I think what I'm trying to do is create moments of recognition. To try to detonate some kind of feeling or understanding of lived experience.

Kruger's early monochrome pre-digital works known as ‘paste ups’ reveal the influence of the artist’s experience as a magazine editorial designer during her early career. In September 2009 Kruger’s Between Being Born and Dying a major installation commissioned by the Lever House Art Collection opened at the New York City architectural landmark Lever House. Kruger juxtaposes her imagery and text containing criticism of sexism and the circulation of power within cultures is a recurring motif in Kruger's work.

The phrases in her works often include pronouns such as "you" "your" "I" "we" and "they". Much of her work consists of black-and-white photographs overlaid with declarative captions—in white-on-red Futura Bold Oblique or Helvetica Ultra Condensed.