Donate

2025 Athena Art for #ReproductiveJustice

Jun 28, 2025 | Blog, Reproductive Justice

By our Campaign Coordinator Iris and the Athena Social Media Team

About Iris

Iris graduated from the University of Denver in June 2025, earning her BA in Political Science with minors in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and Leadership Studies. She has a passion for social justice, activism, and community organizing, which she has brought to her work at Athena Project. Since she joined the Athena team two years ago, Iris has focused on expanding the #ReproductiveJustice campaign, which amplifies the voices of artists fighting for reproductive rights.
Q

Art as Activism: A Look at the Art from Athena’s 2025 Reproductive Justice Campaign

As the fight for equity, healthcare access, and bodily autonomy continues, the work of artists standing up for Reproductive Justice has been a source of awe and inspiration for the entire Athena Project team.

In addition to our weekly artist shoutouts highlighting new pieces of Reproductive Justice art every Tuesday, we worked this year to expand our campaign focus, taking several weeks to do a deep dive into the various topics that comprise our definition of Reproductive Justice. These topics include:

  • Abortion access
  • Reproductive Justice for marginalized communities
  • Self-determination of gender identity
  • Birthing justice and autonomy throughout the entirety of the birthing process
  • Comprehensive sex education, birth control, and the importance of healthcare access amidst intersecting barriers to care.
Over the course of this multi-week campaign, we invited our audience members like YOU to share artwork and personal stories that shed light on how people experience (or are denied) Reproductive Justice in its many facets. We are so grateful to everyone who submitted their work for us to amplify and who continue to remind us that art is a powerful and inimitable force in creating positive change.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to Caitlin Blunnie (@liberaljane on Instagram), whose incredible work has been an enduring force in activist spaces, and whose Reproductive Justice work was featured consistently throughout our campaign. We appreciate that Caitlin’s art emphasizes the multi-faceted nature of the Reproductive Justice Movement, highlighting abortion rights in addition to other freedoms centered in our definition of Reproductive Justice, including access to care, contraception, and trans rights.
In this blog post you will see the art that has been shared as a part of the various categories of our 2025 expanded Reproductive Justice campaign. If, like us, you find yourself inspired by these pieces and have your own art or stories you would like us to amplify, we invite you to share it via the following submission form.

Abortion Access Art

“Elephant in the Room” by D Garrett, @dzworx on Instagram.

In the words of the artist:

“‘The Elephant in the Room’ was created because Roe v. Wade was overturned, and while there are several things covered in Roe v. Wade, the right to abortion was the one I felt was the major deal breaker, and presented the patriarchal society we are governed by with another weapon to continue their centuries-long attack on women (one that started well before our ancestors hit these shores), monetizing suffering, labor, and exploitation.”

This piece was created by Denver artist Alysa Adkins, @studio.a.artanddesign on Instagram.

It highlights the demand that we uphold women’s rights because they center on bodily autonomy, health equity, and freedom from oppression. The ability to make choices about one’s own body—whether regarding pregnancy, contraception, or healthcare access—is essential to dignity, safety, and equality.

“Writing on the Wall” by D Garrett, @dzworx on Instagram.

In the words of the artist:

“This is my expression of how I see women treated by men’s law, in our country’s ‘justice’ systems and some of those around the world. It has been shown throughout history and continues to be shown today that “the rule of law” and decisions made by men in power do more harm than good, negatively impacting women and children.”

“Your Body, Our Choice” by When It’s You Project: whenitsyou.com

We shared this art piece on June 24, 2025, to mark three years since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

In the words of the artist:

“Imagine this: A nationwide ban on all male performance-enhancing drugs, including testosterone treatments.
Lawmakers argue that if a man can’t perform naturally, it’s “God’s will” that he no longer father children. Abstinence is the only option. Medical intervention? Banned. No exceptions. Not for health conditions, not for mental well-being, not even for ‘quality of life’.”

“Autonomy” by Olivia Dorencz, see punkratart.com and follow them at @punkratart on Instagram.

For us at Athena, this piece crassly displays what happens when women are deprived – or even deprive themselves – of their own bodily autonomy.

In the words of the artist:

“I am an artist in Denver, CO. My paintings have always been dominated by vivid colors, favoring the bright and bold over subdued realism. I seek to portray the way that the world feels, rather than the way that the world looks.”

Reproductive Justice for Marginalized Communities Art

This piece was created by Ebin Lee, @ebin_lee.art on Instagram.
This piece reclaims the rights of BIPOC mamas to have a child (or several children), honoring their autonomy and resilience. Reproductive Justice means more than legality—it means equitable care, safety, and dignity for those most impacted by oppression.
This artwork also features in this article: Black Mamas Reclaim Their Space in Reproductive Justice – Ms. Magazine

“Stop Forced Sterilization” (1977) by Rachael Romero, published by the San Francisco Poster Brigade and featured in the Library of Congress.

In 30 U.S. states, outdated eugenics laws still allow doctors to sterilize disabled patients without their consent. Some states have even passed new forced sterilization laws in recent years—without debate or objection.
In 2020, a whistleblower exposed forced sterilization of immigrant women in a for-profit ICE detention center, echoing a long, dark history of reproductive abuse in the U.S. Black, Latine, and Indigenous communities have been targeted for decades—from eugenics laws to coercive sterilization in hospitals and prisons.
This fairly famous art piece mobilized those who call it out for what it is: a violation of human rights.

This piece was created by Wednesday Holmes, @hellomynameiswednesday on Instagram.

It emphasizes that reproductive rights are for EVERY body.
Gender-queer people face discrimination when accessing reproductive care—from misgendering in medical spaces to outright denial of essential services. Menstruation, pregnancy, abortion, and birth control are not limited to cisgender women—but outdated policies and biased providers still make it harder for gender-diverse people to get the care they need.
This piece is credited to the Share-Net International Digital Platform’s Knowledge Platform on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, featured here.
It originates in the reality that people with disabilities face systemic barriers to reproductive healthcare—from forced sterilization to inaccessible clinics, biased providers, and policies that threaten their right to parent. We are reminded that bodily autonomy, inclusive healthcare, and equitable access to reproductive care are not just for the able-bodied.

Trans Rights and Self-Determination of Gender Identity

This piece was created by Caitlin Blunnie, see liberaljane.com and follow her at @liberaljane on Instagram.

Love how this art piece pops? Every person deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to live as their authentic self. Trans and nonbinary people belong, and their rights are fundamental—just like everyone else’s. Thanks to all who clicked “like” and made this one of the most popular posts of the entire campaign.

Sister Cloud by Grace Pramuk, see gracepramuk.com and follow her at @gracepramukart on Instagram.

In the words of the artist:

“This drawing depicts my oldest sister Isabell as clouds at sunset. Like the clouds have their darker forms when it is stormy, Isabell too has had years of struggling with her identity and seasons of depression. As a pansexual trans woman, she had to fight to share her true light with others. When she got up on stage at the Regis University drag show, dressed like Morticia Addams, was the first moment I remember really seeing her light shine through.”

This piece was also created by Caitlin Blunnie, see liberaljane.com and follow her at @liberaljane on Instagram.

The research behind this art piece’s message proves that access to gender-affirming care reduces depression, anxiety, and suicide risk among trans and nonbinary people. It’s not a luxury, it’s essential healthcare.
This art piece challenges us to demand a future where trans people can access the care they need—without fear, stigma, or obstacles. Because self-determination is a right, and no one should have to fight to receive life-saving medical care.
This piece was created by Ocean, @conscious_euphoria on Instagram, for My Genderation.
This art piece caused our team to find out that even in states where abortion is legal, gender-nonconforming individuals often face discrimination, misinformation, and barriers to care. Many healthcare providers are not trained to support these patients, leaving them to navigate a system that fails to recognize their needs. We didn’t know! And that is exactly how art changes minds.

Birthing Justice Art

This piece was featured by the Climate Justice Alliance here.

The shocking reality this art installation calls out is that in our medical industry, Black Mamas matter less. Medical bias, limited access to affordable care, and systemic inequalities in housing, healthcare, and nutrition fueled by racism all contribute to the fact that Black women in the U.S. are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Yep, you read that right.
These pieces were created by Colorado-based textile artist Susan McNeff Skokan, @rain.light.creations and @rainlightimages on Instagram. Susan’s multi-media art is regularly on show across Denver Metro galleries.

In her own words:

“I believe that bringing a child into the world is a sacred process—women deserve to make well-educated decisions about pregnancy with support and encouragement. These artworks celebrate the fecundity of Spring and new Life, the gentle, caring gestures of motherhood, and the way mothers can be torn between multiple worlds as they strive to shape streams that allow their children to flourish. They are made with gratitude for wisdom from my mothers, grandmothers, and all those who nurture me.”

Sex Ed, Birth Control, and Healthcare Access Art

“Andromedan Lovers” by Fengar Gael, see fengar.com

Sexual pleasure is a human right!
The artist explained to us that this piece champions the right to desire sexual pleasure while not desiring to conceive a child. We at Athena agree that this right must not be reserved for the powerful few or the dominant gender(s).

This piece was created by Caitlin Blunnie, see liberaljane.com and follow her at @liberaljane on Instagram.

This powerful art piece made us research current threats to birth control access, which are several:

  • State bans: Some propose outlawing IUDs and emergency contraception.
  • Insurance threats: Weakening ACA protections could make birth control less affordable.
  • Confusion & denial: Post-Roe uncertainty has led to patients being wrongly denied contraception.
In the words of the artist: “Hands off our birth control!”

Untitled No. 5 from the Abortion Series (1998), by Paula Rego.

Created in protest of Portugal’s abortion laws, Rego’s work speaks for the poor, the young, the marginalized—those most affected when care is criminalized. Her art has a stark relevance for the current reality in the U.S., where reproductive rights are under siege and abortion deserts drive the affected into acts of despair.

This piece was created by Caitlin Blunnie, see liberaljane.com and follow her at @liberaljane on Instagram.

Imagine needing a mammogram—but the nearest clinic is 33 miles away. You’re an hourly worker with no paid time off and you’re low on gas money just now. Public transit means a 6-hour round trip, and childcare adds even more juggling. So you delay. Because access isn’t just about distance—it’s about time, money, and dignity. And that’s the kind of reality our team sees behind this striking pop art image
Thank you again to all of the incredible artists featured in our 2025 Reproductive Justice campaign. It fills us with hope to see how many people are using their platforms to speak out for justice. We look forward to continuing to amplify Repro Justice posts in our Tuesday shoutouts year-round and to bringing back our expanded campaign next May.
As women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive healthcare access face continued attacks from people in power, it is essential that we continue to amplify and act to support Reproductive Justice. If our voices had no power, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to silence us!
If you are passionate about art, activism, and Reproductive Justice, you can support our campaign by:

IMAGE CREDITS:

All art pieces belong to their creators and must not be reproduced without seeking their permission, with the exception of art by @liberaljane, who grants free sharing as long as it includes a tag and credit.