Jo Spence Archives

Black and white photograph. Lancelot, dressed in chainmail, holds his lover Guinevere, who leans her head against his chest. She is dressed in a pale coloured smock dress.

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5 Historical Heroines born in June

Here are five pioneering women in photography to celebrate in the month of June - from Marion Post Wolcott to Florence Henri.

Katherine Riley1st June 2024

Jo Spence holds a handwritten sign which reads, 'How do I give up responsibilities without being ill?'

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A major Jo Spence retrospective on display in Bristol

A major retrospective of Heroine Jo Spence, From Fairytales to Phototherapy (18 June - 20 June 2021), is being exhibited at Arnolfini as part of Bristol Photo Festival.

Gabby Kynoch15th June 2021

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Bristol Photo Festival 2021

Check out which Heroines are participating in this years Bristol Photo Festival, from group shows to symposiums

Gabby Kynoch17th May 2021

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A Picture of Health

A Picture of Health explores the roles of the hidden self, trauma, environment and care, within the wider narratives of health and wellbeing, with work by Anna Fox and Heather Agyepong.

Gabby Kynoch10th February 2021

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Over her long career, Jo Spence moved from capturing moments of domestic happiness in commercial photography to works that challenged capitalism and sexism,before focusing on questions of illness and healing as she battled with breast cancer.

Ellie Ramsden19th January 2021

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Cinderella

Reproduction of Jo Spence's BA thesis. Written in 1982, this landmark thesis aimed to untangle interconnected gender and class oppressions in historic fairy tales.