Women artists on show in new exhibition at Bridge Cottage

This winter sees the opening of a new exhibition of work by women artists from the Unilever Contemporary Art Collection in Port Sunlight, the historic home of the global company.

‘Women at Work: the Unilever Contemporary Art Collection’ is a unique opportunity for the general public to see work from a collection which is normally displayed in Unilever’s offices across the UK. It includes paintings and prints by Bridget Riley, Lisa Milroy and Margaret Calvert.

The exhibition is open Wednesday–Saturday from 22 November until 22 March at the historic Bridge Cottage, which was briefly home to Port Sunlight’s founder William Lever, and is now a gallery space. Entry is free, with donations to Port Sunlight Village Trust welcome.

The history of art is full of work by men, and it is only in recent decades that women artists have begun to be equally acknowledged, outside of the production of artworks which may be considered ‘domestic’. The Unilever Contemporary Art Collection redresses this by displaying work by female artists to show the breadths of their interests, subject matter and media.

Unilever has been associated with the arts since it was founded. William Lever was an avid collector and the business often used fine art in its advertising. Unilever has been collecting contemporary art since the late 1970s, with the aim of creating a more enjoyable working environment for employees and visitors, as well as supporting young artists in the UK.

Claire Tunstall, Unilever’s Global Head of Art, Archives and Records Management, said: “Art in the workplace isn’t just decoration – it is deeper than that; it’s a catalyst for wellbeing, creativity, and connection, encourages us to see the world from a different point of view, fosters questions and problem solving, reflecting who we are and inspiring how we work, Bringing the collection to Port Sunlight is really exciting as it gives everyone a chance to see a small part of our Corporate Collection.”

Jean Milton, Director of Heritage at Port Sunlight Village Trust, said: “Having the opportunity to showcase contemporary artworks by women artists in Unilever’s collection is a real honour for us. There couldn’t be a better setting for this exciting new exhibition than Bridge Cottage, which was briefly home to William Lever, the man who founded both Port Sunlight and was a great supporter of the arts. By presenting these women artists in this historic space, we hope it will encourage diverse visitors to discover their work, inspire new ideas and spark creativity.”

For more information, visit www.portsunlightvillage.com/bridge-cottage