Reclaiming the Walls: Women Artists at the National Gallery

Did you know that the National Gallery holds more than 2,300 artworks, yet only around 1% are by women artists? This stark reality shapes what we learn, what we value, and how we see ourselves in visual culture.

In this tour, we’ll shine a light on the remarkable women who did make it onto the walls: artists who challenged expectations, pushed boundaries, and carved out space in a world that rarely welcomed them. Together, we’ll uncover their stories, examine the barriers they faced, and reflect on how they represented women in their work.

We’ll also consider those who remain unseen, the countless women whose work lies in storage, was attributed to male relatives, or was never allowed to exist publicly at all.

Along the way, we’ll discuss:

• The impact of gender imbalance in our visual history
• How this imbalance shapes today’s imagery — from film to advertising to social media
• Whether women artists are truly advancing today, and whether institutions are embracing real change or falling into feminist-washing

Through visual literacy exercises, open conversation, and shared observations, we’ll explore how reclaiming these stories helps us reimagine art history itself.

All are welcome — all genders, ages, and backgrounds. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and your voice.

We can’t wait to walk through the gallery with you.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER

María González is the Founder and Creative Director of SHEROES COLLECTIVE (formerly Lon-art), established in 2010. She holds a BA in Art History, a Postgraduate Diploma in Social & Cultural Anthropology, and a Teaching Certificate in Art History from Complutense University in Madrid. She has also completed studies in Education in Poverty Contexts and in Arts, Culture and Civic Responsibility with the Organization of Ibero-American States.

María has over ten years’ experience delivering arts and education projects — including exhibitions, workshops, panel talks, tours, and artist CPD — across the UK and internationally.As a 2024 Creative Community Fellow (Derby Museums, Bowes Museum, NAS), she continues to champion women’s representation, visual literacy, and the fight against gender-based inequity through art.