5 women that shape my work & perspective as a creative
Even though I’m aware that today isn’t really a day of celebration, I believe it’s important to highlight inspiring women. We should be talking about them all the time, but March 8th is a date that makes it impossible to ignore.
Today, I want to share five women who, in very different ways, shape how I work and my perspective as a creative. Each of them reminds me that creation isn’t just technique—it’s presence, curiosity, and storytelling.
Patti Smith → Her writing-first approach reminds me that ideas need space to breathe, and that obsession with the process matters more than following trends.
I honestly recommend reading her book Just Kids, where she talks about her early years in New York and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. It's spectacular.
Erykah Badu → Her critical thinking and unapologetic voice remind me that creativity can question things rather than simply reflect them. Her experimental and ever-changing aesthetic also shows how intuition and freedom can shape a visual language of their own.
I often return to her album Baduizm. It feels timeless and quietly radical at the same time. The music, the visuals, the attitude—everything forms part of the same universe.
Georgia O’Keeffe → The landscapes she inhabited become a kind of visual storytelling, where color and form carry the story. Her work reminds me that the spaces we live in quietly shape how we create and what we notice.
I recently bought Britta Benke’s book dedicated to Georgia’s life and work and it’s absolutely stunning. I bought it on Vinted, but it’s from Taschen.
Sophie Calle → Her intimate, all-in approach turns life and art into a performance, showing me how fully inhabiting a work can reveal layers of emotion and presence.
I recommend her work L'Hôtel, which features photographs accompanying her diary from when she worked in a hotel. The photographs show the belongings of the guests, noting the traces of how they used the space and facilities.
Nikita Gill → Her openness and emotional honesty show me that vulnerability can be a strength, turning personal truth into work that resonates deeply.
My favourite poem by her is The Dance. It goes straight to the heart and gives me goosebumps. Just amazing.
