Girl Activist Fellows Produce Pop-Up Gallery Shows with the Theme “My Body, My Choice”

A large group of girls hold art work

Girls from our Ugandan partner Arlington Academy of Hope display their artwork submissions! Five of them were chosen by the girl panelists to be included in the in-person art show!

For International Day of the Girl, girls from around the world created art to express their right to comprehensive sexual education and access to free, quality reproductive healthcare. Many of these girls come from communities where it is taboo to even talk about sex; making artwork in support of their reproductive rights is a radical act in itself. 

On October 11, 2023, their work was displayed at two pop-up art gallery shows in New York City and Nairobi.

Reproduce This! is an art gallery experience produced by a team of girls, for girls. These girls are participants in She’s the First’s Girl Activist Fellowship program, through which they’ve spent the last year learning how to imagine, plan, and execute an activism campaign.

Girls aged 13 to 22 from around the world submitted more than 120 artworks on the topic of sexual health and reproductive rights; 19 pieces were selected by a panel of their peers to be included in the gallery shows. Unique to the reproductive rights conversation, this campaign highlights the perspectives and experiences of girls who are hearing about and impacted by this politicized debate.

Featured Artists

Samhitha Vadlamudi & Sushmita Marella

Samhitha, 17, and Sushmita, 16, are high school students from Arizona, in the United States. They are members of STF Campus, She’s the First’s feminist club community.

Artist Statement: “Mother of Life” The womanly figure in the center is made to represent Te Fiti, giver of life and beginning of all creation. She holds the earth in her pregnant belly as it is because of mothers that the world exists as it is. There are two pairs of animals in the picture (right: dolphins and birds) to represent a mothers choice to give life and love to offspring. "My body, my choice" is a fight for equality and womens' rights to their own body, including reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

hands breaking shackles and colorful leaf prints with the words reproductive rights, culture, jewelry, religigion, clothing

Grace Owino

Grace, 22, is a counseling and psychology student in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a She’s the First Girl Activist Fellow on the Safety from Violence committee. “I am always passionate to stand out and be the voices of the vulnerable people in the community.”

Artist Statement: The art brings out females breaking out from the societies views when it comes to their bodies and by breaking from the chains that held them captives to do what they are told to do according to the society. They are now free to be their own bosses and take control of their bodies without any form of judgement.

 The Reproduce This! campaign was created by the following Girl Activist Fellows:

Lena Igweanyiba
Ira Kulkarni
Mercy Mwende
Gladys Njeri
Tugi Grace Njoki
Sanjana Thakur

A special thank you to our judging panel,
members of our Girls Advisory Council:

Sukeji Moji
Aastha Patel
Miriam Simon

 The Reproduce This! Art Shows and the Girl Activist Fellowship are made possible with generous support from:

Bank United Logo
Inmaat Foundation

with gratitude for year-round support from:

 
Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Fund
Edelman