Artist Betye Saar, whose work reflects Black identity and spirituality, dies at 99

A central figure of the 1960s Black Art Movement, Saar pioneered assemblage boxes, or sculptures made of found objects, and reclaimed Jim Crow-era memorabilia as powerful totems of Black liberation.

Saar told NPR in 2006, "I'm the kind of person who recycles materials, but I also recycle emotions and feelings." She died days away from her 100th birthday.

Betye Saar scoured flea markets for ordinary items from which she crafted works of art that explored and exploded images of Black women in America.

Artist Betye Saar, whose work reflects Black identity, culture and spirituality, died Sunday morning in Los Angeles at 99.

Artist Betye Saar, whose work explored Black identity, culture and spirituality has died in Los Angeles

Leading assemblage artist was known for reclaiming Jim Crow-era memorabilia as images of Black liberation Artist Betye Saar, the pioneering figure of the Black arts movement, died on Sunday morning in her home town of Los Angeles. She was 99. Saar, a famous practitioner of assemblage, an artistic style that builds scul

Artist Betye Saar, whose work reflected Black identity, culture and spirituality, died Sunday morning in Los Angeles at 99.

Artist Betye Saar, whose work reflected Black identity, has died at 99  AP News

Working with dolls, family photographs, fabric scraps and other found objects, she became a leading figure in assemblage art.