Artizan exhibition amplifying women's voices returns to Torbay

The annual Artizan Women’s Open Exhibition, aimed at amplifying women's voices in the creative sector, returned this year on International Women’s Day.

Organised by the Artizan Collective, the exhibition provides a platform for female-identifying creatives to showcase their work and address issues of representation and visibility. Since its launch in 2023, the event has engaged audiences in meaningful conversations about gender equity in the arts.

The 2025 edition of the Women’s Open is being held at the Artizan Collective Gallery in Fleet Walk, featuring a diverse selection of works from contemporary artists across various disciplines. The exhibition launched on March 8 and will remain open until April 13.

This year's exhibition features more than 40 artists presenting around 100 pieces of artwork. The gallery has reiterated its commitment to promoting artistic excellence while addressing the challenges faced by women in the creative sector.

Above:  Portrait artwork by Fiona Campbell featured in the exhibition

The exhibition's closing event will coincide with the unveiling of a new Agatha Christie sculpture by artist Elisabeth Hadley. This public artwork celebrates Christie’s literary legacy and her strong ties to the English Riviera. The closing event will welcome guests, partners, and community members, providing artists with additional exposure during a significant local cultural moment.

A spokesperson for the Artizan Collective said: “As we prepare for this year’s exhibition, we recognise the broader cultural and political landscape shaping gender conversations worldwide. Women’s rights remain central to global discourse, from debates on reproductive rights in the United States to the ongoing impact of the #MeToo movement, which continues to expose systemic inequities in creative industries.

“In the art world, recent legal rulings such as the reinstatement of "Ladies Lounge" at Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona)—a women-only exhibition space designed to challenge historic exclusions—demonstrate the power of art to provoke dialogue and reclaim spaces for women’s voices. The decision to allow the exhibition’s return highlights the ongoing need for environments that foster equity, visibility, and recognition for women in creative fields.

Above: Going Up artwork by Kay Holborn

The gallery highlighted ongoing disparities in the art world, claiming that women artists remain under-represented in major gallery collections, receive fewer solo exhibitions, and face economic inequalities in sales and funding opportunities. 

The Artizan Women’s Open Exhibition aims to challenge these disparities by providing a dedicated platform for female creatives to share their stories, explore their identities, and assert ownership of their artistic narratives.

This year’s works include painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. Some artists explore themes of gender and inequality, while others present their work in a supportive and celebratory environment.

Beyond the gallery, the Women’s Open fosters community, dialogue, and solidarity, inviting visitors to engage with the artworks and the broader conversations they inspire. Its work is made possible by support from artists, audiences, and benefactors.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact juliebrandon@artizangallery.co.uk.