Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women’s Street Art

Alicia Parrott, known as She Posse in the street art world, enjoyed the opening of her first New York art show at Walls and Halls Gallery in Queens, along with a large gathering of her fellow artists, art followers, friends and family, including her mother, Diane Greenberg, president of Peconic Bay Zonta. The show featured 14 women street artists in celebration of Women's History Month.

"As an admirer of street art for decades, an artist since I could hold a paintbrush and a career graphic designer for over 20 years, my She Posse identity was organically created by working as a volunteer moderator on Shepard Fairey's social media platform," Parrott explained. Fairey is an artist and activist who became well known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" stickers, plastered all over Rhode Island, where he attended the Rhode Island School of Design. Fairey is also famous for designing the Barack Obama "Hope" poster for the 2008 presidential election.

Recognizing that street artists are overwhelmingly male, Parrott decided to amplify the voices of women street artists by calling herself She Posse. She creates small canvases, mostly portraits of colorful imaginary women, and converts them to stickers that she posts in public spaces. “My work is meant to inspire dialogue about the importance of gender equality and female empowerment,” she said. "By creating art in public spaces our voices become louder and can spark meaningful conversations that challenge the status quo."

Parrott has volunteered her graphic design skills to create award-winning posters for Peconic Bay Zonta, as well as a colorful bookmark with the message "Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women," which the club distributed to local libraries.