Being an artist today means something very different than it did just two weeks ago. As the nation collectively struggles to come to terms with what a Donald Trump presidency means, we call upon artists as activists, optimists, truth-tellers and revolutionaries, to resist the normalization of hate and prejudice, to stand up for the communities that have been marginalized, and advocate for an America that serves all of its citizens.

Shortly after the election, we reached out to artists whose work we admire, asking their opinion on the role of an artist over the coming four years. Our questions were simple: What is your mission as an artist today and what is your advice to others in the field?

The answers we received are full of the emotions many of us have been grappling with over the past week. Feelings of pain, anger, sadness, fear but also of hope, unity, compassion, motivation and strength. We have compiled the responses and artwork of 21 artists, ready and willing to accept to challenge of making artwork today.

Their words and their visions are important reminders of the creativity, energy and resilience that make this nation worth fighting for.

Read What It Means To Be A Writer In The Time Of Trump here.

1. Natalie Frank