Is there joy to be found in Women’s Work?
Last weekend I took a trip to The Hepworth Wakefield — a place I’ve visited before and always find impressive. It’s a spacious, striking gallery with a thoughtful mix of changing exhibitions and permanent displays dedicated to Barbara Hepworth herself. There’s also a brilliant café and gift shop. Honestly, it’s a place I’d highly recommend for a full day out.
Caroline Walker: Women’s Work
The reason for my visit this time was the premiere screening of Women’s Work (2025, 60 mins) which is a new documentary directed by Nicola Black, following the internationally acclaimed painter Caroline Walker over the past five years.
The film is a quiet, insightful look into Walker’s practice and subject matter, particularly her recent focus on childcare, domestic work, and the roles women are expected to perform. It was followed by a Q&A with Walker, Black, and Eleanor Clayton, Head of Collection & Exhibitions at the Hepworth. Their discussion about how the documentary evolved, and how Walker approaches the depiction of women’s labour, was extremely inspiring.
After the talk, I had the pleasure of exploring Walker’s new exhibition Mothering, which I’ll be writing about very soon; but spoiler alert, it was excellent.
Recent reviews:
Since the last newsletter, I’ve added two new exhibition reviews:
Ciara Phillips at GoMA, Glasgow – This was a visual delight. Her works looked like sketchbooks exploded onto the gallery walls, in the best possible way.
Helen Chadwick at The Hepworth – A beautifully curated, fitting tribute to Chadwick’s powerful, visceral work and her influence on feminist art.
Artist spotlight: Etain O’Carroll
Last week I was lucky enough to have a virtual studio visit with photographer Etain O’Carroll, and I came away so inspired.
Etain’s practice spans public art projects, participatory workshops, and experimental image-making using alternative techniques. She’s just completed an MFA and is diving into playful, hands-on methods that push photography beyond its traditional form. I’m really looking forward to working with her more in the future — hopefully in some upcoming exhibitions.
Jenny Saville and Cate Blanchett in conversation
Finally, last night I caught the livestream of a brilliant artist talk from the National Portrait Gallery in London: Jenny Saville in conversation with Cate Blanchett.
It was a rich, thoughtful discussion about artistic practice, intuition, and the messy joy of making. I loved hearing Blanchett speak so openly about her creative process and how it intersects with Saville’s painting. It was fascinating to hear the similarities and differences between their two practices — two artists working in very different mediums but both preoccupied with embodiment, expression and the layers beneath the surface.
The best part? More than 1,000 people paid £10 to watch this talk online — and it sold out in person, too. That feels like a sign that there’s still a real appetite for hearing visual artists speak directly about their work, especially in a public setting. I sometimes see old TV clips where painters and sculptors were guests alongside actors and writers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a visual artist on Graham Norton — but wouldn’t it be great if that wasn’t such a wild idea?
Their closing advice to new artists felt especially refreshing. Instead of focusing on networking, hustle or which art school you attended, they simply said: “Keep your windows open. Find the joy in what you’re doing.”
It was a reminder that art, at its best, is about staying connected to curiosity, about remaining open, not just to influence, but to wonder.
Until next time,
—Mills