Women’s History Month illustration series

This past March, as in previous years, my Women’s History Month illustration series celebrated the impact that 4 inspiring women of the past had on the path to gender equality. I’ve shared one portrait a week on my Instagram. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The first portrait is dedicated to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The second woman to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, she devoted her career to fighting gender discrimination entrenched in US laws. 

If you want to know more about the early years of her career, I suggest watching the movie ‘On the Basis of Sex’.

Radclyffe Hall

The second portrait for my Women’s History Month illustration series is the one of Radclyffe Hall.

I came across her story while watching ‘A Very British Romance’ by the amazing historian Lucy Worsley.

Radclyffe Hall was a novelist. Her “The Well of Loneliness”, published in 1928, was the first novel to portray lesbian love candidly and sympathetically pushing the boundaries of conventional heterosexual love. Unfortunately, the book was banned immediately after publication. However, still to this day, it remains a beacon of its time for sexual self-discovery.

Ella Fitzgerald

My third portrait for my Women’s History Month illustration series is the one of Ella Fitzgerald. Aka The Queen of Jazz. 

Among her many accomplishments, she was also the first African-American to win a Grammy Award. 

She started from nothing but her talent and her exceptional voice made her become a real diva. I came across one of her quotes that I think sums up quite well her approach to life. “It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.”

Gae Aulenti

The final portrait for my Women’s History Month illustration series is somehow connected to my past. It’s the portrait of Italian Architect Gae Aulenti. 

I studied her projects at uni. I remember thinking how cool it was that she had built such a successful career for herself in a profession that was and still is very much male-dominated. 

Rather than imposing a style upon a space (like many archi-stars do), she believed that the space and its inhabitants should inform the design around them. She used this approach throughout her body of work that spanned all realms, from smaller furnishings designs to larger architectural projects. 

The illustrated portraits of the women showcased in this post are also available as collectable postcards. Have a look at my shop for more info!

That’s all for now, until next time!

If you wish to work with me on a series of illustrated portraits, just get in touch! I’ll be glad to help!

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