Portraits of Herstory is an exhibition celebrating extraordinary women whose contributions have been downplayed, overlooked, forgotten, or erased from history. Through a series of mixed-media portraits, this collection honours and retells the stories of remarkable women who defied convention, broke barriers, and changed the world.
The series features portraits of Frida Kahlo, an artist who transformed personal pain into visionary art and became a symbol of strength and self-expression; Ching Shih, a former brothel owner who rose to command the largest pirate fleet in history and redefined power at sea; Virginia Hall, a fearless Allied spy whose intelligence work helped turn the tide against the Nazis despite her disability; Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist who sacrificed her health to advance medical discovery; Constance Markievicz, Ireland’s first female politician, revolutionary, and advocate for women’s rights; and Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and freedom fighter who led hundreds to liberation through the Underground Railroad, among many others whose stories continue to inspire and challenge how we view history.
Each portrait is created using a blend of watercolour, gouache, and ink, combining painting and illustration to bring their historical narratives to life. Some are reimagined where no visual records exist, allowing artistic interpretation to fill the spaces history left blank, while others draw from archival photographs to remain true to their likeness. The series explores not only who these women were, but how they’ve been remembered or forgotten over time.
Portraits of Herstory creates a visual dialogue between past and present, challenging traditional narratives and reclaiming space for women whose stories deserve to be seen, shared, and remembered. It is both a tribute and an invitation to look closer, learn deeper, and keep their legacies alive.
“The idea for this project began after I came across the life and art of Frida Kahlo. I was inspired by her work and story, but also surprised by how little I’d learned about her, or any other female artists, during my years in school and studying Fine Art. That realisation led me down a rabbit hole, uncovering the stories of women whose names and achievements had been diminished or misrepresented by history. I decided to paint them, to share what I learned, and to bring their stories back into the light through art“.” Aine Kelly
