8th March, 2025, I 3-5 Minute read
International Women's Day
At Clarendon Fine Art we celebrate the profound impact of female artists on the art world, not just on International Women’s Day, but every day. From 20th Century pioneers like Barbara Hepworth, Bridget Riley and Tracey Emin, to the up-and-coming talents and celebrated names of today that we’ll talk about below, we are proud to work with and represent some of the finest female artists around.
Charmaine Chanakira is a fearless, trailblazing talent who uses her art as a powerful voice to express herself and spark dialogue about identity and the complexities of the world around us. Using acrylics, oil pastels, and pen, she draws on primitivism and symbolism to create powerful, textured pieces that pulse with energy and emotion.
Who is your favourite female artist?
“Caroline Chinakwe is my favourite female artist at the moment because of her bold vivid use of colour and technique. I admire how her work is unapologetically Afrocentric and deeply rooted in her culture in a way that feels both modern and timeless. Her pieces speak on themes that are close to my heart and as a Black British woman I deeply resonate with the stories she tells through her art.”
Contemporary artist and Cambridge academic Tabitha Millett has developed a unique visual language of form and materials. Known for her striking abstract work, she is inspired by minimalism, brutalist design, and the Bauhaus movement to create works of art defined by sharp lines, a distinctive colour palette and texture, that evoke a sense of harmony, balance and calm.
Which female artist inspires you?
“One of my favourite female artists is Eva Hesse. I particularly like the materiality and the temporality of her work. Through her forms and processes she was able to conjure new ways of thinking and communicating, which I am particularly interested in my own practice.”
Danielle O’Connor Akiyama creates luminous images that vibrate with life, energy and colour. Her fusion of eastern and western techniques combined with a vibrant palette, loose brushstrokes and a unique vocabulary of signs and symbols make her work both instantly recognisable and utterly irresistible.
Which female artist inspires you?
Hilma af Klint, an abstract pioneer whose work was ahead of her time—predating Kandinsky. Despite never receiving recognition during her life, her groundbreaking work is now celebrated in prestigious galleries, a testament to the enduring power of women's creativity and the necessity of reclaiming their rightful place in art history.”
Amber Goldhammer is California’s feel-good Pop art sensation, igniting the art scene and making waves with her vibrant blend of abstract art and graffiti. Her work reverberates with a dynamic energy, delivering powerful messages of love, hope, and positivity in her unmistakable bold and colourful style.
Mila Alexander is a visionary artist who celebrates the power of female sensuality through her arresting and compelling works. With the skill and dedication of a film director, she meticulously creates her exquisite portraits from conception to completion, even designing and making the luxurious clothing worn. Her paintings demonstrate purposeful self-awareness as she harnesses her own strength to produce stunning works that exude female empowerment.
Which female artist inspires you most?
“I’m very inspired by photographer Lee Miller, I love her life story and I admire her courage, her photography is timeless and deeply moving.”
Known as ‘the glittering queen of Pop Art’, Emma Gibbons creates dazzling artworks inspired by festivals, nightlife, and her personal journey from party life to sobriety, to celebrate nostalgia, creativity and transformation. Her aim is simple but powerful: to elevate spirits and create uplifting, cathartic experiences that leave a lasting impression of fun, energy, and wonder
Anna Gammans’ electrifying abstracts and stunning sunset scenes burst with energy and life in a distinctive style that marries intuitive brushstrokes with a palette of kaleidoscopic colour. Her ability to capture light allows her to create paintings that are bathed in an almost ethereal glow that will illuminate and transform any space.
Which female artists inspire you?
“As an artist, I draw inspiration from many incredible female creators. Berthe Morisot, for her pioneering role in my favourite movement, Impressionism. Yayoi Kusama, for her bold sculptures that unapologetically claim space. And of course, my mum, who taught me the true joy and freedom that comes from creating.”
With their sleek originality, luxury and sense of familiarity, Debra Franses’ playful and provocative sculptures pay homage to Pop art concepts, bringing them into a contemporary context which explores the interplay between the personal and the commercial in a world where, increasingly, the brand is boss.
