Women in Revolt! at the National Galleries of Scotland

A significant examination of feminist art, Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990 is staged at the National Galleries of Scotland (Modern) until January 2025. This remarkable show honours the women whose unconventional viewpoints and courage transformed British society.

The exhibition is curated by Linsey Young, Tate Britain’s Curator of British Contemporary Art, in association with the National Galleries of Scotland and The Whitworth, The University of Manchester. The Scottish leg of the show is a highlight of the cultural calendar.

Thought-provoking works created by more than 100 female artists and collectives over the course of two decades, all against the backdrop of profound social and economic change, reflect the significant societal changes of British society. The exhibition is stimulating, thrilling and thorough.

Alongside a variety of archive materials, paintings, drawings, sculptures, fabrics, videos, photography, and performance documentation are on view. Many of the artworks are presented for the first time since the 1970s. Works by well-known artists such as Sonia Boyce, Helen Chadwick, and Linder are exhibited alongside a variety of artists who, in spite of their lengthy oeuvres, have not been included in the dominant narratives of art history.

In parallel, works from Scotland’s national collection are also on display, including twoimportant new acquisitions by Penny Slinger: Wedding Cake-Open Secret (1973) and Bride and Groom-Ceremonial Cutting of the Cake(1973). Part of her Bride’s Cake series(1973),these works document a performance in which Slinger wears a handmade wedding cake costume. The artist describes the series as ‘both a parody of a wedding ritual, and recreation from a woman’s point of view’. The show is an absolute must-see!

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