Cooper Hewitt says...
A prominent artist, filmmaker and educator renowned for her activism and dedication to preserving black culture, Billops emerged during the 1960s civil rights movement and New York’s Black Arts Movement. Her work, deeply rooted in her personal experiences, family history, and community, addressed themes of racism, gender dynamics, and Black American experience. In 1972, Billops and her husband, James V. Hatch, established the Hatch-Billops Collection to document and promote black culture. This extensive archive, recently donated to Emory University, includes thousands of oral histories, books, photographs, and other historical materials. Their SoHo loft became a hub for artists and intellectuals, fostering a vibrant community that discussed social, cultural, and political issues.
Billops was also an active member of various activist organizations, including the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition and the Black Arts Movement. She played a crucial role in the establishment of Just Above Midtown (JAM) gallery and served as an educator at universities and through community mentorship. Her contributions to the arts and activism have been recognized with numerous awards, including the International Women’s Year Award (1975), the James Van Der Zee Award (1994), and the Women’s Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award (2002). Billops' legacy endures through her art, activism, and the countless lives she touched.