A very important public exhibition, LDN WMN, has launched across the city, celebrating London’s unsung heroines.
The exhibition is all part of Sadiq Khan’s year-long campaign for women’s equality, #BehindEveryGreatCity, which marks a century since women in the UK won the right to vote, and also aims to raise awareness and drive gender equality further. LDN WMN has been curated in partnership with the London Tate Collective.
This public art series celebrates the city’s unsung heroines; remarkable women who had important roles to play in London’s rich history. Now, as you walk through the city – from Walthamstow to Croydon, Ilford to Hammersmith – you’ll discover 20 different murals and installations, each created by inspirational women to celebrate inspirational women from past generations.
Justine Simons, OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, said: ‘a host of remarkable women are being honoured by a new generation of talented artists. As we mark 100 years since the first women secured the right to vote, it’s high time we make sure Londoners know the stories of these powerful figures in our history, who have been overlooked for too long. These 20 artworks in 20 different locations across the capital bring inspiring art to Londoners and visitors to our capital and provide a high-profile platform for exceptional artists too.’
So who are these marvellous women? To name a few, there’s: Valda James, who was the first black woman to be elected to Islington Council, and later became Mayor; Marion Dorn, who designed TfL’s original seat pattern and also helped to design the interiors of Claridge’s, the Savoy and the Queen Mary; Winifred Atwell, who was the first black artist to have a number one hit in the UK; as well the largely forgotten women that built Waterloo Bridge.