On Tuesday 11 February, we enjoyed a conversation on art, motherhood and women’s careers chaired by author and curator, Catherine McCormack. Catherine spoke with three art-world mothers: Founder and CEO of Eye of the Collector and former Chief Executive of Masterpiece Fair, Nazy Vassegh; artist Liv Pennington; and curator and art historian, Carrie Scott.

The conversation took place at Richard Saltoun Gallery with the backdrop of ‘Maternality’ - the second of a two-part exhibition curated by Catherine which explored the subject of maternal bodies. ‘Maternality’ formed part of Richard Saltoun Gallery’s 12-month programme dedicated to supporting the work of female artists. Titled 100% Women, the programme aims to remedy the gender inequality that persists in the art world and encourage wider industry action through debate, dialogue and collaboration.

Marguerite first began in Founder, Joanna Payne’s living room on 5 February 2015. Back then, it was vaguely called ‘girls in the arts’ and the initial idea was for an event to take place every other month in someone else’s living room as a means of bringing together women from across the industry. A LOT has changed since that point - we now have over 300 members and our events have been hosted by the likes of: museum directors including Maria Balshaw (Tate) and Nicholas Cullinan (The National Portrait Gallery); artists, Sir Michael Craig-Martin and Idris Khan OBE; Founders of Frieze, Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp; fashion designers, Dame Zandra Rhodes and Roksanda; and photographers, Rankin and Nick Knight. Want the full story? Click here for an interview with Joanna in The Sunday Times.

The art world has changed a huge amount for women since 2015 - most notably perhaps in the fact that the Directors of all four Tates are now women - but there is still a long way to go until equality is reached.

We celebrated all that’s been and all that’s yet to come at The Connaught with artist-inspired drinks, delicious canapés, birthday cake and most importantly, so many of you!

On Wednesday 29 January, we enjoyed breakfast at Mortimer House in Fitzrovia with the Director of the V&A, Dr Tristram Hunt. Tristram spoke with the Editor-at-large of The Art Newspaper and Cultureshock, Jane Morris all about his life, career and plans for the future over some much needed coffee, croissants and fruit!

On Tuesday 21 January, we hosted another Marguerite Salon - this time focussing on brand partnerships - how to go about securing sponsorship and what the most effective partnerships look like. Lifestyle Editor of The Independent, Harriet Hall chaired the discussion which took place in the council chamber at Town Hall Hotel with: Associate Director, EMEA Marketing at Bumble, Naomi Walkland; Commercial Director at Frieze, Matt Holt and Head of Strategic Partnerships at TI Media, Lillian Betty.

They chatted all about where to start with pitches, what a good brand partnership looks like (and a bad one!!) and the importance of building genuine relationships when building the dream partnership.

On Thursday 16 January, patron of female artists and Founder of Valeria Napoleone XX, Valeria Napoleone welcomed members of Marguerite 1938 for dinner in her Kensington home. Valeria spoke about her life and collection over drinks and canapés with Arts Writer for The FT and Art Quarterly, Rachel Spence, followed by a dinner prepared from recipes from her cookbook!

On 14 January, Alice Temperley MBE welcomed us to her flagship store for a conversation with Presenter and fashion commentator, Grace Woodward. Temperley London is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year - to celebrate, Alice spoke especially for Marguerite all about how she began selling jewellery as a child; the rise and rise of her brand; sustainability and what it took them to get the Positive Luxury Butterfly Mark; her plans for LFW2020 and beyond and so much more! Drinks and canapés were served by Top Hat Catering.

For our final event of 2019, the editor, photographer and art patron, Maryam Eisler hosted us in her Kensington home for breakfast. Maryam is the former co-chair of Tate’s MENAAC Acquisitions Committee, a member of the Tate International Council, trustee of the Whitechapel Gallery, an Ambassador for Unseen Photo Fair, board member of Photo London, advisory council member of Delfina Foundation and is a nominator for the Prix Pictet photography prize. Maryam is a contributing Editor to LUX Magazine and has contributed both photographically and editorially to Harpers Bazaar Art, Harpers Bazaar Interiors, Vogue Arabia and Vanity Fair. Maryam spoke for members of Marguerite 1938 with Curator and Art Historian, Carrie Scott all about her work, collection and her roles within London’s most prominent institutions.

On Wednesday 4 December, we kicked off the festive season with a night of disco in the East End! Female DJs spun funk & disco all night long, the amazing Grace Jones drag act, disGRACE performed and 70s food and drink was served. Not only that, but our guests were also invited to take a seat in the blow LTD salon for a retro makeover before entering The KITRI Style Studio which was filled to the rafters with KITRI’s party collection, photo booth and prizes to be won! What a night!

On Monday 25 November, we met at Mortimer House for our new members’ drinks! AKA a great opportunity for new members to meet other members and the Marguerite team before their first official event!

On Sunday 3 November, we hosted FEMpowerment III in Ned’s Club, co-hosted with Life Editor of HuffPost UK, Brogan Driscoll. Click here for this year’s programme.

On Wednesday 30 October, Features Director of Harper’s Bazaar, Co-editor of Bazaar Art and Founder of Bazaar Art Week, Helena Lee spoke with Partnership Editions artists, Hester Finch and Venetia Berry and Modern British Art Specialist at Christie’s, Alice Murray about how the representation of the female form has changed over time.

They chatted about whether another Gauguin exhibition is really needed at this point in time, how the wider cultural context of the #MeToo movement has affected Venetia and Hester’s work, how the digital world of Instagram and online auctions have shaped the landscape for the way artists have portrayed the female body and the rise of women in the age of Aquarius.

Thank you to Mark’s Club for the delicious drinks and canapés - and for hosting us for what was such a glorious evening!

On Thursday 24 October, British artist, Gavin Turk hosted a studio visit and conversation with creative strategist and Extinction Rebellion Activist, William Skeaping. They spoke about Gavin’s arrest from an Extinction Rebellion protest that landed him in a prison cell for six hours, the role the art market has to play in climate change and Gavin’s obsession with eggs.

Drinks and vegan canapés were served by Planche Kitchen.

On Saturday 19 October, we enjoyed a day of conversations about sustainability and circularity in fashion at Paper Mill Studios in Islington. Our speakers shared their thoughts on greenwashing, what we as the consumers can do that would help and most importantly, what brands are doing to help us.

Click here for the full line up and programme!

On Tuesday 15 October, The Stratford hosted Marguerite for a conversation with three female designers who’ve launched their own brands. The discussion was chaired by editor of Archivist, Dal Chodha, who spoke with Founder of Studio Nicholson, Nick Wakeman, Founder of Catherine Quin, Catherine Quin and Founder of Alighieri, Rosh Mahtani. Nick, Catherine and Rosh were incredibly open and honest about the reality of what it’s really like to run your own company - they each shared the highs and most importantly the lows of how they started out - and their plans for the future. Delicious drinks and canapés were served!

On Wednesday 9 October, Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts, Tim Marlow spoke for Marguerite with Founder & Director of Sophie Macpherson Ltd., Sophie Macpherson. Prior to his appointment at the Royal Academy, Marlow was Director of Exhibitions at White Cube for over 10 years. Marlow has been involved in the contemporary art world for the past twenty-five years as curator, writer and award-winning radio and television broadcaster. Having trained as an art historian, he has also worked with many of the most important and influential artists of our time. Marlow sits on the Board of Trustees for the Imperial War Museum, Sadler’s Wells, Artichoke, Art on the Underground Advisory Board, The British School at Rome and Cultureshock Media.

They chatted all about Tim's career to date, the difference between working in a commercial gallery to a public institution and his next step as Director of the Design Museum! Champagne, cocktails and canapés were generously served by Isabel and the event was hosted in partnership with Sophie Macpherson Ltd.

On Tuesday 8 October, the Marguerite team welcomed new Marguerite members to the club with some delicious Mirabeau Wine. It was a great opportunity to meet other new Marguerite members and the Marguerite team before their first official event!

On Monday 9 September for our first event back after summer, George hosted our Marguerite Salon on nailing your social media in art and fashion. Founder of @thegreatwomenartists, Katy Hessel chaired the discussion with Head of Social Strategy & Storytelling at Vogue, Hannah Ray and Head of Content at the Serpentine Gallery, Jesse Ringham. They shared their top tips on how to find the best social media platform for you, encouraged creativity and trying new things within social media content, stressed the importance of engaging with the public and so much more! Delicious food and Theodore Gin cocktails were served.

On Tuesday 30 July, we were at the newly opened Standard in King’s Cross for a conversation with writer and activist, Gina Martin. Gina spoke with Lifestyle Editor of HuffPost UK, Brogan Driscoll all about how she made upskirting an illegal offence, the launch of her book ‘Be The Change’ and what she has up her sleeve next! The Standard served delicious canapés and Theodore Gin served G&Ts and Clover Clubs!

On Monday 22 July, we hosted our Marguerite Salon at Second Home Spitalfields on launching a creative podcast. Founder of @thegreatwomenartists, Katy Hessel spoke with Art Historian and Art Matters host, Ferren Gipson and Deputy Editor of Riposte Magazine and co-host of magCulture Podcast, Liv Siddall. They shared their practical tips on the equipment you need to get going, the reality of editing your own voice, the real cost of launching your own podcast, whether getting sponsorship is really doable and so much more! Food and Theodore Gin cocktails were served!

On Saturday 20 July, we visited Hauser & Wirth Somerset for a tour of ‘Unconscious Landscape. Works from the Ursula Hauser Collection’ led by Associate Director, Elly Hawley. Over the course of four decades, Ursula Hauser has assembled a deeply personal collection of works that brings together a remarkable overview of late 20th century modern masters in dialogue with contemporary artists including Louise Bourgeois, Maria Lassnig and Eva Hesse.

The tour was followed by lunch at Roth Bar & Grill then a quick walk across the fields for a tour of Make Hauser & Wirth Somerset, a destination for contemporary making and the crafted object located on Bruton High Street!

On Wednesday 17 July, we hosted our South London Art Party at the newly-relocated Sid Motion Gallery in South Bermondsey! Pizza, Jude’s ice cream, Cobra beer and Nice wine were served, followed by a conversation about the evolution of the local art scene with: Chief Executive of Bold Tendencies, Hannah Barry; Director of South London Gallery, Margot Heller and Founder & Director of Sid Motion Gallery, Sid Motion.

On Wednesday 3 July, the Marguerite team welcomed new Marguerite members to the club with some Theodore Gin cocktails. It was a great opportunity to meet other new Marguerite members and the Marguerite team before the first official event!

On Wednesday 19 June, Founder & Director of Arcadia Missa, Rozsa Farkas led a conversation with French fashion designer, Roland Mouret. Rozsa and Roland spoke about everything from when he first knew he was destined to be a designer, how he empowers women through fashion and his plans on how to make fashion more sustainable, including his launch of the very first sustainable clothes hanger! Delicious summer cocktails and canapés were served.

On Saturday 15 June we went to Margate for a tour of the newly opened Carl Freedman Gallery in Margate, Kent. The new 10,000 square foot space is spread over two floors of a concrete 1960s commercial building which also houses Freedman’s print publishing business Counter Editions. The Gallery’s Founder, Carl Freedman and Director, Robert Diament spoke about the new space and led a tour of the Gallery’s opening show, Billy Childish: ‘man in the mouth of a cave’. 

Following the tour, guests headed for lunch at the nearby Post Office where Mirabeau wine was served.

Image: Billy Childish, man in the mouth of the cave.

On Monday 10 June, we celebrated the launch of Kate Bryan’s book, The Art of Love, at Sketch. The Head of Collections at Soho House and now author, Kate Bryan spoke with Founder of @thegreatwomenartists, Katy Hessel all about the romantic stories behind some of the most fascinating art world couples! Kate shared tales of couples who’ve enjoyed peaceful collaborations - to those who’ve suffered passionate and explosive clashes - from Gilbert & George to Ana Mendieta & Carl Andre.

On Tuesday 4 June, Founder & Director of Sophie Macpherson Ltd, Sophie Macpherson spoke with three leaders in their field: Director of Michael Werner Gallery, Kadee Robbins; Director of the ICA, Stefan Kalmár; and European Chairman and Senior International Specialist of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s, Oliver Barker. We heard how all of our speakers started off as interns, the importance of bring your team along with you and ensuring that they feel part of the journey and the importance of making mistakes sometimes!

This event was hosted in partnership with Sophie Macpherson Ltd.

On Saturday 25 May, Marguerite 1938 members enjoyed a 360 experience at The Ned, giving them an exclusive taster of Ned’s Club. Highlights of the day included a mindful yoga class on the 6th floor terrace, brunch, cocktails in a hidden Martini bar and a floristry masterclass with Grace & Thorn!

On Wednesday 22 May, members of Marguerite 1938 enjoyed a spectacular dinner to celebrate Chelsea Flower Show at Ennismore Sessions House with artist, Alexandria Coe and floral designers, WORM as part of Alexandria’s residency at Ennismore. WORM’s Katie Smyth and Terri Chandler created the most incredible floral display, wine was poured by Mirabeau wine, floral cocktails were served by Theodore Gin and a delicious seasonal dinner was served by Ennismore Sessions House.

On Monday 20 May, we hosted our very first Marguerite Salon on the hustle of launching a successful business at Chiltern Firehouse. Founder of @thegreatwomenartists, Katy Hessel chaired the panel with: Founder of Partnership Editions, Georgia Spray; Founder of PRICK, Gynelle Leon; and Co-Founders of RIXO, Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey. We loved hearing Gynelle’s tales of driving through the American desert to meet old cacti gurus, Henrietta & Orlagh’s stories of the two years they spent running RIXO from their tiny flat and Georgia’s brilliant advice on the importance of investing cash in the boring legal stuff and what an amazing difference having a press consultant has made to her company! Chiltern’s finest drinks and nibbles were served!