Photography exhibition celebrating 100 pioneering women to open at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

100 First Women Portraits by renowned photographer Anita Corbin, featuring striking portraits of 100 pioneering women of the 21st century, opens at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday, February 15. 

This exhibition, the culmination of Corbin’s 10-year personal mission to capture the portraits of modern female trailblazers, features iconic portraits of celebrities, unsung heroines, and ‘ordinary’ women doing extraordinary jobs, including ’70s rocker Suzi Quatro, Olympian Boxer Nicola Adams OBE, Hove resident and the first woman to conduct the BBC Proms Odaline de la Martinez, and Hope Powell, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion women’s football team.

To celebrate the exhibition there will be a series of talks and events open to the public exploring some of the stories of the women in the show and other ground-breaking women in history. Corbin herself will also be taking part in a free event on International Women’s Day at Brighton Museum and Brighton Dome. For the full list of events, visit the website here. 

Anita says: “From ages 18 to 102-year-old, and in fields of expertise covering everything from beatboxing to bomb detection, I wanted to create an impressive visual archive documenting female ability and achievement, fantastic role models, in order to celebrate the impact women have had on our society over the last 100 years.

“These powerful portraits of women are intended to provoke people to look beyond the exterior image and contemplate the essence of the woman it personifies.

“I hope this exhibition will motivate, encourage and empower women and men across all ages and backgrounds and help them see that it is possible to break down barriers – whether gender, social, economic, cultural or political – to unlock their full potential.”

Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Economy and Culture Committee, added: “There are many well-known faces in the exhibition but it also highlights the hidden stories of ‘so-called’ ordinary women and their extraordinary achievements. 

“Together the portraits in this exhibition are an inspiration which shows it is possible for anyone of any age, background or gender to break down barriers and be trailblazers in their own lives.”

For the full programme of events, visit their website here or call 03000290902.