2017 may have been the year of feminism, but next year is shaping up to be a glorious year of female magnificence.

Because the London Underground is going to be celebrating female artists all year, with a programme of works by women.

The programme marks 100 years since women were granted suffrage.

And it also forms part of Sadiq Khan’s gender equality campaign, #BehindEveryGreatCity, which hopes to celebrate the capital’s role in securing votes for women and looks to increasing gender equality in 2018.


‘Over the next year, and beyond, we will highlight how women of all ages, ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds make London the great city it is,’ he’s said.



‘More importantly, we will redouble our efforts in the fight for gender equality. During this momentous year and beyond, we must do all we can to remove any barriers to women’s success and to unlock their full potential.’

The art programme will see British artist Heather Phillipson creating what she calls ‘an ambitious sculptural project’ on a disused platform at Gloucester Road Station, and Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby creating something new at Brixton station.

25 million new tube maps will be designed by Romanian artist Geta Brătescu and French artist Marie Jacotey.

‘The spaces of our cities are not neutral, and neither is space afforded to public art. Wider social inequalities are played out in the structures of urban life,’ says Eleanor Pinfield, Head of Art on the Underground.

‘Through 2018, Art on the Underground will use its series of commissions to reframe public space, to allow artists’ voices of diverse backgrounds and generations to underline the message that there is no single women’s voice in art – there are however many urgent voices that can challenge the city’s structures of male power.’

So keep your eyes peeled, people!

MORE: In 2018, we need to make more of an effort to keep misandry out of feminism

MORE: Feminism named as the word of the year

Advertisement Advertisement