Exhibiting Feminist Art.
Who are the first people that dictators put in prison? Artists, writers and singers.
I practice art to mirror the feminist concerns of our times and as a catalyst for change. There is a moment in every artist’s journey when your work leaves the studio, garage or loft. When your images, your colours and your personal themes become a bridge between the necessary isolation of a creative life and the need to share to find your audience.
In November, 2025, at the headquarters of the Fondation des Femmes, in Paris, my work The Red Shoe series met not just an audience, but a community of women united in resilience and purpose.
The Red Shoe Series.
Three years after starting my first Red Shoe painting (#Femicide I above) at art school and a few days after completing the last in the series, we set off in the early morning from our country home, west of the city, to hang my first solo exhibition. Exhibiting in a space dedicated to combating misogyny and patriarchal violence was more than an opportunity; it was a chance to show younger women that their dreams are valid and that their voices matter.
Art That Mirrors Feminist Issues.
When I first contacted the Fondation, I did not know that they have a policy of lending the walls of the coworking space, the salle Aurore and Les Audacieuses Café, for exhibitions that relate to their key missions. I just knew that my work was a perfect fit. I emailed them four times and almost gave up after three emails that had had no response. But my fourth message was answered the same day with instructions to send a proposal to the selection committee. And the rest is history as the saying goes ….
My next challenge was to figure out how to hang my work in such an unusual space, without making any new holes. Thanks to my recent studies at art school, I already had a lot of experience with setting up small exhibitions and a lot of experience in having my efforts criticised too.
The foundation’s events team were always helpful and accommodating, as well as the Café’s team who catered the vernissage. On the day of the opening my husband and a close friend helped with the hanging and everything went according to my plans, much to my surprise, although it did take us three hours to complete.
The Path Well Chosen.
In the calm that preceded the opening (on the same day) seeing three years of work together on the walls, in a space that reflects the colourful palette of my paintings, I measured just how far I have come, from daring to go to art school as a mature student to my first solo show.
My art practice hopes to mirror the feminist issues of our times and to act as a catalyst for change. Like every artist, I have my share of self-doubt, varying energy levels and the infamous inner critic. Why we are so hard on ourselves, I have no idea, but it seems go hand in hand with the need to express our thoughts and emotions through a medium that can be shared.
For me the experience of my first solo exhibition was both exhausting and empowering. The conversations I had with visitors and art professionals, confirmed that I am on the right path for me at this point in my life.
Here are a selection of some of the visitors comments …
