21st Century Women

Launching in tandem with Frieze art week, the show includes British artists who examine the role of women in contemporary society; others who are motivated by the body politics surrounding the objectification of the female form; and those who question the fractured sense of being that many contemporary women feel today. Some of the artists included have chosen work that is not intended to be read and interpreted through the lens of their sex. This is a show about the freedom of women to make the art that they choose.

New research from the Freelands Foundation has shown that although 66% of postgraduate arts students in 2017 were female, just under a third of artists represented by London’s major galleries were women. In 2017, just 22% of solo shows presented by major London non-commercial galleries were by women artists. Shockingly, this figure has decreased since 2016, which shows why it is more important than ever to champion female artists.

The exhibition is taking place at Unit London, a vibrant new gallery in the heart of Mayfair that was co-founded by two young entrepreneurs: Joe Kennedy and Jonny Burt. The exciting new space at 3 Hanover Square encompasses 6,000 sq ft over two expansive exhibition floors. With nearly 250,000 Instagram followers and one of the biggest engagement rates across any art platform, they have become a powerful art-world influencer, garnering over 3 million weekly impressions across the globe.