The women who came and conquered before us have left shoes to fill and words of wisdom to infuse into our lives. Inspirational quotes from creative women could hold the answer to your questions and help you tackle your next adventure. 

Women have power in the way they see the world and how they choose to maneuver it to their advantage. The designer and sculptor Maya Lin said, “I try to give people a new way of looking at their surroundings. That’s art to me,” Lin’s advice tells us to explore new perspectives in seemingly mundane situations. 

Before women can shape their perspective, they first have to be confident in their abilities, as architect and designer Zaha Hadid advises. She says, “Women are always told, ‘You aren’t going to make it.’ They need confidence in themselves and people around them to help them get on,” by taking her advice, women can reach deep in themselves and find the resolve needed to express their creativity freely. A sound support system never hurts either.

When women discover they can shape their perspective through their confidence, they lean into the freedom of life and create their own path. Florence Knoll modernized the American office by turning her husband’s modest furniture business into an $11 million design powerhouse. She said, “I needed the piece of furniture for the job and it wasn’t there, so I designed it,” When Knoll found the missing piece, she didn’t stop. Instead, she found a way to create her own path.

Everyone struggles to find their creative freedom. It can be challenging to picture the outcome before it’s born. Photographer Cindy Sherman said, “If I knew what the picture was going to be like, I wouldn’t make it…The challenge is more about trying to make what you can’t think of,” Sherman proves that you don’t have to know every detail of the final product to start. It’s about the journey and not the destination. 

These women are only the tip of the iceberg of famous creatives that have paved the way for women everywhere. These inspirational quotes from creative women could be the catalyst for discovering your own creative freedom. In a world filled with rigid expectations and social norms, don’t be afraid to embrace your feminine fluidity. As furniture designer and architect Eileen Gray says, “to create, one must question everything.”

For more powerful quotes from creative women, check out the infographic by 1stDibs below.