Women Photographers 1900–1975: A Legacy of Light at NGV International

As its name indicates, this new NGV exhibition is a celebration of women photographers, showcasing the diverse work of more than 80 20th-century artists from around the world.

Women Photographers 1900–1975: A Legacy of Light explores how female artists created images of themselves and others, reclaiming their narratives and subverting the male gaze. You’ll take a journey through time, beginning in the early 1900s with images of the women’s suffrage movement, and finishing with the women’s liberation movement in the 1970s. On display are more than 300 photographs from the NGV Collection, many showing for the first time – from realist portraiture to landscape photography and experimental avant-garde imagery.

View the works of trailblazers like Dora Maa, who’s often remembered for her connection to Pablo Picasso, and the “Queen of Leica” Ilse Bing, known for her pioneering use of the small, hand-held camera. There’s also work from photojournalist Dorothea Lange, Australian modernist Olive Cotton, muse-turned-WWII correspondent Lee Miller and many more. 

The exhibition will be accompanied by an illustrated publication exploring the lives of the photographers, with essays from NGV curators and international contributors. 

Women Photographers 1900–1975: A Legacy of Light runs until May 3, 2026. Find out more and book tickets at ngv.vic.gov.au. 

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