Ruffles at Hardwick Hall | Material Power: Rewoven exhibition

April – Oct 2025

Ruffles is an art installation celebrating strong female figures, those who ruffled feathers to move society forward and those women who supported them to do so. It recognizes the interdependent relationships of women spanning different social standings, backgrounds and cultures.

Ruffles was shown at Hardwick Hall in 2025, this time celebrating Bess of Hardwick as part go their Material Power: Rewoven exhibition. As one of the most influential women of the Elizabethan era, her ruffling affect as a person socially and the ruffling she left in her aftermath, is quite unmatched. It is this ruffling effect that is singularly hers, that Ruffles marks.

Through the composition of the fabric ruffle many different social spheres of fabrics are brought together. Bess’s social climb and the women who supported her rise are mirrored in the fabric ruffles. The muted colour palette of the piece symbolises this often-unseen female support network, which, despite being verbally muted, can in this this case come together to create a visually powerful statement of resilience and achievement.

How this piece was made, feels very in keeping with how Bess ran her creative endeavours. In particular her building projects. As a female artist who works mainly with materials that can be brought and worked on within the home, I have become much more conscious of this aspect of my making. Much like Bess, my artistic practice involves working within the confines of domestic space and responsibilities, something that many women creators throughout history have experienced. This dynamic is often overlooked, but like Bess’s achievements, it is crucial and deserves visibility. It is a necessity and can easily be brushed over but it can be fruitful as Bess holds testimony to.