A powerful new exhibition at Gallery Oldham is celebrating the contribution of women across a wide range of trades and professions, challenging traditional ideas of work, identity and representation through contemporary art.
Women Portraits: Trades & Professions opened on January 17, 2026 and will run until May 9, 2026, offering visitors the chance to explore imaginative portrayals of women’s working lives from past to present.
Created by artist Charlotte Hodes, the exhibition moves away from traditional portraiture. Instead of depicting faces, many of the works focus on tools and objects linked to specific professions, encouraging audiences to reflect on the roles women have played in shaping society across generations. The exhibition highlights professions including science, medicine, botany and the arts, placing women’s labour firmly at the centre of the narrative.
The collection also draws inspiration from local history and community, including influences connected to Oldham’s growing focus on sustainability and culture. By linking contemporary artwork with place and heritage, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider whose work is valued and remembered.
Charlotte Hodes described the exhibition as a celebration of resilience and progress, acknowledging both the challenges women have faced and the empowerment gained through visibility and recognition in professional life.
Gallery Oldham continues its commitment to presenting exhibitions that explore social themes and local stories, with Women Portraits: Trades & Professions adding to its programme of thought-provoking contemporary art.
The exhibition is free to attend and is open throughout the gallery’s normal opening hours until May 9, 2026.
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