Women in Revolt! Opens at the Whitworth—And The Art As Activism T-Shirts Are Along for the Ride
A Night of Energy, Defiance, and Collective History
On Thursday night, the Whitworth vibrated with energy, defiance, and a powerful sense of collective history. Women in Revolt!, an exhibition that captivated audiences at TATE Britain and the National Galleries in Scotland, now takes centre stage in Manchester. I was there not just as a visitor but as an artist contributing to this vital conversation.
The Art As Activism Toolkit Lives On
There in the Whitworth shop stand the Art As Activism T-shirts—classic black editions for adults alongside bold new red versions for children. Seeing my name printed on the label next to the Whitworth logo marked a significant milestone for this journey.
I must give credit to my good friend and collaborator, Manchester-born and bred graphic design extraordinaire cdrbooth. We've been working together on the AAA artwork from the beginning, and his creative vision has been instrumental. Big love goes out to you, Boovee—you are my creative brother in arms.
These T-shirts originated in 2018 when I first developed the Art As Activism Toolkit to commemorate the centenary of women's suffrage in the UK. Though paused during the pandemic, the project has now found renewed purpose in a world yearning for collective healing.
Honest Activism on Display
What makes Women in Revolt! so powerful is its unflinching honesty. The exhibition doesn't sanitize the complexities of feminist activism in Britain—it embraces them. Spanning the 1970s through the 1990s, it celebrates women artists whose work fuelled protests, challenged inequality, and created space for new futures.
This is protest in its purest, most creative form—a hand reaching through time. We are still fighting. We are still creating. We are still many.
Creating Together on International Women's Day
On the exhibition's first public day, I returned to lead an age-friendly Handmade workshop for International Women's Day. A diverse group of women (and a few men!) over 50 gathered in solidarity and creativity.
We revisited one of the original Art As Activism Toolkit tutorials: making protest badge rosettes. As we shared stories and created together many participants who had lived through the feminist movements explored in the exhibition brought their wisdom to our circle. We were weaving threads between past and present, activism and art.
Supporting the Next Chapter
Every Art As Activism T-shirt and badge purchased at the Whitworth shop directly funds the toolkit's next evolution—a new set of resources empowering people of all ages to use creativity as a force for peace and social change.
This isn't just about honouring history. It's about where we go from here.
Women in Revolt! at The Whitworth, Manchester
Running until June 1, 2025
Art As Activism items available in the Whitworth Shop:
