Murray Edwards College in Cambridge houses one of Europe’s largest publicly accessible collections of modern and contemporary art by women, offering free admission throughout the year. The Women’s Art Collection, situated within the college, showcases over 600 works from more than 300 female artists, many of whom are notable names alongside lesser-known figures.

The collection traces its origins to the mid-1980s with Mary Kelly, the college’s first artist-in-residence at the time when the institution was known as New Hall. Kelly’s 1986 work, Extase—a series of screen prints depicting clothing paired with feminist dialogues—was installed in the college dining hall and inspired the college to begin expanding its holdings of women’s art. Established in 1954 by pioneering women to support female education at Cambridge, the college later moved to its current Huntingdon Road site in 1965, a building designed as a symbol of women’s empowerment in education.

Subsequent efforts to grow the collection were led by college president Valerie Pearl and curator Ann Jones, who invited established artists including Maggi Hambling, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley, and Eileen Cooper to contribute pieces that would remain permanently on display. The initiative quickly gathered momentum, resulting in more than 70 donated works within two years. The collection continues to grow through donations and occasional acquisitions, often supported by partnerships with organizations such as Spirit Now London.

Unlike university-affiliated institutions like Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum, which receive funding from the university, the Women’s Art Collection operates independently under the college’s direction and relies on alternative funding sources. In recent years, it has embraced a global approach, acquiring works by emerging female artists from countries including China, South Africa, and the United States. Additionally, the collection has collaborated with the Female Artists of the Mougins Museum to introduce pieces by artists not yet represented in UK public collections.

To mark the 40th anniversary of Extase, the college will host a new exhibition titled What Remains from September 23 through February 28. The show will feature archival materials alongside contemporary works that explore similar feminist themes. Curator Laura Moseley has invited external artists like Ellen Lesperance, known for painted knitting patterns celebrating female activism, and Sadé Mica, who is creating an embroidered chest binder responding to Kelly’s work.

Despite its impressive scope, the collection currently lacks dedicated environmentally controlled gallery space, limiting opportunities for museum loans. Plans are underway to develop a new gallery near the college entrance to provide improved display conditions and enhance public access. Director Harriet Loffler emphasizes the desire to open the collection more fully to the local community and university visitors alike, aiming to make the collection a welcoming cultural resource for Cambridge residents.