From 20 April 2022, the art collection at College will revert back to its original name: The Women’s Art Collection (formerly the New Hall Art Collection).
The Women’s Art Collection at Murray Edwards College is the largest collection of art by women in Europe. We have over 550 works by leading international artists and they are displayed throughout the College buildings and in the gardens.
Giving women visibility and a voice
The percentage of works by women in public galleries remains shamefully low. This is one of the main reasons why there is still a need for a collection of art solely by women. In order to effectively promote the work of women artists, and give them both visibility and a voice, we feel that reverting back to the art collection’s original name is appropriate. ‘The Women’s Art Collection’ is clear and descriptive: it is exactly what it says it is.
Our artists
The Women’s Art Collection was established in 1986 with the acquisition of a series of works by leading American artist, Mary Kelly. The Collection has evolved over time and now includes works by many other well-renowned artists, including Paula Rego, Maggi Hambling, Tracey Emin, Lubaina Himid, Judy Chicago and Maud Sulter.
Supporting minority artists
The Women’s Art Collection has collaborated with artists, funding organisations, academics and museum professionals to highlight inequalities around race and gender.
Our work has included a symposium reviewing the representation of ethnic minority artists within collections, artist-led workshops for students identifying as women of colour, and research into the representation of women artists in the Hong Kong art world. In addition, one of our most recent exhibitions, Maud Sulter: The Centre of the Frame focused on the work of Scottish-Ghanaian artists, Maud Sulter (1960-2008), whose practice was rooted in questioning the representation of Black women in art and literature.
We are committed to continuing to listen and learn from artists from all backgrounds, and to ensuring that race and equality play a central role within our governance, in the development of the Collection, and in all our future programming.
Open to all
The Women’s Art Collection is open every day to members of the public between 10:00 and 18:00. The Collection is free, welcoming, inclusive and open to everyone.