To celebrate International Women’s Day we present a selection of prints made at Edinburgh Printmakers by five leading contemporary female artists. 

 

Choose to Challenge includes new work by Maya Holliss and Jenny Pope and is the first opportunity to see works created in Scotland by Norwegian artist Kristin Nordhøy. Holliss explores the relationship between the ocean and the female reproductive body, while Pope’s metaphorical ‘tools’ look at the intangible mental process of handling change and uncertainty – particularly relevant in today’s uncertain times. Nordhøy meanwhile pushed the boundaries of her artistic practice by working within a new medium, translating her drawings into print for the first time. 

 

These new works are complemented by highlights from our archive including a vibrant and confrontational series by Ruth Ewan, herself a longstanding spokesperson for gender equality in the arts, and a highly collectible series of lithographs by celebrated Scottish painter Moyna Flannigan tackling toxic female stereotypes. 

 

The prints on display are the result of artists’ residencies and collaboration at Edinburgh Printmakers over the years, which have allowed artists to explore new imagery in their practice and harness the power of printmaking for social justice.  

 

Although great progress has been made in championing women and other minority groups in the art world in recent years, there is still a long way to go to achieve equality in the industry. Today, less than 14% of living artists represented by galleries in Europe and North America are women, and only 4% of art sales at auction between 2008 to 2019 accounted for work made by women (artnet News).  

 

Our Viewing Rooms are part of EP’s response to the COVID pandemic, supporting our community of artists by providing a new platform to present their work and make it easy and accessible to purchase original artworks. All prints featured in this show can also be purchased with an interest free loan from Own Art. 

 

From Ruth Ewan’s striking statement in Principles, to Moyna Flannigan’s subversive Femme Fatales with their dangerous allure and poisonous plant names, we hope this collection plays its part in raising the profile of women artists working in Scotland.