Women in Revolt!

This book highlights the contributions of women artists in the UK during the 1970s and 80s. Women in Revolt! offers a rich narrative of their struggles and achievements.

A timely exploration of the work and lived experiences of a postwar generation of women artists that have largely been omitted from art historical narratives, Women in Revolt! surfaces the wealth and diversity of work created in the UK during the 1970s and 80s, a period of seismic social and political change.

Showcasing a wide variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, film, and photography, this richly illustrated book demonstrates how women’s needs were marginalized within mainstream culture. It reveals how these artists used radical ideas and methods to confront issues that resonate with contemporary audiences – from access to healthcare and class struggles to ecological disaster, racism, and misogyny.

Exploring themes such as the Women's Liberation Movement, maternal and domestic experiences, the Greenham Common and the peace movement, the intersection of punk, feminism, and art, the visibility of Black and South Asian women artists, feminist film distribution, Section 28, and the AIDS pandemic, Women in Revolt! celebrates the full diversity of what was a highly creative, politically engaged, and determined community of women that paved the way for future generations and ultimately changed the face of British culture.