Her Court: Young Masters x Wimbledon Museum | Private View: 2 July 2026, 7-9pm

Her Court: The Role Wimbledon Played in the Suffragette Movement: A Young Masters Exhibition Project In collaboration with Wimbledon Museum

We would be delighted to invite you to the Private View of Her Court: The Role Wimbledon Played in the Suffragette Movement, a Young Masters exhibition project developed in collaboration with Wimbledon Museum.

Please join us on Thursday 2 July 2026, 7–9pm, at Wimbledon Museum, 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN, for an evening bringing together contemporary art, feminist history and Wimbledon’s remarkable local suffrage story.

Please note: all events take place at the Lingfield Room at Wimbledon Museum, 22 Ridgway, corner of Lingfield Road, SW19 4QN. Opening hours: 11am-5pm

RSVP Here: Thursday 2 July 2026, 7-9pm

Her Court: The Role Wimbledon Played in the Suffragette Movement is a Young Masters exhibition project developed in collaboration with Wimbledon Museum. Drawing on the museum’s local history collections and archives, the exhibition explores the little-known relationship between Wimbledon and the women’s suffrage movement, bringing contemporary art into dialogue with feminist history, public voice and cultural memory.

The exhibition examines how histories of protest, visibility and women’s political identity continue to resonate within contemporary culture today. Through painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, performance, film and interdisciplinary practice, participating artists respond to themes including courage, resistance, erasure, symbolism, place, power and change.

At the centre of the research is Rose Lamartine Yates, founder of the Wimbledon Women’s Social & Political Union (WWSPU), whose activism connected Wimbledon to the wider militant suffrage movement of the early twentieth century. The project also explores the striking visual overlap between the suffrage colours of purple, white and green and Wimbledon’s globally recognised visual identity, opening a dialogue between political symbolism, sport, fashion and contemporary representation.

Presented within Wimbledon Museum’s historic setting, Her Court places contemporary artworks alongside archival materials and local social history, creating new conversations between past and present. The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of talks, performances and educational events and is supported by a distinguished advisory panel including Helen Pankhurst CBE, great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and convenor of Centenary Action, alongside Pamela Greenwood, Yasmin Jones Henry, Sabine Taal, Sarah Jane Moon and Liz Hoggard.

‘Her Court’ Young Masters Talks Event at Wimbledon Museum: Friday 3 July 2026, 1.30-4pm

Her Court: The Role Wimbledon Played in the Suffragette Movement: A Young Masters Exhibition Project In collaboration with Wimbledon Museum

A talks event accompanying Her Court, a Young Masters exhibition project in collaboration with Wimbledon Museum, exploring Wimbledon’s links to the suffrage movement through contemporary art, local history and archival research.

RSVP hERE: Friday 3 July 2026, 1.30-4pm

Please note: all events take place at the Lingfield Room at Wimbledon Museum, 22 Ridgway, corner of Lingfield Road, SW19 4QN. Opening hours: 11am-5pm



Time & Leisure ‘In Conversation’ with Helen Pankhurst CBE & Carmela Corbett: Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 5-7pm

Join us for a special Time & Leisure In Conversation event with Helen Pankhurst CBE and Carmela Corbett, exploring the themes behind Her Court: The Role Wimbledon Played in the Suffragette Movement.

Taking place within the exhibition at Wimbledon Museum, this conversation will reflect on women’s histories, activism, sport, legacy and the continuing relevance of the Suffragette movement today.

Time & Leisure ‘In Conversation’ with Helen Pankhurst CBE & Carmela Corbett
Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 5–7pm

All proceeds from this event will be donated to Centenary Action, a cross-party campaign working towards a #GenderEqualParliament by 2028. Although women make up 51% of the UK population, they currently account for only 40% of MPs. Centenary Action works to identify and remove the barriers that prevent women from participating, being selected, and remaining in politics.

As Sylvia Pankhurst reminded us: "Great is the work that remains to be accomplished."

Venue:
Lingfield Room
Wimbledon Museum
22 Ridgway (corner of Lingfield Road)
London SW19 4QN

Museum opening hours: 11am–5pm.

rsvp hERE: Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 5-7pm

‘Her Court’ Young Masters Finissage Tea Afternoon: Saturday 11 July 2026, 3-6pm

A closing tea afternoon for Her Court, reflecting on the exhibition’s themes through the social and symbolic history of tea. From tearooms as spaces for suffrage organising to tea gatherings as moments of conversation, fundraising and public visibility, the event connects Wimbledon’s local history with the wider story of women’s political voice and collective action. The exhibition is supported by an advisory panel including Helen Pankhurst CBE, great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and convenor of Centenary Action.

rsvp HERE: Saturday 11 July 2026, 3-6pm



Young Masters 2026 Judge Spotlight: Yasmin Jones-Henry

5 questions we asked our Young Masters 2026 judges.

What first inspired your interest and dedication to the creative arts?

Both my parents are artists. My mother is a graphic designer, my father is a sound designer. So my earliest memories consist of being in my father's arms while he was mixing and recording records, or with my mother, who was very strict in my early arts education. The first books she ever bought me when learning to read were poetry anthologies, primarily of Black writers such as Grace Nichols and Langston Hughes. Growing up in that household, creative arts was both how my parents were able to provide a life for all of us, but also for themselves and their own wellbeing.

Could you tell us a little about yourself and your professional journey?

Not to sound like a vengeful creature, but aged 11 I have a vivid memory in my French class when we were writing to our pen pals describing our lives. When I asked the teacher how to say "graphic designer" or "record producer" in French, corners of the classroom erupted in laughter where some sniggered, "that's not a real job". Cut to me doing A Level Economics, History and English followed by a degree in Classical Literature at the University of Birmingham. When I landed at the Financial Times a decade ago, I had ONE mission: to prove the economic value and importance of culture and art to society.

The FT is where I developed my specialism in writing about fashion and investment primarily, but it has also been the outlet for healing that childhood trauma. The pivot into cultural placeshaping is an amplification of the same mission - where I convince asset managers and developers to integrate art and culture into the very heart of their masterplan developments. 

What are your thoughts on the latest Young Masters project, and what are you most excited about?

I am extremely passionate about supporting initiatives that provide meaningful platforms for next gen talent and the talent pipeline for the creative industries. The Young Masters project has a proven track record of elevating and amplifying the voices of grassroots talent.

Are you looking forward to visiting the beautiful Wimbledon Museum and seeing how the Suffragette colours are elevated through the history and atmosphere of the tennis championship?

I'm a NW Londoner born and bred. I seldom travel south of the river, so yes, I'm very much looking forward to visiting Wimbledon Museum and learning more about the heritage and the history of the area and its connections to the Suffragettes.

What is your connection with Young Masters, and how did you first meet the founder, Cynthia Valianti Corbett?

I'm a Trustee of the Crafts Council and I've previously covered the Collect Fair for FT HTSI (How To Spend It). Collect is where I first met Cynthia and learned all about the great work Young Masters do for our sector in contemporary craft and art.

Young Masters 2026 Judge Spotlight: Sabine Taal

5 questions we asked our Young Masters 2026 judges.

What first inspired your interest and dedication to the creative arts?

Art reflects culture, is inspiring and relaxing (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/may/engaging-arts-linked-slower-pace-ageing).

Could you tell us a little about yourself and your professional journey?

After my Master’s in Communication Science, I started my career in advertising, where I worked closely with commercial artists. I also travelled the world and was inspired by cultural differences and how these are expressed through the arts. My husband’s work relocated us and gave me the opportunity to change my focus to arts and design. I worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and started designing interiors. After moving to London, I’m focusing on how I can offer my background in marketing communications to charities, preferably in the arts.

What are your thoughts on the latest Young Masters project, and what are you most excited about?

As a woman, I’m daily thankful for the persistence of the Suffragettes. Giving women a voice has been such a foundation for many steps in emancipation. There still needs to happen a lot, though so much has already been achieved.

This is also reflected in the arts. Where women were barely recognised in art over the last centuries, we finally see women artists getting a voice and being celebrated from all periods and geographical backgrounds.

Are you looking forward to visiting the beautiful Wimbledon Museum and seeing how the Suffragette colours are elevated through the history and atmosphere of the tennis championship?

I’m looking forward to seeing the Suffragette colours and voice in Wimbledon being reflected in art. I think this is an interesting project.

What is your connection with Young Masters, and how did you first meet the founder, Cynthia Valianti Corbett?

I met Cynthia at Collect, I think in 2018, and reached out to her during Covid because I could not forget about a piece I had seen at that show. Meanwhile, I acquired more works from her and I enjoy her energy and how she combines her business with her effort to promote emerging artists through the Young Masters.

Young Masters 2026 Judge Spotlight: Liz Hoggard

5 questions we asked our Young Masters 2026 judges.

What first inspired your interest and dedication to the creative arts?

I come from a bookish/teacher family so initially I studied English literature. But then by chance I got a job editing the newsletter of the Chartered Society of Designers. Their members included Lucienne and Robin Day, Jean Muir, Rodney Fitch, Sir Norman Foster. It was the 1980s and design was the new buzzword. I became very excited by the changing visual landscape of new bars, clubs, museums and art galleries, and worked on "zines" like Designing, The Big Paper and Designers’ Journal.

Could you tell us a little about yourself and your professional journey?

I never imagined I’d work in newspapers (back then there was really only the choice of becoming a tabloid journalist or secretary to the literary editor if you were posh enough!) but after the success of magazines such as The Face, Blitz and i-D, suddenly every newspaper wanted their own glossy supplement. And if you knew about “stuff” (street style, fashion, design, architecture) you were ideally placed. So I began interviewing artists and authors, craftspeople and actors and reviewing exhibitions and shows.

What are your thoughts on the latest Young Masters project, and what are you most excited about?

I’m a proud feminist but I had no idea that the borough of Wimbledon became such a hotbed of suffragette activity, spearheaded by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). And that, in 1913, frustrated by the lack of the vote, the suffragettes targeted the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, where activists attempted to set fire to the grounds. It seems such rich territory for artists to explore!

Are you looking forward to visiting the beautiful Wimbledon Museum and seeing how the Suffragette colours are elevated through the history and atmosphere of the tennis championship?

I’m fascinated that the museum holds official collection highlights dedicated to this era, including a preserved suffragette banner and historical cups. So it will be a great collaboration.

What is your connection with Young Masters, and how did you first meet the founder, Cynthia Valianti Corbett?

I’ve long admired Cynthia for her spirit of exploration and democracy in an often closed art world. She champions so many new artists. I first interviewed her for Crafts magazine about her collection of ceramics in her gorgeous Wimbledon house-cum-gallery, a former Victorian convent. I love the way the decor is inspired by Monet’s house at Giverny.

Young Masters 2026 Judge Spotlight: Sarah Jane Moon

5 questions we asked our Young Masters 2026 judges.

What first inspired your interest and dedication to the creative arts?

I've always been interested in drawing and painting ever since I was a child and I really seriously dedicated myself to it in my late twenties. Before then, I had always worked in and around the arts.

Could you tell us a little about yourself and your professional journey?

I’m a full-time professional painter based in Brixton, where I’ve been working from my studio for the past 15 years. I primarily paint people I admire and respect - individuals who are doing interesting, creative things in the world - and portraiture has become the central focus of my practice.

I’ve been interested in drawing and painting since childhood, but I dedicated myself seriously to becoming an artist in my late twenties. Before that, I worked in and around the arts in various roles, which gave me a broad appreciation of the creative sector and the communities that sustain it.

Alongside making and exhibiting my own work, I occasionally undertake portrait commissions. I’m fortunate to have had work selected for the National Portrait Gallery’s Portrait Award and my paintings are held in collections including the National Portrait Gallery in London and the National Archives of New Zealand.

I also enjoy curating and organising exhibitions, bringing artists together and creating opportunities for conversations about painting and what it means to sustain a creative practice today. Building artistic communities and supporting other painters has become an important part of my professional life.

What are your thoughts on the latest Young Masters project, and what are you most excited about?

I think the latest Young Masters project, Her Court, is a really exciting and unusual exhibition concept. I’m particularly drawn to its focus on women in sport and on celebrating women who have been at the forefront of change and progress. There are interesting connections between contemporary female athletes and the women who fought for greater rights and visibility in earlier generations, and I think those themes feel especially relevant today.

What excites me most is the diversity of the work that has been selected. The artists involved have approached these ideas from very different perspectives, and I’m looking forward to seeing how those individual interpretations come together in the exhibition. I think it promises to be a rich and thought-provoking show and I’m excited to see the conversations it generates.

Are you looking forward to visiting the beautiful Wimbledon Museum and seeing how the Suffragette colours are elevated through the history and atmosphere of the tennis championship?

Yes, very much. I’m looking forward to visiting the Wimbledon Museum and experiencing the unique atmosphere and history that surrounds the Championships. Wimbledon is such an iconic institution and I’m fascinated by the way heritage, sport and culture intersect there.

I’m especially interested in seeing how the suffragette colours are woven into that setting and how they help illuminate the connections between women’s sport and the wider history of women’s rights and social change. I think placing contemporary artistic responses within a venue so rich in history adds another layer to the exhibition and creates an opportunity for audiences to reflect on both the past and the present.

What is your connection with Young Masters, and how did you first meet the founder, Cynthia Valianti Corbett?

I’ve long been aware of Young Masters and have had the pleasure of exhibiting with the organisation, which gave me the opportunity to experience first-hand its commitment to supporting artists and fostering thoughtful dialogue between contemporary practice and art history.

Through that connection, I came to know Cynthia Corbett, whom I have long regarded as a real force within the art world. I greatly admire her energy, vision and dedication to championing artists and creating ambitious, imaginative projects. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she has built a community that brings together artists, collectors and audiences in meaningful ways.

It’s been a pleasure to be involved with Young Masters and I’m always interested to see the new ideas and collaborations that emerge from Cynthia’s initiatives.

V&A Director’s Circle Features Young Masters Exhibition ‘Line of Beauty' at Exhibitionist Hotel in South Kensington

Wonderful news for Young Masters.

Line of Beauty has been featured this week in the Victoria and Albert Museum Patrons’ Director’s Circle News.

Presented by the not-for-profit Young Masters Art Prize, the exhibition celebrates the 2025 People’s Choice Award winners: Cristina Schek, a Transylvanian surrealist working in digital myth-making and conceptual portraiture, and Alexandra Baraitser, whose vivid paintings transform interiors and everyday objects into heightened, dreamlike still lifes.

Set within The Exhibitionist Hotel in South Kensington, rather than a traditional white-cube gallery, Line of Beauty unfolds through refined Georgian interiors, creating a rich and atmospheric encounter between contemporary art, cultural memory and place.

The exhibition is open 24 hours a day until 1 June l 2026 (extended due to popular demand.).

View exhibition details here

The Exhibitionist Hotel is located at 8-10 Queensberry Place, South Kensington, London, SW7 2EA, United Kingdom

Young Masters Goes Global: Spotlight on Africa and North America

Exploring creativity without borders

Thank you for joining us during Frieze Week for our milestone exhibition, Sweet 16: Young Masters Retrospective, celebrating sixteen years of artistic excellence, dialogue and innovation. It was an unforgettable week, filled with creativity, conversation and connection. As we look ahead to an exciting season, with Art Miami 2025 on the horizon, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the truly international spirit that defines the Young Masters Art Prize.

This week, we celebrate our Alumni Artists from Africa, The African Diaspora and North America, whose voices and visions continue to shape contemporary art across continents.

Explore the Collection in Our Shop

AFRICA / AFRICAN DIASPORA YOUNG MASTERS

From Nigeria to Zimbabwe, the Caribbean to South Africa, the Alumni Artists representing Africa and its diaspora in this Young Masters programme embody resilience, imagination and cultural dialogue.

Illustrious guest artist (courtesy of Cristea Roberts Gallery) Yinka Shonibare CBE RA (Nigeria / UK) addresses and redefines post-colonial narratives through his globally acclaimed practice. EVEWRIGHT (UK / Jamaican heritage), a Young Masters 2014 finalist, transforms public spaces into platforms for Black British stories, while Natasha Muluswela (Zimbabwe / UK), Highly Commended for the Young Masters Emerging Woman Artist Award 2023, explores identity and migration through both faceless figures and African masks that create delicate poetic symbolism.

Dola Posh (Nigeria / UK), Young Masters Art Prize 2023 finalist, captures the intimate strength of motherhood and womanhood through photography, while multi-award-winning and Young Masters 2019 People's Choice Award Giggs Kgole (South Africa) examines postcolonial African narratives through oral history and fuses memory, heritage and innovation.

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NORTH AMERICA YOUNG MASTERS

Across the Atlantic, Young Masters North American Alumni explore the political, intellectual and cultural landscapes of contemporary life.

Young Masters 2009 inaugural winners, Ghost of a Dream (USA), transform discarded fragments of pop culture into sculptural reflections on aspiration and collective desire, a practice that has taken them from New York to France, London, China and beyond. Their work continues to capture the essence of transformation, finding beauty and meaning in the remnants of modern dreams.

Thomas Kelly (USA), an award-winning painter and Young Masters Guest Artist, brings warmth and optimism to contemporary painting through expressive, narrative scenes that speak of hope, humanity and the everyday poetry of life.

Foster White (USA), a rising photographic talent from Washington, D.C., explores the tactile intersection of light, material and emotion. Working through burning and soot, his portraits embrace imperfection and ambiguity, each image balancing control and spontaneity. His work, influenced by Saul Leiter and Gordon Parks, captures the quiet poetry of transformation and resilience.

Explore the Collection in Our Shop
 
 
 

ABOUT YOUNG MASTERS ART PRIZE

 
 

Young Masters Art Prize is a not-for-profit initiative founded in 2009 by gallerist Cynthia Valianti Corbett to support emerging and mid-career artists who draw inspiration from art history. Through exhibitions, awards, and mentorship, Young Masters continues to nurture diverse talent and connect creative voices across generations and geographies.

If you’d like to support our mission and become a Young Masters Patron, please click here; your contribution helps us continue empowering artists worldwide.