Society of Women Artists

The Society was formed in 1855 to encourage and promote the work of women artists, sculptresses and craftswomen in all media. The first exhibition was held in 1857 at The Gallery, 315 Oxford Street and displayed work by 149 exhibitors. The group adopted as its name the Society of Female Artists, this was subsequently changed in 1873 to the Society of Lady Artists and finally in 1889 to the Society of Women Artists. From 1896 to 1922 the Society was based at 6a Suffolk Street and used various London galleries for its annual exhibitions, but from 1923 exhibitions were held at the Royal Institute Galleries in London's Piccadilly until these were closed in 1969.

Royal patronage and increasing membership have helped to attract many leading women artists to the Society over the years. From 1932 to 1967 its President was Dame Laura Knight, and distinguished past members include Dame Ethel Walker, Mabel Lucy Attwell, Ethel Gabain, Anne Redpath, Cathleen Mann and Dorothea Sharp. In 1971 the Society moved to the Mall Galleries and in 1980 Princess Michael of Kent became its Patron. In 1987 the Society again relocated to the Westminster Gallery, where annual exhibitions, open to non-members, are now held in either May or June.

Number of Artists referenced: 1,637