Reading · The Great Women Artists

Dear Readers, I hope you’re having a wonderful summer. As always, scroll on for my top picks for the exhibitions to see, the books and articles to read, artists to check out, and more! But first, some updates…

At the end of the month, I’ll be heading to one of my favourite cities for the Edinburgh Book Festival!

Fri 28th Aug, at 6:45pm, I’ll be in conversation with Octavia Bright about all things How to Live an Artful Life: Tickets here.
Sat 29th Aug, at 10:30am: I’m hosting an interactive family-friendly event for my book for younger readers (ages 7+) learning all about brilliant women artists: Tickets here.

Keep posted for a special Edinburgh-themed Substack coming up later this month.

If you need some inspiration for art-filled days out across the UK this summer, check out my Art Days Out Substacks from 2025 and 2024 – from church murals to artist houses, seaside galleries to sculpture gardens.

Did you know that one of the largest collections of work by women artists in Europe can be found at FAMM (Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins) in the South of France? They’ve just had a big rehang for summer 2026 – with 75 new works on view. Read all about it.

Joan Brown, The Bather #5, 1982 · SFMOMA

I’ve gathered some artworks that capture summer for me – across styles and eras, from some amazing artists – plus, a summery playlist! Read here.

Ok, now for our August recommendations! Enjoy xx

The Meeting Ground: Scenes from the KNMA Collection, Christie’s, London (until 21 Aug)
Felipe Baeza: Errantry, Morena di Luna, Hove (until 6 Sep)
Caragh Thuring, Thomas Dane Gallery, London (until 19 Sep)
Angela de la Cruz: Upright, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (until 6 Sep)
Soft Spot, Pilar Corrias, London (until 21 Aug)
The Air of Ideas, Kate MacGarry, Rye (until 31 Aug)
Lindsey Mendick: Where You End and I Begin, Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate (30 Aug)
Caroline Walker: Mothering, Newlyn Art Gallery, Penzance (until 31 Oct)
Eva Rothschild: The Void Presses The Wall, Fruit Market, Edinburgh (until 11 Oct)
HEARD, Rene Matić, V&A East, London (until 18 Oct)

Wangechi Mutu: The SeasSpirit, Victoria Miro, Venice (until 29 Aug)
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts (until 10 Jan 2027)
PREMIERE!: The Oesterreichische Nationalbank Collection, Leopold Museum, Vienna (until 11 Oct)
Les Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles 2026, Arles (until 4 Oct)
Women Artists Crossing the Sea, Yokohama Museum of Art (until 11 Feb 2027)
That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature, Vancouver Art Gallery (until 8 Nov)
Francesca Woodman: Lately I Find a Sliver of Mirror Is Simply to Slice an Eyelid, Gagosian, Rome (until 12 Sep)
The Visionary Art of Minnie Evans, KMAC Contemporary Art Museum, Louisville, (until 4 Oct)
Berthe Brincour: An Unconventional and Timeless Artist, Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart, Luxembourg (until 10 Jan)

Marie-Laure Bernadac and Lauren Elkin on Louise Bourgeois, via LRB Podcast
Eve Arnold on Marilyn Monroe, from 1987, via BBC iPlayer
Ultramarine: a blue more expensive than gold, via the National Gallery’s ‘Stories in Colour’
Sonia Boyce on René Magritte, Lygia Clark, and the Art of Improvisation, via Artforum
The Art That Made Me: Thelma Golden with Ekow Eshun, via Hauser & Wirth

Check out my summer reading list!
Why Dior’s Jonathan Anderson Is Inspired by Lynda Benglis, via The New York Times
Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea by Emily Wilson
The women who reframed Japanese photography, via A Rabbit’s Foot
Emily Wilson on The Odyssey via LRB