Unlocking Women's Art by P.L. Henderson

Who were the pioneering female painters and who are the best contemporary women painters around today?

Highlighting artists from Gentileschi to Kahlo, art historian PL Henderson’s new book, Unlocking Women’s Art focuses on the female pioneers, visionaries and radicals of the painting medium. On a journey through Western art history and with references to diverse global artists, the fascinating lives of female painters and their artworks are discussed within their often challenging cultural contexts.

P.L. Henderson was born in the North of England and in her early career entered the field of environmental work. Her skills in music also led to involvement in the creation of music workshops aimed at empowering girls in economically deprived areas. A personal interest in drawing and also cultural histories, during the years bringing up her son, led to a period of part-time study culminating in gaining a BA in Art History through the Open University. Inspired by feminist art theorist pioneers, P.L. Henderson began an investigation of often invisible women artists, which resulted in the creation of the successful and necessary social media project @womensart1 to platform their work. Presently living in Lisbon, Portugal with her partner whilst working as a freelance writer, she regularly contributes to publications such as 'Resurgence & Ecologist' magazine, 'Art UK' and 'Culture Matters' on topics of art, ecology and social justice. Whilst having a case study published in the book 'Feminism and Museums, Intervention, Disruption and Change' (2017), she was also one of the writing team for Phaidon’s book 'Great Women Artists' (2019). She is creator/curator of #WOMENSART, see https://womensartblog.wordpress.com.