The Rise of Women Artists
An exhibition being held at the Walker Art Gallery, 23 October 2009 to 14 March 2010.

'The Sense of Sight', Annie Swynnerton, 1895. Oil on canvas.
© National Museums Liverpool
Works by some of history’s most celebrated women artists are featured in this compelling new exhibition. 'The Rise of Women Artists' charts the progress made by female artists from the 16th century up to the present day. The Walker was ahead of its time in collecting works by women artists, a fact that is reflected in the scope and diversity of the works on display.
There will be a rich variety of work on show, from both recent and contemporary painters and designers such as Paula Rego, Helen Chadwick, Louise Bourgeois and Alison Britton. Alongside these pieces, historic works by artists such as Angelica Kauffmann, Marianne Stokes and Laura Knight will be on display, which are drawn from the gallery’s holdings.
Paintings, works on paper, textiles, ceramics and sculpture are all featured in the exhibition, which also includes work by local artists such as The Singh Twins and sculptor Emma Rodgers.
The exhibition also poses questions to visitors: Does the gender of an artist matter - and should artists be labelled? Are so-called decorative arts - such as needlework and ceramics - any less significant as works of art than paintings? Visitors can have their say in the response area of the exhibition.
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Angels of Anarchy exhibition
If you want to find out about more women artists, you can also visit the Angels of Anarchy exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery. This exhibition explores the surrealist art movement and includes works by Frida Kahlo, Lee Miller, Meret Oppenheim and Leonora Carrington.