International Women of Cork Street

Ideas are best shared. Marking International Women’s Day 2026, on 11 March Cork Street Galleries, an initiative of the Pollen Estate, welcomed more than 500 women to celebrate the power of knowledge and conversation, reinforcing the importance of mentorship and exchange, both of which contribute crucially in the form and vitality of the creative world.

Sigrid Kirk, Co-Founder of AWITA and Adelaide Bannerman, Curator, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Olivia Estebanez

In collaboration with AWITA, the Association of Women in the Arts, a network co-founded by Sigrid Kirk, nine galleries hosted 18 speakers for an evening of talks under the mantra ‘Give to Gain’: Flowers Gallery, Goodman Gallery, Holtermann Fine Art, Lehmann Maupin at Frieze No.9 Cork Street, MASSIMODECARLO, Messums London, Nahmad Projects, Tiwani Contemporary and Waddington Custot, where a drinks reception courtesy of Ghost Labs culminated proceedings.

Sarah Carrington, Director at The Line and Rebecca King Lassman, Executive Director at Act IV, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

Taking place over five junctures, guests were allocated to one of five tour groups, embarking on a curated evening of talks around a single artwork, made possible with thanks to The Pollen Estate, participating galleries, and the artists and specialists involved.

Louise McKinney, Founder of A-I-R, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Olivia Estebanez

Barbara Bosi, Prints Department Manager and Mia Vaslet, Gallery Assistant at Flowers Gallery, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

Barbara Bosi, Prints Department Manager and Mia Vaslet, Gallery Assistant, spoke at Flowers Gallery.

Adelaide Bannerman, Curatorial Director and Miranda Forrester, Artist, spoke at Tiwani Contemporary.

Andrea Nitsche-Krupp, Curator of Exhibitions at ICA and Jo Stella, Senior Director at Goodman Gallery, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

Andrea Nitsche-Krupp, Curator of Exhibitions, ICA and Laura Lima, Artist, spoke at Goodman Gallery.

Charlotte White, Sales Director, London and Ann Thomson, Artist, spoke at Messums London.

Clare Niere, Gallery Manager and Registrar and Olivia Bax, Artist, spoke at Holtermann Fine Art.

Lara Asole, Director of Museum Liaison and Aaron Garber-Maikovska at MASSIMODECARLO, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

Lara Asole, Senior Museum Liaison, Samantha Shines, London Gallery Director and Aaron Garber-Maikovska, Artist, spoke at MASSIMODECARLO.

Julia Lucero, Associate Director, London and Anna Freeman Bentley at Nahmad Projects | Helly Nahmad Gallery, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

Julia Lucero, Associate Director, London and Anna Freeman Bentley, Artist, spoke at Nahmad Projects | Helly Nahmad Gallery.

Julie Lomax and Tanya Hudson, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Olivia Estebanez

Freya Douglas-Morris and Isabella Icoz, Partner at Lehmann Maupin at Frieze No.9 Cork Street, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

Isabella Icoz, Partner and Freya Douglas-Morris, Artist, spoke at Lehmann Maupin at Frieze No.9 Cork Street.

Louise Malcolm, Director of Research and Publications and Carman Hu, Sales Manager and Head of Business Development, Asia, spoke at Waddington Custot.

Marianne Holtermann, Founder and Director at Holtermann Fine Art and Sigrid Kirk, Co-Founder of AWITA, seen at Waddington Custot, AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Dafydd Jones

AWITA International Women's Day on Cork Street, 11.03.2026. Photo: Olivia Estebanez

While at Sam Fogg, ‘The Women at the Centre of Medieval Art’ viewed through gallery hours until 27 March, foregrounding women as subjects, patrons, and makers.