GWA Newsletter: February

What to see, read, do and listen to this month

Hello Readers! I’ve just returned from Mexico City for their art week (see my guide here), and am back for my lecture series on Medusa, Athena and Eve, at Pallant House Gallery (join here).

Very excitingly, my upcoming book (for younger readers): The Story of Art without Men: An illustrated guide to amazing women artists launches on 5 March.

And we’ve got plenty of recommendations of things to see, read, watch, and more: from Gwen John at National Museum Cardiff, Mary Stephenson at Maureen Paley, Pina Bausch at Sadler’s Wells, to talks on Lee Miller – plus, a TV announcement. Let’s dive in!

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The Story of Art Without Men – for young readers!

I recently announced that I have written a new book: The Story of Art without Men: An illustrated guide to amazing women artists (out on 5 March).

Pre-order your copy (signed copies available).

It’s an adaptation of The Story of Art without Men for readers aged 8–14 (and above), brought to life with beautiful illustrations by Ping Zhu and artworks from the past 500 years. Click here for more.

**The tour will be announced soon**

I also wrote a piece for The Guardian about the book and why reading (and looking at art) matters more than ever for young people today – read that here.

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This February, Bookshop.org are running the wonderful ‘Read it Forward’ initiative – with 10% of all children’s book sales through their website going to the charities BookTrust and Scottish Book Trust. So, run don’t walk to Bookshop.org to pre-order your copy of The Story of Art Without Men to support indie bookshops and these incredible charities!

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News: I am going to be a judge on Portrait Artist of the Year!

I am so excited to announce that I am part of the new judging panel for Portrait Artist of the Year, alongside artist Jonathan Yeo and Director of Frieze London, Eva Langret.

Apply to be 2026’s Portrait Artist of the Year. Applications close 23 Feb.

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At Pallant House: How to See Now – The Female Figures

On Thursday 12 February, 6pm, I’ll be back at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester talking about Medusa – her origin stories, how she’s been depicted in art history, and how female artists have reimagined this iconic figure to make us see her anew.

This event is part of an ongoing series of talks exploring Biblical and mythological female subjects commonly depicted in western art history — from witches to the Virgin Mary, Medusa, Eve to Aphrodite. Tickets here!

To get in the mood, check out my recent Substack: Natalie Haynes on Medusa.

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Substack: Art in Cities: Delhi

The latest instalment of my “Art in Cities” series is all about Delhi – one of the most colourful cities I’ve evevisited. Covering the museums to visit, the food/drink to indulge in, which books to read to get you in the mood, and much more – you can check it out here.

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Substack: 5 things we can learn from Lee Miller

Inspired by the monumental exhibition at Tate Britain, this month’s instalment of our “5 things we can learn from…” series is dedicated to the pioneering photographer Lee Miller (1907–1977).

A surrealist and fashion photographer, a war correspondent, and – later on – a chef, Miller always created with her characteristic energy, full of adventure and experimentation. Click here to find out more.

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And now for February’s GWA recommendations. Enjoy! Xoxo Katy

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13 shows to see in the UK:

• Mary Stephenson and Dirk Stewen: Hue, Maureen Paley, London (until 21 Mar)

• Gwen John: Strange Beauties, National Museum Cardiff (until 28 Jun)

• Behind the Curtains, Soho Revue, London (until 28 Feb)

• Olukemi Lijadu: Feedback, Spike Island, Bristol (until 10 May)

• Lynda Benglis Encounters: Giacometti, Barbican, London (until 31 May)

• Klára Hosnedlová: Echo, White Cube, London (until 29 Mar)

• Artist Rooms: Jenny Holzer, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe (until 13 Jun)

• Nan Goldin: The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, Gagosian, London (until 21 Mar)

• Anya Paintsil: mamwlad, Ames Yavuz, London (until 28 Feb)

• Dala Nasser: Cemetery of Martyrs, Nottingham Contemporary (until 10 May)

• Katharina Grosse: Point Rock, Galerie Max Hetzler, London (until 28 Feb)

• Sophie Vallance Cantor: Enemies to Lovers but Me to Myself, miłość gallery, London (until 14 Mar)

• Sue Webster: Birth of an Icon, Firstsite, Colchester (until 10 May)

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9 shows to see outside the UK:

• Leonora Carrington: ETHIOPS, OMR Gallery, Mexico City (until 11 Apr)

• Hilda Palafox: De Tierra y Susurros, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York (until 21 Feb)

• The Work is Never Finished: Prints, Drawings, and Paintings by Samella Lewis, Louis Stern Fine Arts, West Hollywood (until 7 March)

• Marlow Moss: A Suitcase Full of Sketches, Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague (until 10 May)

• Miriam Inez da Silva: El teatro de Miriam, Travesía Cuatro, Guadalajara (until 11 Apr)

• Magalie Guerin: Orange to Rattle, Esker Foundation, Calgary (until 26 Apr)

• Monira Al Qadiri: Chameleon, ARKEN, Ishøj (until 6 Apr)

• Anni Albers: Constructing Textiles, Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern (until 22 Feb)

• Etel Adnan and Seundja Rhee: To meet the sun, White Cube Seoul (until 7 Mar)

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6 things to read:

• Knife-Woman: The Life of Louise Bourgeois by Marie-Laure Bernadac (translated by Lauren Elkin)

• Briony Fer on the radical aspects of Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s abstraction, via Ursula

• Lynn Hershman Leeson’s Rejection Letter, via Plaster

• Louise Bourgeois’s Suitcase, via LRB

• The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve by Stephen Greenblatt

• Ahead of her biggest-ever show, see inside Rose Wylie’s Kent house, via Harper’s Bazaar

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5 things to watch/listen to:

• Wuthering Heights in the cinema

• The New Yorker at 100 with David Remnick, via Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

• Music Uncovered: Kate Moss explores the creative evolution of David Bowie, via BBC Sounds

• Hilton Als via Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud

• Gwen John: A Portrait of Independence via BBC Radio Wales

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5 things to do in London:

• Christiane Amanpour: The World in 2026, Emmanuel Centre, 17 Feb, 7pm

• Lee Miller Exhibition Talk, Tate Britain, 12 Feb, 1pm

• The Surreal World of Maeve Gilmore, Hatchards Piccadilly, 23 Feb, 6:30pm

• Sweet Mambo – A piece by Pina Bausch, Sadler’s Wells, 11—21 Feb

• Sedrick Chisom lecture at Peckham Pelican, organised by Billy Moon, 18 Feb, 7pm

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5 artists to know

Sofía Bassi (1913–1998)

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Kati Horna (1912–2000)

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Angela Maasalu (b.1990)

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Florence Reekie (b.1991)

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Alfhild Sarah Külper (b.1982)

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