The Great Women Artists

Dear Readers! One of my favourite things is the intersection where dance meets literature and art. Think Tacita Dean’s Dante Project; Wayne McGregor’s take on Virginia Woolf in Woolf Works; Chris Ofili’s designs for a ballet of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. A new discovery, for me, has been the late South African dancer and choreographer Dada Masilo (1985–2024). She was renowned for her radical and inventive takes on classical ballet, from a queer Swan Lake to a South African Giselle.

Looking for half term activities? Come join me at these family events Art lovers! Next week marks summer half term. If you’re looking for some fun art-related activities for the family, join me at these events to celebrate my book for younger readers: The Story of Art Without Men: An illustrated guide to amazing women artists.

Dear Readers, On the GWA Podcast we explored the story of artist, designer and avant-garde icon Sophie Taeuber-Arp with art historian Briony Fer (who has published a stunning book on the artist: ‘Sophie Taeuber-Arp: The Rule of Curves). Born in Switzerland in 1889, Sophie Taeuber-Arp was an artist, designer, dancer, puppet-maker, teacher, sculptor, archit…

What to see, read, do and listen to this month Dear Readers, we’ve just returned from the Venice Biennale, and this week are straight into a very exciting talk for 5x15 on the artwork that changed my life, followed by Charleston and Hay Festivals.

My top picks; plus a special interview with Lubaina Himid who is representing Great Britain Dear Readers! I am just back from the Venice Biennale, where we were struck with a spiritualist experience at the Vatican pavilion’s soundscape work in the Mystical Garden; nude jet-skiers and bell ringers at Florentina Holzinger’s most-talked-about Austrian pavilion; an extraordinary mosaic graffiti-strewn exterior of the German pavilion by Sung Tieu, and interior by Henrike Naumann; Adriana Varejão’s...

Dear Readers, the Venice Biennale 2026 begins next week! The title for this year’s central exhibition, curated by Koyo Kouoh, is In Minor Keys – and has been described as an invitation to ‘shift to a slower gear and tune in to the frequencies of the minor keys’, and to listen to ‘the songs of those producing beauty in spite of tragedy.’ The great art patron of Venice, Peggy Guggenheim! The Venice Biennale is a major international art event held every two years.

Dear Readers, I had the pleasure of sitting down with author Deborah Levy on the GWA Podcast to discuss the trailblazing writer and avant-garde pioneer, Gertrude Stein. Listen here.

Readers! Last week I spoke to art historian Alyce Mahon on the GWA Podcast all about the extraordinary Surrealist artist, Dorothea Tanning (1910–2012). Listen here! Alyce has just published Dorothea Tanning: A Surrealist World, which charts Tanning’s life story across the places she lived in, from America to France, as well as the worlds she imagined and travelled to in her art. Alyce also had so many great insights on the work of this enigmatic and fascinating artist.

Dear Readers. I recently saw the marvel that is Elsa Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at the V&A, and interviewed curator Sonnet Stanfill on Schiaparelli for the GWA Podcast – listen here! Schiaparelli had quite the life. But what stood out for me most was not only how involved with, and influenced by, the surrealists she was – but how much she influenced and collaborated with them.

Hello Readers! I’m excited to say that we’ve made a The Story of Art Without Men–themed “Family Trail” (or treasure hunt!) with London’s National Portrait Gallery. Perfect for anyone aged 8+, this free trail – which you can find in their entrance box (pictured above!) – takes you all over the gallery, from seeking out a portrait of Vanessa Bell or stained glass window of Pauline Boty, to Tracey Emin’s bronze portraits that adorn the front doors.