also a choice? Selections by WMG’s Program Committee include works that confront, reflect on, or challenge political realities—whether global or deeply personal.
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Exhibiting Artists: Ellis Angel, Lucy Aragon, Amal Azzam, Jenny Balisle, Jesper Beckholt, Carol Bivins, Blackmedu$a, Sally Jane Brown, Lulu Luyao Chang, Violet Costello, Rosemary Ann Davis, Graciela DeAnda, Mary Rose Deraco, Jena Doolas, Julianna Finch, Claire Flath, Shawna Gibbs, Julie Glass, Renee Golway, Farah Art Griffin, Deborah Hirshfield, Joanna Hoge, Maggy Hovden, Doina Mihaela Iacob, Meg Katherine Johnson, Tumí Johnson, Elizabeth Kelly, Helen Klebesadel, Kim Laurel, Michelle Louis, Ruth Marchese, Kristen Martin-Aarnio, Clarissa Martinez, Lineadeluz, Heather Mawson, Lori McCoy, Angela A. McElwain, Shanna Merola, Amy L Misurelli Sorensen, Jacie Morgan, Ena Mork, Yue Nakayama, Kelsey Nichols, Laura O’Connor, Olivia Outlaw, Monika Andrew Poray, Nina Rastgar, Ippy, Kathy Sayad Zatari, Mary Senter, Rosa Silver, Sarah Sipling, Talon, Alexandra Rey, Susanne McKenzie Swanson, Jacqueline E. Tirey, Rhonda Urdang, Ria Vanden Eynde, Vikkokoro, Denise Weaver Ross, Lisa Wright, Denise Yaghmourian, Jane Zich.

See ALL the artworks  here:  Drawing Resistance Exhibition.

MY ARTIST EXHIBITION STATEMENT
We all can use the tools we have to make our world better. I am an artist and my art is the best, most powerful way I have to make a positive difference. Starting January 1, 2024 I starting my Drawing for Good Project. I posted on social media a-drawing-a-day each day where I drew into an existing watercolor sampler from my collection of unfinished small watercolors that were demos from teaching watercolor workshops. For all of 2024 I posted and sold the small works unframed and un-matted for $100 apiece and donated the profits to good causes of my choosing. I created 366 pieces in 2024. I still occasionally add to the collection. Now the works are sold matted and at market value but I still donate $100 from each work from the collection to good causes of my choosing as they sell. Over 150 pieces have found new homes. My main artwork is focused on the health of our planet, pollinators and climate change. These small works allow me to address issues that arise daily and are small creative ‘spells’ to name and control the uncontrollable. I continue to channel my concerns into all of my art and to uses my tools to address these times as best I can both in the art and with small bits of support where I can. We can not all do everything, but we can all do something.

​ABOUT THE ARTIST Helen Klebesadel is an artist, educator, and arts activist living and maintaining her art studio in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Born and raised in the rural Midwest, she is best known for her environmental and feminist themed large-scale watercolors. Klebesadel has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, and her artworks are represented in many public and private the art collections. A celebrated mentor to less experienced artists, Klebesadel models making beautiful yet meaningful art centered around issues important to her while working to help others do the same in their own way.