Ruth Barker & Hannah Leighton-Boyce

Castlefield Gallery presents two newly commissioned bodies of work by the artists Ruth Barker and Hannah Leighton-Boyce. The exhibition is part of Manchester’s Wonder Women Festival 2018, and marks the 100th anniversary of The Representation of the People’s Act, a law passed in 1918 that reformed the electoral system in Great Britain. The Act gave the vote to all men over the age of 21 and women over 30 who met a minimum property qualification, a significant moment in the journey towards women’s suffrage.

Paired by Castlefield Gallery, both women’s practice sees them undertake in-depth research projects with the artists often embedding themselves in communities to explore people and place. New work for this exhibition has been made during 2017 when Castlefield Gallery supported Ruth Barker (Glasgow) and Hannah Leighton-Boyce (Manchester) to undertake research residencies: Leighton-Boyce in Scotland with Glasgow Women’s Library, and Barker in Salford with the University of Salford and University of Salford Art Collection. Over the course of the year Barker and Leighton-Boyce have exchanged many ideas, thoughts and stories, in particular through conversation and letters. New works will premiere at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester, before touring in 2019 to Glasgow Women’s Library, and acquisition into the University of Salford Art Collection.

Touring to Glasgow Women’s Library: 1 February – 23 March 2019 (Preview: 31 January 2019)

Co-commissioned with the University of Salford Art Collection. With special thanks to Clarendon Road Primary School.

Special thanks to Castlefield Gallery Patron, James Mycock.

Thanks also to Creative Tourist, G.F Smith and Fred Aldous for their continued support of our main gallery exhibition programme.

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