From the time of the Tudors to after the First World War, women artists faced all kinds of barriers when pursuing a career in the arts – systemically barred from joining art academies, criticised for their professional ambitions and pigeonholed as amateurs. Featuring some 150 works from across four centuries, this exhibition at Tate Britain celebrates the pioneering women who refused to relinquish their ambitions (16 May–13 October). Notable names featured include Mary Beale, Artemisia Gentileschi, Angelica Kauffman and Gwen John, alongside many others whose determination to be taken seriously forged a path for future generations.
Find out more from the Tate’s website.
Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary
Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura) (c. 1638–39), Artemisia Gentileschi. Royal Collection Trust. Photo: © His Majesty King Charles III 2024
The Roll Call (1874), Elizabeth Butler. Royal Collection Trust. Photo: © His Majesty King Charles III 2024
A Dark Pool (c. 1908–18), Laura Knight. © Estate of Dame Laura Knight. All rights reserved 2024/Bridgeman Images