Women of Change

“Women of Change” captures an accurate but unfortunate reality: in the 21st century, women continue to face significant pay inequality, with most recent data suggesting that women in the United States earn an average of 80 cents to every dollar earned by men.

80 brightly colored pennies each featuring a graphic depiction of different, influential women on each against an orange background.

Artwork featuring a grid of 80 colorful circular portraits, each representing a unique woman of change from various backgrounds and time periods. Each portrait is set against a vibrant backdrop and encapsulated within a circle, creating a cohesive, p

A colorful artwork by artist Kristin Simmons featuring 80 circular portraits of diverse women against a neutral background. Each portrait showcases a woman with a unique hairstyle, facial features, and color palette, indicating a range of ethnicities

"A pink poster featuring multiple circular portraits of various individuals in pastel colors. Each portrait is encased in a colored circle with a name or word written around it. At the bottom of the poster, there's a bold caption that reads, ""WHAT S

About

Simmons’ professional experience in the atmosphere of corporate advertising was the impetus for this series and commissioned as part of UNSDG5 - (The United Nations Sustainability Development Goal #5) aiming to achieve global gender equality through conversation and collaboration.

The piece itself features 80 “pennies,” with original illustrations of historically renowned women across myriad industries who have contributed to the dialogue and fight for gender equality.

Simmons made this piece in 2019 prior to COVID - with the intention of updating the design annually, so she included a “Jane Doe,” portrait - meant to encourage women to continue fighting for equality and further close the gender wage gap.

The Barbara Kruger-esque question about “What Sense (aka - ‘cents’) will you give up for a Dollar?” is a double-entendre meant to challenge and inspire audiences not only to understand current economic disparities, but also to respect and learn about the gender wage gap across most industries.

DIMENSIONS: 40(h) x 28(w)
MEDIUM: Limited Run Print; Edition of 80 (each), Signed and Numbered
YEAR: 2019

Meet the Women

Women in Global Politics

Margaret Thatcher

First female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom known for her conservative policies and leadership during the Cold War.
Eva Peron

Argentine leader who passionately advanced women's rights and tirelessly championed social justice causes.
Indira Gandhi

Legacy in Indian politics marked by significant achievements and a complex impact on the nation's history.
Hillary Clinton

Prominent leader known for her diplomatic achievements, advocacy for women's rights, and extensive public service.
Melinda Gates

Philanthropist and advocate for women's empowerment and global health via leveraging her resources to drive change.
Wangari Maathai

Pioneering environmentalist who led the Green Belt Movement and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Golda Meir

Fourth Prime Minister of Israel celebrated for her leadership in a pivotal moment and contributions to her nation.
Malala Yousafzal

Global advocate for girls' education, surviving an attack to continue her fight for gender equality and access to schooling.

Women in Writing & Literature

Jodi Kantor

Pulitzer-prize winning writer and journalist (exposed Harvey Weinstein) who has contributed to significant political discourse.
Jane Austen

English writer known for her novels which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry in the 1800s.
Betty Friedan

Wrote the pivotal book "The Feminine Mystique", sparking the women's liberation movement and advocating for equality.
J.K. Rowling

Best-selling author who created a beloved fantasy world (Harrty Potter), inspiring readers and achieving immense success.
Edith Wharton

Novelist who explored the Gilded Age's societal norms and first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for her literary works.
Emily Dickinson

Prolific poet whose unconventional style and profound themes left an enduring impact on American literature.
Virginia Woolfe

Author of modernist literature known for her innovative narrative style and contributions to feminist literature.
Simone De Beauvoir

Pioneering feminist philosopher who authored influential works on existentialism and women's liberation.

Women in Civil Rights

Maya Angelou

Renowned author and poet whose words inspired and gave voice to the African American experience and human resilience.
Coretta Scott King

Leader for the civil rights movement in the 1960s (wife of MLK) and advocate for African-American equality.
Aretha Franklin

Singer, pianist and civil rights activist who was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Nina Simone

legendary singer-pianist whose music and activism contributed to the civil rights movement and left a lasting cultural legacy.
Rosa Parks

Civil rights icon who sparked change by refusing to give up her bus seat, igniting the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Harriet Tubman

Heroic conductor of the Underground Railroad, liberating countless enslaved people and promoting freedom.
Michelle Obama

1st African American First Lady of the United States; she made significant strides in education, health, and veterans' support.

Women in Engineering & Sports

Billie Jean King

Tennis legend known for her advocacy for gender equality in sports and her numerous Grand Slam titles.
Jacqueline Cochran

Trailblazing aviator who set numerous speed and altitude records, making significant contributions to aviation history.
Admiral Michelle Howard

Distinguished naval officer who made history as the first woman to become a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy.
Bobbie Gibb

Pioneering woman who defied convention by becoming the first female to run the Boston Marathon in 1966.
Amelia Earhart

Pioneering aviator who made history with her solo transatlantic flight and her determination to break gender barriers in aviation.
Junko Tabei

Mountaineer who became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, inspiring female climbers.
Bessie Coleman

Early aviator who was the first African-American woman and first person of Native American descent to have a pilot’s license.

Women in Social Justice

Alice De Rivera

Activist her efforts towards gender integration at Stuyvesant High School, which set a precedent at other institutions.
Susan B Anthony

American civil rights activist and suffragist who played a pivotal role in securing women's right to vote in the United States.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Pioneering suffragist who co-authored the Seneca Falls Declaration, advocating for women's rights and suffrage.
Gloria Steinem

Feminist who co-founded a major women's magazine and played a key role in the feminist movement's advancement.
Jane Fonda

Accomplished actress and activist who used her platform to address social and political issues, leaving a lasting impact.
Norma McCorvey

Plaintiff in Roe v. Wade in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that individual state laws banning abortion were unconstitutional.

Women in the Arts

Taylor Swift

Multi-talented artist and singer known for her chart-topping music, Grammy wins, and advocacy for artists' rights.
Meryl Streep

Acclaimed actress who holds numerous accolades, including 3 academy awards and a record 21 nominations in total.
Julia Child

Culinary pioneer who popularized French cuisine in America through her cooking shows and bestselling cookbooks.
Oprah Winfrey

Media mogul who founded a company after hosting a successful talk show; promoter of literacy and education.
Billie Holiday

Jazz singer known for her emotive performances and for shaping the course of American music / pioneering a new tempo.
Kathryn Bigelow

Accomplished filmmaker known for breaking gender barriers by being the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director.
Coco Chanel

Pioneering French -born fashion designer who revolutionized women's clothing with timeless and iconic designs.
Georgia O'Keeffe

Influential painter renowned for her innovative and iconic depictions of American landscapes and abstract forms.

Women in Medicine & Education

Florence Nightingale

Revolutionized nursing, setting high standards for patient care and establishing the foundations of modern nursing.
Clara Barton

Pioneering nurse who founded the American Red Cross and provided vital humanitarian aid during times of crisis.
Margaret Sanger

Birth control pioneer who founded Planned Parenthood, advancing reproductive rights and women's health.
Elizabeth Blackwell

Pioneer of education for women in the study of medicine and first woman in the US to receive a medical degree.
Rosalind Franklin

Major contributor to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite.

Women in Math & Science

Joan Clarke

Codebreaker during WWII who contributing significantly to breaking the German Enigma code at Bletchley Park.
Valentina Tereshkova

Russian engineer and Soviet cosmonaut who was first woman in space and the only woman to have been on a solo mission.
Marie Curie

Physicist and chemist who studied radioactivity. First woman to win the Nobel Prize (and the only person to ever win it twice).
Katie Bouman

American Engineer and Computer Scientist -developed the technology to take the first picture of a black hole.
Katherine Johnson

Studied how to use geometry for space travel and figured out the paths for NASA spacecraft to orbit Earth and land on the Moon.
Sheryl Sandberg

Tech executive at Faceboo known for her leadership in empowering women in the workplace and promoting gender diversity.

Women in US Government

Sandra Day O' Connor

First female Supreme Court Justice, leaving a lasting legacy of contributions to American jurisprudence.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Transformative First Lady who advocated for civil rights, women's rights, and international human rights.
Betsy Ross

Credited with sewing the first American flag, a symbol of the nation's independence and unity during its early days.
Frances Perkins

Workers rights advocate and 1st female appointed to a US Cabinet; known for her instrumental role in labor reform.
Barbara Mikulski

Advocate for women's rights (first woman to wear pants on the US Senate floor) and the longest serving female senator.
Jeannette Rankin

Politician and women's rights advocate who became the first woman to hold federal office in the United States.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Supreme Court justice who championed gender equality and contributed significantly to women's rights.
Abigail Adams

First Lady who championed women's rights and played a vital role in early American politics as one of the US founders.

Women in World History

Princess Diana

Humanitarian who worked tirelessly to raise awareness of various global issues and de-stigmatize important causes.
Rose Valland

One of the most decorated women in French History; bravely documented Nazi art theft during World War II to aid in its recovery.
Joan of Arc

Teenage warrior who led French forces to victory during the Hundred Years' War, becoming a national symbol of courage.
Queen Victoria

Iconic monarch who presided over the British Empire's expansion, influencing an era known as the Victorian Age
Rani of Jhansi

Indian warrior queen who led her troops valiantly in battle, symbolizing resistance against British colonial rule.
Empress Wu Zetian

China's only female emperor, known for her political prowess and contributions to the Tang Dynasty's stability.
Mother Theresa

Dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, providing care and compassion through her charitable missions.
Helen Keller

Author and lecturer who overcame deaf-blindness, inspiring people of all ages worldwide to conquer adversity.

Women in Business

Elizabeth Arden

Cosmetics entrepreneur who revolutionized the beauty industry with her innovative products and business acumen.
Katharine Graham

Led a major newspaper (Washington Post), played a key role in the Watergate coverage and upheld press freedom.
Stacey Cunningham

First female president / CEO of a the New York Stock Exchange, breaking gender barriers in the financial industry.
Amalia Eriksson

Swedish brewer who founded a successful brewery, making her a pioneering woman in the beverage industry.
Helena Rubinstein

First self-made female millionaire and one of the world's richest women via her cosmetics empire, reshaping the beauty industry.
Ruth Handler

Visionary entrepreneur who revolutionized the toy industry with the creation of a globally beloved and iconic doll, Barbie.
Estee Lauder

Cosmetics mogul who transformed the beauty industry with her successful brand and pioneering marketing strategies.
Isabel Benham

Female economist and American railroad finance expert who was the first female partner at any Wall Street bond house.