THE VICTORY GARDEN COLLECTIVE

Louise Eastman, Jess Frost, Tara Geer, Katie Michel, Wendy Small and Janis Stemmermann.

In late 2016, a group of women artists united to create a series of striking, witty, and engaging works in the spirit of the World War II tradition of the “victory garden.” Initially planted to support the home front food supply, these public-park and backyard gardens came to be seen as beautiful elements of communities under pressure, “morale-boosting symbols of solidarity.” “Today, our world is again in political and environmental turmoil,” the Victory Garden artists write, “and we are similarly in need of nourishment and unification.”

Pursuing publicly-engaged art projects that aim to “initiate conversation and action,” the collective has made works that unite public and private spheres, such as candy valentine hearts printed with mottos like “Rise Up” and “Protest” and a kitchen apron emblazoned with the word “Persist,” speaking to the ongoing nature of both political action and domestic work. The “Miss 2017” suffragette-style sashes call to mind both turn-of-the-twentieth century women marching in pursuit of the right to vote and mid-century beauty queens parading before judges in swimsuits and high-heels. Made for the January 2017 Women’s March on Washington, the sashes respond both to the troubling misogynistic rhetoric that characterized the 2016 presidential campaign and to the election of the former owner of the Miss Universe Pageant. This project—which included printing and distributing hundreds of paper sashes to be worn at the march—removes the sash from a space of sexual objectification, returning it to a social and political context.

Pink House, 2021

In light of the recent efforts to erase women’s reproductive rights in the United States, Victory Garden has made a limited edition print titled Pink House. It depicts the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s only remaining clinic that supports a woman’s right to make autonomous decisions about her body. All proceeds from the purchase of this publication will be donated to the Jackson Women’s Health Organization to support women’s right to choose in states which limit access to contraception.


Four-color linoleum block print on Kitakata paper
, 21 x 15”
Variable edition of 10

Available at Planthouse

MAY HER MEMORY BE A REVOLUTION, 2020

In honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the decades long work she did to defend our human rights, Victory Garden created May Her Memory Be A Revolution, a mirror to gaze at your reflection and let the memory of Ruth’s fortitude and strength inspire you to rise up and defend our democracy every day.

Silkscreen on Mirror, 12 x 12”
Edition of 50

JUSTICE, 2020

Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both. -Eleanor Roosevelt

An edition of 100 silkscreen tea towels and newsprint posters. We can’t have law & order without justice for all. Our communities deserve economic, environmental, racial and social justice for all.  Printed by Kingsland Printing, Brooklyn, New York

Silkscreen on linen and newsprint, 30 x 30”
Edition of 100

VOTE-IVES, 2020

Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society. – John Lewis

Ceramic, 4 x 4 x 5”
Edition of 100

MISS DEMOCRACY, 2020

Limited edition print available in two sizes. All come with Miss Democracy bandana, printed to protect your health and the spirit of democracy. 

Letterpress, foil stamp print, 20 x 20”
Edition of 100

CMYK Print, 13 x 13”
Edition of 250

Bandana, 3 color screenprint on fabric, 13 x 13”

SISTERS, 2019

This limited edition set of 4 tumblers in pink and red were made to commemorate the wave of record-breaking women elected to office in the 2018 Primary, and all the persistent sisters who day-by-day raised their voices and votes to made it happen!

Silkscreened Glass
Set of four screen printed tumblers

POTLUCK, 2019

Action Potluck is a grassroots community organization, in New York City, working to keep families together. In support of their efforts, Victory Garden presents: Potluck, 2019, a four-color silkscreen of a potholder woven in colors of the flags of Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Proceeds from the sale of these prints will go directly to Action Potluck, where they will be used to support the legal efforts needed to keep families together. Printed by Kingsland Printing, Brooklyn, NY.

Silkscreen, 11 x 11”

PERSIST, 2017

A denim apron sewn and screen printed by hand. Reversible with pockets. Studio made in Brooklyn, NY.

SUFFRAGETTE SASHES, 2017

Victory Garden Women's Art Collective created sashes for participants of the Women's Marches held on January 21, 2017. The sashes were inspired by those made for the original Suffragette movement. Over 1000 were hand printed at the Russell Janis studio and distributed all over the country for people to wear while marching.

Commemorative sashes are available as a keepsake or to wear at a future march!

Printed Silk, 4 x 72"

RISE UP, 2017

On Valentine's Day, 2017, the Victory Garden Women's Collective focused on bringing awareness to the National Strike of February 17th. Heart candies and postcards were created for Planthouse Gallery. Additional Suffragette Sashes from the Women's March were printed along with a DIY downloadable Valentines Sticker Kit for people to print their own RISE UP Valentines.

Various materials

NAPKIN SET, 2017

Created to help keep awareness and conversations going on important and challenging issues of our time. Packed in a pie-sized box to take along to friends and family gatherings.

Silkscreen on cotton, 20 x 20"
Limited edition 12-piece napkin set

LOVE TO VOTE, 2017

Temporary tattoo and ink on card

KNIT GARDEN LANDSCAPE, 2016

During World War I and II, Victory Gardens were grown in the backyards of homes and in public spaces as a civic duty to supplement food supplies as well as serving as an overall morale booster. This kind of coming together inspired the collectives own Victory Garden project. A group of woman artists, curators, gallery owners and printmakers gathered to make artworks, starting with designs for t-shirts - small miracles from tilling the soil of the current political environment.

20% of the proceeds of this project will be donated to GrowNYC's Greenmarket division where funds are used to help make fresh market produce accessible for all income levels.

Silkscreen on organic cotton
Limited edition collector‘s portfolio with bag.