This exhibition celebrates the lives, courage and strength of character, across so many human endeavours, of extraordinary women artists from the Ben Uri Collection. Liberators explores the lives and works of twelve of these extraordinary women, spanning two waves of Jewish migration and the social, political, religious and artistic upheavals of the first half of the 20th century.

Artists featured in this Curation: Marthe Hekimi, Lily Delissa Joseph (1863–1940), Chana Kowalska (1904–1942), Margarete Marks (1899–1990), Edith Birkin (1927–2018), Alicia Melamed Adams (1927–2022), Clare Winsten (1892–1989), Dora Holzhandler (1928–2015), Dorte Bürgner (Dodo) (1907–1998), Eva Frankfurther (1930–1959), and 3 more
13 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase
La grande peur du monde
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

La grande peur du monde 1940–1944

Marthe Hekimi (active 1940–1948)

Oil on canvas

H 89 x W 130.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Self Portrait with Candles
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Self Portrait with Candles c.1910

Lily Delissa Joseph (1863–1940)

Oil on canvas

H 105.5 x W 59.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

The Bridge
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

The Bridge 1937

Chana Kowalska (1904–1942)

Oil on paper

H 58.5 x W 47 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Leff Poushnoff (1891–1959), Pianist
© estate of Margarete Marks. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Leff Poushnoff (1891–1959), Pianist c.1939

Margarete Marks (1899–1990)

Lithograph on paper

H 33.5 x W 25 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Liberation Day
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Liberation Day 1987

Edith Birkin (1927–2018)

Acrylic on canvas

H 77.5 x W 60.8 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Tears
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Tears 1993

Alicia Melamed Adams (1927–2022)

Oil, mixed media & collage on canvas

H 80 x W 63 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Attack
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Attack c.1910

Clare Winsten (1892–1989)

Watercolour on paper

H 54 x W 75.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Mother and Children in Holland Park
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Mother and Children in Holland Park 1997

Dora Holzhandler (1928–2015)

Oil on canvas

H 121.5 x W 82 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Verkündigung (Annunciation)
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Verkündigung (Annunciation) 1933

Dorte Bürgner (Dodo) (1907–1998)

Watercolour & pencil on paper

H 56 x W 42 cm

Ben Uri Collection

West Indian Waitresses
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

West Indian Waitresses c.1955

Eva Frankfurther (1930–1959)

Oil on paper

H 76 x W 55 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Lake View
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Lake View

Josefine Auspitz (1873–1943)

Etching on paper

H 19.8 x W 13.8 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Arnold Wesker (1932–2016)
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Arnold Wesker (1932–2016) c.1968–1975

Eva Aldbrook (1925–2020)

Pastel on paper

H 57.9 x W 48.9 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Chungsen Chou
© The Estate of Elsa Fraenkel. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Chungsen Chou 1928

Elsa Fraenkel (1892–1975)

Bronze

H 36 x W 20.5 x D 55 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Explore artists in this Curation

View all 13
  • La grande peur du monde
    Marthe Hekimi
  • Rosemary Friedman
    Eva Aldbrook (1925–2020)
  • The Bridge
    Chana Kowalska (1904–1942)
  • Tears
    Alicia Melamed Adams (1927–2022)
  • Self Portrait with Candles
    Lily Delissa Joseph (1863–1940)
  • Asleep on Knee
    Margarete Marks (1899–1990)
  • Verkündigung (Annunciation)
    Dorte Bürgner (Dodo) (1907–1998)
  • Lake View
    Josefine Auspitz (1873–1943)
  • West Indian Waitresses
    Eva Frankfurther (1930–1959)
  • Wedding Night
    Dora Holzhandler (1928–2015)
  • View all 13
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