11 Powerful Artworks that Protest the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Artists and activists express sorrow and anger through their artwork, while showing solidarity and strength in the fight for reproductive rights

Throughout history, art has been a powerful means of expressing emotions, sharing stories, and raising awareness of societal issues—particularly in times of adversity.

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the ruling of Roe v Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortions on June 24, 2022, artists and activists all over the world have taken to social media (and the streets) to protest against the decision.

Read on to discover 11 powerful examples of protest artworks, and messages shared by their creators on Instagram, reflecting on the loss and grief being felt now, and the fight for reproductive rights that lies ahead.

1. Caitlin Blunnie (Liberal Jane)

Virginia-based queer feminist and reproductive justice artivist Caitlin Blunnie—better known on social media as @liberaljane—creates art about bodily autonomy. She shared this piece back in May when the Oklahoma government brought the six-week abortion ban into law.

In her fight to “expand access to abortion through art and artivism,” she uses her illustrations to raise awareness of issues surrounding reproductive rights, and to raise funds for organizations protecting those rights, like The Blue Right Abortion Fund.

2. Malika Favre

Based between Barcelona and London, renowned French artist Malika Favre (@malikafavre) is known for her minimal but bold style, characterized by the use of positive and negative space.

Reflecting on the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on Black American women, she shared this illustration with the caption:

“The sad reality of the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v Wade is that, once more, African American women will be the most affected by it. Amongst an avalanche of social and economical reasons, the obvious one is that they disproportionately live in states that will ban abortions in the coming weeks and months (if not already...). This is sickening.”

3. Fatinha Ramos

A Portuguese visual artist and Domestika teacher based in New York, Fatinha Ramos (@fatinha_ramos) creates conceptual illustrations using rich colors and singular textures that spark emotion.

Alongside this illustration she wrote, “It’s not about agreeing or not with abortion, but is about the fundamental right to choose for it, as a Woman”.

4. Allison Cole

“Pregnancy is not easy under any circumstance, I can’t imagine being forced into it. No one else should ever decide for you what is right for your life, for your health, for your body,” writes illustrator, surface designer, and Domestika teacher Allison Cole (@allisoncole_illustration) on her Instagram account.

Based in Providence, in the U.S., Allison shared her illustration along with her personal experience of being diagnosed with a heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW) during pregnancy. While she was fortunate and carried her child to full-term, WPW is an illness that can be life-threatening if untreated.

She adds, “Would a condition like this be considered an ‘exception for the life of the mother’? What about the states that have banned abortion outright, with no exceptions? This is insanity…” Allison concludes: “Also—no one needs a reason like this to have an abortion. If you want one that is reason enough”.

5. Vivian Shih

An Asian-American artist living in New York and LA, Vivian Shih (@viv.shih) draws illustrations that explore human emotion by telling visual stories. As she explains in her bio, she seeks to “capture the range of feelings that every human being experiences.” Creating this illustration in response to the court ruling, she writes: “Keep your laws off my body.”

6. Del Hambre

This illustration was created by Unesco’s Creative Director and Domestika illustration teacher, Del Hambre (@del_hambre) for an opinion piece in Spanish newspaper, El Pais.

The article, titled “Abortion and the Cold War”, written by Mariam Martinez-BASCUÑÁN, discusses what Del Hambre describes as America’s “increasingly retrograde model of justice”.

7. Lo Harris

New York-based multidisciplinary artist, educator, and children's book illustrator Lo Harris (@loharris_art) uses bright colors and strong figures in her artwork to "champion confidence, vibrance, and joy."

In this illustration, she uses her signature style to create a piece that shows strength and defiance. She writes: "Use my art. Print it. March with it. Post it on your wall. Let it be a resource. Fight with it. Use it as your sword. What I do with my body is my choice and no one else’s. Please consider what other liberties can and will be challenged after this."

8. Ali Harrison

“We must fight to make abortion safe, legal, and accessible to all,” writes papercutting artist Ali Harrison (@lightandpaperali) in the post caption for this design.

The founder of papercraft studio and shop, Light + Paper, Ali has also created a line of apparel designed with an intricate paper cutting of a uterus and the slogan “GTFO”, 50 percent of sales for which she’s donating to Action Canada.

9. Hillary White

This fierce, ’80s-style design by painter and T-shirt designer Hillary White (@hillarywhiterabbit) is raising money for the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Available as a T-shirt print via her Threadless store, 60 percent of her artist earnings will be donated to the two organizations, alongside 100 percent of Threadless’ net proceeds.

10. Mafreshou

Known as @mafreshou, Nazanin Rastan is an Iranian illustrator, printmaker, and NFT artist who uses various techniques, from watercolor to etchings and engraving, digital drawing, and virtual illustration.

She shared this image with the caption: “The right to safe and legal abortion is a fundamental human right. Decisions about OUR bodies are OURS alone.”

11. Kellie Martin

Designed in the style of a vintage tarot illustration, deaf artist Kellie Martin (@kelliemartinart) uses ASL fingerspelling and letters to communicate powerful slogans. In this case: “Fight For Our Human Rights”.

Expressing their anger and fear, they write: “It's a really scary time as a queer, nonbinary, disabled person. I want all of us to have access to safe abortions and any kind of reproductive health care. People with uteruses deserve to have healthcare. Please don't leave people with uteruses out of the human rights. We are grieving now, but we will fight harder.”

Discover more powerful works from artists and activists

- See the works of eight trailblazing photographers who captured the lives and struggles of women.

- To mark another inspiring Pride Month, discover 15 stunning artworks by the Domestika community celebrating LGBTQ+ communities.

- Discover impactful examples of climate change artivism, that raise awareness and demonstrate the power of creativity to inspire change for the planet.